PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alessio Meridio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Meridio has chosen All That Reamins - The Air I Breathe as his entrance music. Joe Smith has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Smith
vs
Meridio

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

187 cm
22
183 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles, Alessio Meridio!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.
Joe Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Smith is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Meridio's half guard.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Meridio moves into full guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Meridio wants to stand up but Smith is controlling him.
Smith postures up and lands a big shot to Meridio's brow.

Smith stands and steps away. Meridio gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Smith scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Smith lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Meridio down.
Meridio gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Smith scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Smith working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meridio has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Smith tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Meridio.
Meridio looks gassed!
Smith looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Smith is nestled in close to Meridio, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Smith decides to return to a standing position.
Meridio is looking to clinch.

Smith shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Smith was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Smith jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Meridio is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Meridio and Smith has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Smith working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meridio struggling a bit here.

Meridio throws Smith to one side and escapes!

Smith closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smith lands in his opponent's guard.
Smith trying to stand up but can't free himself from Meridio's guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Meridio looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith postures up.
Meridio tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Meridio working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Smith landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meridio trying to control the position.
Smith connects with a couple of short punches.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Smith closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Smith connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Meridio some visible discomfort.
Meridio is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Meridio is trying to get back to full guard.
Meridio controlling the position well.
Meridio taking some punishment here, with Smith in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Smith throws a strike but Meridio avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Meridio pushes Smith off and scrambles back to his feet.
Smith tries to clinch up but Meridio circles away and keeps his distance.
Meridio has his takedown stuffed

and Smith decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Meridio's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Meridio is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Meridio trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Meridio napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Meridio can't do much from the bottom here.
Joe Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Smith thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Smith tries to stand but Meridio is controlling his head.
Meridio regains half guard.
Smith drops an elbow to the side of Meridio's head.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smith wants to stand up but Meridio has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Smith wants to take a breather but Meridio is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meridio on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Smith wants to control but Meridio is keeping him busy.
Smith thows a huge punch but Meridio dodges it nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Meridio tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Meridio feints and as Smith raises his hands in defense, Meridio changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Meridio won't allow Smith to get back to his feet.

Smith has his foot on Meridio's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Meridio works his way back into a safe position though.
Meridio sitting in guard here, content to control.
Meridio lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meridio trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith is looking to stand up but Meridio isn't so interested in that idea.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Meridio will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Joe Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Smith scores with a takedown into Meridio's guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith landing some decent shots from guard.
Meridio managing to control the position.
Smith landing with the ground and pound.
Smith postures up in Meridio's guard and throws a big left but Meridio blocks it.
Smith keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Meridio's head.
Smith with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Meridio has a closed guard, preventing Smith from standing up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Meridio shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Smith wants to stand and escape but instead Meridio has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Meridio is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Smith throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Meridio trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Meridio preventing the sweep.
Meridio won't allow Smith to get back to his feet.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Meridio from controlling successfully.
Meridio seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.

Meridio drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Meridio is trying to get an arm triangle but Smith is defending well.
Smith struggling a bit here.
Smith is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Meridio is controlling him well.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Meridio laying and praying for a moment but Smith takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith looks like he's trying to stand up.
Smith is looking to improve his position.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Meridio fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smith, pushing him back against the ropes.
Meridio is trying to break the clinch but Smith is controlling him.
Meridio wants a takedown but no success here.
Smith is stalling here.

Meridio breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Meridio looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Meridio persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.

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.
Smith throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Meridio is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Smith shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Meridio napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Meridio is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Meridio manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Meridio pulls Smith in to control the position.
Meridio is trying to keep Smith in close.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Meridio wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Meridio utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meridio throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Smith postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Smith keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Meridio's head.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smith tries to clinch but Meridio moves away

and Meridio counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Meridio.
Meridio lands a nice elbow.

Meridio manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Meridio's head.
Meridio trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Smith wants to control from the top but Meridio keeps moving.
Smith would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

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.
Smith is fighting to break Meridio's control of his arms but Meridio is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Smith trying to stand up but can't free himself from Meridio's guard.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Joe Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.
Meridio taking a breather.

Smith tightens his grip and picks Meridio up, before dumping him to the ground. Meridio manages to land in guard.
Smith won't allow Meridio to get back to his feet.

Meridio uses the ropes to get back to his feet.

Smith darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Alessio Meridio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith lands with a punch from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Joe Smith.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Smith, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

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