PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Judge Smith (ranked 4086 p4p, 4098 weight class) and Tater Tot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Smith
vs
Tot

166 cm
23
144
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
130
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Judge Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tater Tot!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Dean Styles and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith tries to clinch but Tot moves out of range.
Smith lands a nice shot to the body.

Tot scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Tot slips a nice elbow through Smith's hands, connecting with Smith's forehead.
Smith moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Tot slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Tot chips away with some ground and pound.
Tot engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tot has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tot defends it easily.
Tot trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tot stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Tot from controlling successfully.
Tot is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Tot is proving a slippery customer.
Tot advances to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Smith is defending against the submission attempts here by Tot.
Tot is looking to advance position but Smith won't allow it.
Tot wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Smith is looking to improve his position.

Tot is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tot is looking for a kimura here.
Smith is looking to control Tot's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smith avoid being mounted?

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Smith fails to land the takedown.

Tot closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tot is working Smith over with some ground and pound from side control.
Tot lands a decent elbow from side control.
Tot lands a nice forearm strike.
Tot is staying tight to Smith's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Tot working away.
Tot trying to control the position but Smith is working away.

Tot wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Smith, who protects the arm well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tot has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Smith!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tater Tot dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

No joy there for Tot, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith tries to clinch but Tot moves out of range.
Smith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tot tries to avoid it but Smith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tot to the ground. Tot escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Tot closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Tot is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Tot is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tot is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Tot takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Tot seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Smith does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tot tries to stand and escape but Smith is controlling the position.
Smith works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith controls Tot momentarily but Tot frees himself.
Smith keeping full guard, as Tot tries to pass.
Tot would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Tot trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith wants to clinch.
Smith has a takedown stuffed.

Tot scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Smith pushes Tot off and gets back to his feet.
Sloppy strikes from Tot. Those never looked like landing.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Smith.
Tot is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith wants to clinch up but Tot keeps it at a distance.

Tot looking to score a takedown here. Smith is defending well but Tot drives through and ends up in Smith's guard.
Tot wants to stand but Smith has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith controls Tot momentarily but Tot frees himself.
Tot working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Tot wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
Tot is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tot trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Tot controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tot has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tot wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing Tot from standing up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. Tot tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tot manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Judge Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tot shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Smith has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Tot is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tater Tot showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Tot fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Smith sprawls well initially but Tot persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Smith tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Tot manages to move to mount!
Tot lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Tot lands a couple of good shots and Smith has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Tot lands shots from the back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Oooh a big shot gets through from Tot. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Tot tries to get the hooks in deep but Smith pushed the leg off.
Tot punches Smith on the ear.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tot is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Tot's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Tot really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tot softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Smith trying to get back to his feet but Tot is in full control for now.

Tot is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Smith knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Smith for a finish.
Smith takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Tot has Smith flattened out and is raining down punches.
Tot punches Smith on the ear.
Will Tot go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tot lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Tot has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Smith.
Smith tries to escape but Tot has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Will Tot go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Tot is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Tot scores with punches from the back.
You can see the frustration on Smith's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Tot is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Tot is persistently looking for the submission but Smith is defending it well.
Tot lands with a hammerfist to the side of Smith's head.
Tot lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Tot throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Smith!
Tot scores with punches and elbows.
Tot punches Smith on the ear.
Tot punishes Smith with strikes from the back mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tot throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Smith!
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Tot.
Smith trying to control but not successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tot trying to control momentarily.
Tot is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Smith. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Tot lands shots from the back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tot is hanging on to Smith's back as he tries to escape.
Smith is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Tot.
Judge Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tater Tot is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tater Tot comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tot has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tater Tot!