PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mikheil Berishvili (ranked 2019 p4p, 2307 weight class) and Luke Smith (ranked 133 p4p, 148 weight class). Berishvili comes to the cage accompanied by Acharuli Gandagana. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Berishvili
vs
Smith

159 cm
19
135
3 - 2 - 0

171 cm
19
135
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Conquer

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mikheil Berishvili!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Luke Smith!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, John Roberts and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Berishvili darts in trying to clinch
and Smith cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Smith misses with an uppercut.
Berishvili moves out of range as Smith strikes.
Smith looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Berishvili takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Berishvili uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Smith.
Berishvili is looking to counter the offense by Smith and move into the clinch.
Smith throws a hook but Berishvili blocks it.
Smith lands a head shot.
Berishvili is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. Berishvili does a little dance to reset his feet.
Berishvili wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Berishvili fails with an attempt to clinch.
Berishvili tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fighters circle momentarily. Smith darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A left lands for Smith.

Berishvili closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berishvili blocks a body shot from Smith.
Berishvili takes a shot to the head.
Smith throws a punch but it's blocked by Berishvili.
Smith lands a right hand that snaps the head of Berishvili backwards.
Berishvili tries to pull guard but Smith forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Berishvili tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Smith smiles and moves away.
Smith lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Berishvili tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Smith doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Smith throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Berishvili fails in his attempt to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Smith on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Berishvili clinches up with Smith and pushes him back against the cage.
Berishvili definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Berishvili jumps guard but Smith stands there with Berishvili around his waist. Berishvili gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikheil Berishvili. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A right hand to the body from Smith.
Smith scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Berishvili jumps guard but Smith turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Smith lands a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Smith creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Smith lands a shoulder strike.
Smith goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Good body shot from Smith.
Berishvili tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Smith gets through Berishvili's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Smith throws a head punch that misses.
Smith lands a left hand that snaps the head of Berishvili backwards.
Smith lands a left hand.

Berishvili manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith forces his way into half guard.

Berishvili looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Berishvili is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Smith pulls his head out easily.
Smith content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Berishvili is doing well to control the position and prevent Smith from advancing to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Berishvili tries to roll over but Smith keeps him under control.
Berishvili trying to hold on to Smith's head to control him but Smith postures up.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Berishvili. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Berishvili is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Smith dominated that round.
That's time! Berishvili's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Berishvili wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Smith takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Smith connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Berishvili momentarily.
A jab lands there for Smith.
Decent striking displayed by Smith there.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Berishvili misses with a body shot.
Smith thows a left - swing and a miss!
Smith connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Berishvili manages to avoid it.
Berishvili bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Smith avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smith misses with a body shot.
Berishvili is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Smith to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Berishvili has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
Berishvili jumps guard but Smith turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Smith.
Berishvili jumps guard but Smith stands there with Berishvili around his waist. Berishvili gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smith.
Smith has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Smith lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Berishvili backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Berishvili.
Luke Smith seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Berishvili jumps guard but Smith stands there with Berishvili around his waist. Berishvili gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikheil Berishvili. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Berishvili tries to pull guard but Smith forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Smith lands a hook to the side of the head.
Berishvili blocks a body shot from Smith.
Smith lands a nice shot to the body.
Smith misses with the head strike.
Berishvili is trying to pull guard but Smith turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Smith tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Berishvili has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Smith uses from the top position.

Berishvili is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Berishvili has his feet on Smith's thighs here. He's pushed Smith off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Smith screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mikheil Berishvili!
A very excited looking Mikheil Berishvili made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.