PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John Smith (ranked 3224 p4p, 2527 weight class) and Nimjal Configuracion (ranked 183 p4p, 141 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Nimjal Configuracion was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Smith
vs
Configuracion

168 cm
19
141
2 - 3 - 0

183 cm
26
139
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

Fantasy Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nimjal Configuracion!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Steve Smith and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Configuracion tries to clinch up.
Smith changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Configuracion tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Configuracion sprawls well. Configuracion wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Configuracion tries to counter by closing the distance.
Configuracion wants to clinch.

Smith manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Configuracion on his heels. He'll look to pass Configuracion's guard now, I'm sure.
Smith scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Configuracion keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Configuracion can do anything to dispel that myth.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Configuracion swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Configuracion is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Configuracion controlling the position.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
Smith landing with the ground and pound.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
Smith has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Smith works over Configuracion with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Smith might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Configuracion has wrist control.
Smith is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Smith looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Configuracion is retaining full guard.
Configuracion controlling the position.
Configuracion looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Smith's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Configuracion is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Smith working some strikes from top position.
Configuracion seems keen to control Smith's posture.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Configuracion blocks nicely.
Configuracion looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Smith puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith winds up and cracks Configuracion with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Smith throwing shots but Configuracion is blocking nicely.
Smith uses his free foot to push down on Configuracion's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Configuracion.
Smith lands a big shot there that rocks Configuracion but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Smith lands a big elbow.
Configuracion tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smith lands a big shot there that rocks Configuracion but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Smith lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Smith working Configuracion over with strikes here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith landing strikes from the mount and Configuracion is in trouble!
Configuracion really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Smith landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith cracks Configuracion with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:21 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). John Smith!