PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ramazan Mezhidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ramazan Mezhidov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Smith
vs
Mezhidov

180 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ramazan Mezhidov!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Tiny Johnson and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws the kick towards the body but Mezhidov avoids it.

Smith looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith trying to move into half guard but instead Mezhidov has managed to sweep!
Mezhidov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mezhidov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mezhidov postures up.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Smith shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Smith wants to control but Mezhidov is keeping him busy.

Mezhidov kicks off Smith and gets to his feet.
Smith shoots in but Mezhidov avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Smith gets a clinch.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Mezhidov is controlling him.

Smith wants the takedown. Mezhidov is fighting it off but Smith persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Mezhidov's guard against the cage.
Smith postures up in Mezhidov's guard and throws a big left but Mezhidov blocks it.
Mezhidov has control of Smith's left arm, preventing Smith from doing any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mezhidov is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mezhidov trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Mezhidov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Smith throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Mezhidov trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smith escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mezhidov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mezhidov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Mezhidov lands a couple of digs.
Mezhidov trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

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.
Smith is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mezhidov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mezhidov is one step ahead there.

Smith is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mezhidov won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith throws a push kick but Mezhidov slaps the foot to one side.
No luck for Smith with that takedown attempt.

Smith moves into the clinch.
Mezhidov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Mezhidov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Smith just stands there and leans against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Smith's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Smith pulls guard effortlessly.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mezhidov is controlling him.
Mezhidov preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith wants to stand but Mezhidov is controlling the position.
Mezhidov lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mezhidov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Mezhidov is working Smith over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mezhidov is one step ahead there.
Mezhidov throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Mezhidov content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mezhidov postures up.
Mezhidov is working Smith over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Smith can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mezhidov controls the pace.
Mezhidov postures up.
Mezhidov wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Mezhidov stays in close to Smith's body and controls the position.
Smith might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Smith controls Mezhidov momentarily but Mezhidov frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is really struggling to control Mezhidov but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Mezhidov from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Smith takes a swing at Mezhidov's ribcage but misses.
Smith fails with the takedown.
Mezhidov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Smith decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mezhidov's guard.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Smith sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mezhidov's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mezhidov is positioning himself well to prevent Smith advancing to mount.
Smith wants to take a breather but Mezhidov is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mezhidov moves into full guard.
Mezhidov trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Mezhidov looking for a sweep. Not yet Mezhidov, not yet.
Mezhidov trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Mezhidov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Smith dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Mezhidov with a poor takedown

and Smith counters with a takedown into side control.
Smith working the ground and pound but Mezhidov is defending the strikes.
Mezhidov is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Smith is looking to pass Mezhidov's guard but actually Mezhidov recovers to full guard.
Mezhidov throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Smith controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mezhidov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Mezhidov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mezhidov trying to control the position.
Mezhidov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mezhidov swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Smith shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mezhidov's guard.

Smith decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mezhidov, up you get!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith with a poor takedown

and Mezhidov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Joe Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mezhidov throws a strike but Smith avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Smith trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Mezhidov from controlling successfully.
Mezhidov content to stall in guard here.
Mezhidov is working Smith over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Smith is trying to control the position but Mezhidov postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mezhidov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mezhidov is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, Mezhidov circles away and we're back to standing.

Mezhidov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Smith sprawls well initially but Mezhidov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Mezhidov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Smith with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mezhidov content to control rather than advance.
Smith is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith has his hands clasped together around Mezhidov's back. He's all about the action.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mezhidov is working away from the top position though.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.
Ramazan Mezhidov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nice strikes from Mezhidov there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ramazan Mezhidov.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Smith!