PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George St Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by Rick Ross - Mafia Music. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as George St Ali enters the cage!

Smith
vs
St Ali

188 cm
23
188 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

189 cm
24
192 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, George St Ali!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St Ali throws a series of punches but Smith moves out of range.
St Ali scores with a crisp jab that stopped Smith in his tracks.

It looks like John Smith has been cut.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but St Ali swats him away and circles back towards the center.
St Ali jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Smith shoots for a takedown but St Ali saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from St Ali.
St Ali fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

St Ali lands a left and a right that send Smith crashing to the mat, dazed. St Ali thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Smith is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
St Ali misses with a two punch combination.
Smith misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

St Ali lands a left and a right that send Smith crashing to the mat, dazed. St Ali thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Oh Smith is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

John Smith's cut is getting worse.
St Ali throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Smith counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in St Ali's guard now.
Smith is breathing heavily.
St Ali wants to stand but Smith is controlling the position.
Smith seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to control but St Ali is working from the bottom.
Smith content to stall in guard here.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
St Ali is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smith is controlling him.

St Ali uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Smith shoots in and drives through. St Ali sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
St Ali lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.
George St Ali is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. St Ali tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. St Ali manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice takedown defense from St Ali. No joy for Smith on that attempt.
St Ali swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Smith counters by clinching up.
St Ali is trying to force a seperation but Smith has the dominant position.
St Ali gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Smith.
Smith goes for a takedown attempt but St Ali pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
St Ali throws a series of punches but Smith avoids them all with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
St Ali swinging wilding here.
St Ali throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nice defenses there by Smith.
Horrible takedown by Smith or perhaps it was just good defense by St Ali which made him look bad.
A left and a right from St Ali both land. Nice combination.
St Ali works over Smith's head and body with a nice combination.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. St Ali tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. St Ali manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Smith decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Smith is trying to control the action in half guard but St Ali is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Smith wants to stand up but St Ali has a hold of him and won't allow it.
St Ali trying to control from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Smith is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, St Ali has managed to free his arm - good work.
St Ali slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George St Ali dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Smith's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A punch combination from St Ali misses.
Smith fails with the takedown.
St Ali throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Smith stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
St Ali stuffs the takedown attempt from Smith. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
St Ali lunges at Smith with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Smith's hand.
Smith shoots in but St Ali avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
St Ali scores with a nice right hand.
George St Ali seems to be getting the better of the standup.
St Ali lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by St Ali!
A punch combination from St Ali misses.
Smith walks into a stiff left hand from St Ali.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but St Ali sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Ali fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Smith.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
John Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith takes one on the button.
St Ali misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Smith shoots in and drives through. St Ali sprawls well.
St Ali throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

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

Smith is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but St Ali is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Smith working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Smith is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. St Ali knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but St Ali is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Ali manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
St Ali tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Smith.
St Ali is thwarting Smith's attempts to control the position.

Smith actively working from the bottom here.
St Ali wants to stand but Smith has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

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.
Smith makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Smith.
St Ali wants to stand but Smith is controlling his posture from full guard.
St Ali trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
St Ali lands a jab-cross combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George St Ali showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on John Smith's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Smith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. St Ali defends it nicely.
Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
St Ali's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and St Ali duly obliges.
Nice jab there from St Ali.
St Ali throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

John Smith's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
St Ali fails to land with a series of punches.
St Ali misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith shoots in for a double leg but St Ali sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
St Ali throws a right and a left that Smith avoids nicely.
St Ali misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Ali throws a series of punches but Smith avoids them all with ease.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.
St Ali tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
St Ali misses with a two punch combination.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. St Ali tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. St Ali manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
St Ali connects with a right hand. Smith shakes it off.
St Ali looks to land a left hand but Smith moved out of range nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smith.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from St Ali.

That's two 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.
St Ali takes a swing at Smith's ribcage but misses.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from St Ali.
Smith with a body punch. A glancing blow.
St Ali slaps away a takedown attempt from Smith, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A combination from St Ali does no damage.
St Ali lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.
St Ali misses with a jab to the body
and Smith connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
St Ali slips a straight right by Smith.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but St Ali paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith shoots in for a double leg but St Ali sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
St Ali fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
St Ali falls off balance throwing a combination
and Smith counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Ali swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smith cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A combination from St Ali does no damage.
St Ali doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
St Ali moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Smith slips a jab and a cross from St Ali.
Smith avoids the body shot from St Ali.
Smith looks for a takedown but St Ali sprawls well.
St Ali lands a jab to Smith's midsection.
St Ali with a jab.
Smith shoots for a takedown but St Ali saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
St Ali lands with a nice body punch.
St Ali misses with a double jab.
George St Ali is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
St Ali scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but St Ali sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
Smith dives in and grabs St Ali's left leg, looking for a takedown. St Ali pushes down on Smith's head and hops out.
St Ali dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
St Ali keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
St Ali throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
St Ali slaps away a takedown attempt from Smith, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Smith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. St Ali tries to avoid it but Smith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag St Ali to the ground. St Ali escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
St Ali tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and St Ali counters with a stiff right hand.
John Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
St Ali throws a combination that misses
and St Ali takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

And that's the end of the fight!
George St Ali comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got St Ali winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George St Ali!