PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between El Wray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dennis Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dennis Smith has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Wray
vs
Smith

180 cm
23
210 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

195 cm
24
205 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, El Wray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dennis Smith!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wray keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smith.
Smith throws a nice looking combination but Wray bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Smith tries to clinch but Wray is having none of it.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Smith misses the jab.
Wray falls off balance throwing a combination
and Smith counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Wray lands a high kick!
Wray misses with a two punch combination.
Wray throws a series of punches but Smith moves out of range.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Wray throws a nice looking combination but Smith bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A punch combination from Wray misses.
Smith is looking to clinch but Wray is avoiding it.
Wray throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Smith takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to clinch but Wray moves out of range.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Smith misses the target.
Wray scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Danga de danga de dang - Wray scores with a four punch combination!
Wray throws a series of strikes that have Smith backpedaling.
Smith takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Jab, jab by Wray - just one landing.
Wray works the jab nicely.
Wray gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Smith counters with a series of strikes. Wray will be more careful next time no doubt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith tries to clinch there but Wray circles away.

Smith darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Smith is pressing down on Wray's thigh, looking to free his foot. Wray is holding on for now.
Smith is nestled in close to Wray, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wray looking for submissions off his back.
Wray is looking to improve his position.
Smith is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Smith lands a big shot there that rocks Wray but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Wray in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Smith in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Smith landing strikes, looking to finish!
Wray in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Wray is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Wray is looking to escape.
Wray might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Wray can't escape the position.
Wray throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Smith looking to finish Wray with some ground and pound. This is bad for Wray!
Smith with good strikes from the mount here!
Wray is in a horrible position here. Smith smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Smith putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Smith raining down shots from the mount!
Wray is in all sorts of trouble here.
Smith with shots to the head and body - Wray looks very uncomfortable down there.
Wray is working to get back to half guard.
Smith breaks from Wray's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Smith looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wray is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Smith with good strikes from the mount here!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith landing strikes from the mount and Wray is in trouble!

Wray is rocked!
Wray is looking to get to half guard.
Wray taking shots to the head.
Oh Wray is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Wray working to try and regain half guard.
Wray seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith lands a nice shot to the head.
Smith lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Wray is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dennis Smith dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. Wray tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Wray manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith thows a body shot but no joy.
Smith tries to clinch there but Wray circles away.
Wray misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
El Wray is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

A big head kick from Smith and Wray is sent sprawling to the canvas!

It looks like El Wray has been cut.

Wray looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Smith with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Wray manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.
Smith tries to strike from the bottom.

Wray drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Wray jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Wray is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Smith is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Smith has escaped and now he's on top!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Smith jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Wray is retaining full guard.
Smith won't allow Wray to sweep him here.

Wray looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
Smith passes Wray's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Wray tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.

Smith is looking for a kimura but Wray is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Smith to get the leverage.
Wray tries to roll over but Smith keeps him under control.
Smith working over Wray with some ground and pound. Wray looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Wray defends it well.
Wray gets full guard.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wray swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Wray looking for subs off his back but Smith has passed one foot through into half guard.
Smith works his way into full mount!
Wray can't escape the position.
Smith dominating with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wray in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Wray is desperately trying to improve his position but Smith has a good base and remains in mount.
Wray is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith looking to control and managing it successfully.
A nice elbow there by Smith.
Smith raining down shots from the mount!
Wray is in a horrible position here. Smith smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wray in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Wray is working to get back to half guard.
Smith pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Smith fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Smith prevents Wray from getting the reversal.
A nice elbow there by Smith.
Wray can't escape the position.
Smith with shots to the head and body - Wray looks very uncomfortable down there.

Smith looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Smith looking to finish with strikes here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wray slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dennis Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on El Wray's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Wray lands a really nice looking cross but Smith seems unphased.
Wray scores with a one two! Smith had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Smith tries to clinch there but Wray circles away.
Smith misses with a double jab
and Wray counters with a left and a right that stings Smith.
Smith clinches but Wray breaks the clinch
and Wray counters with a three punch combo that has Smith backing up. Smith nods at Wray to acknowledge the strikes.
El Wray is winning the standup battle so far.
Wray throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
A punch combination from Wray misses.
Smith moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Smith closes the distance but Wray moves to the side
and Wray counters with a straight right hand.
Wray connects with the punch.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wray.
Smith throws a left and a right that both miss
and Wray counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Wray lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wray circles away.
Wray swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Smith counters by clinching up.
Wray tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.
Wray tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.
Smith goes for a takedown attempt but Wray pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nice jab there from Wray.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
El Wray has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dennis Smith.
Smith throws a hook but Wray blocks it.
Wray misses with a jab, cross combination.
Wray throws a series of strikes that have Smith backpedaling.
Smith moves out of range of the body kick from Wray.
Dennis Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Wray stalks Smith and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Smith's face. Smith staggers backwards, shaken.
Wray lands with an overhand left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wray lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Wray throws a right and a left that Smith avoids nicely.
Smith throws out a loose jab but Wray uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wray throws a left and a right that both miss

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Smith.
Smith can't get the takedown.
Smith is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Wray pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Wray escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wray fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Wray misses with the combination.
Smith closes the distance but Wray moves to the side
and Wray counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Wray misses with the combination.
Smith slips under a jab.
Wray tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wray moves away from the strike by Smith.
Smith scores with a sloppy right hand. Wray should have avoided that one.
Good exchange - Wray coming out on top.
Smith will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Wray avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Wray throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wray misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dennis Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smith throws a head kick that Wray semi-blocks.
Wray circles away from the clinch attempt
and Wray counters with a nice uppercut.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.
Wray misses with a telegraphed body shot

so Smith counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

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

Wray has his foot on Smith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smith works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith works over Wray with some ground and pound from guard.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Wray throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
El Wray has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith pushing down on Wray's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Wray looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wray wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.

And that's the end of the fight!
El Wray showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

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