PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Steve Zaretski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jack Smith will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Zaretski
vs
Smith

178 cm
21
157 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

180 cm
24
157 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Steve Zaretski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jack Smith!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Seu Braga and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zaretski closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Zaretski lands in his opponent's guard.

Smith wriggles free and stands up.

Smith forces Zaretski back against the cage and clinches.
Zaretski tries to score a body lock takedown but Smith shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Smith looking to throw knees to the head but Zaretski is blocking nicely.

Zaretski has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Smith uses from the top position.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Zaretski is striking but Smith is not phased and passes to half guard.
Zaretski makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Zaretski.
Zaretski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaretski is working hard here to advance position.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two 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.
Zaretski bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.
Zaretski working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Zaretski preventing the sweep.
Zaretski is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.
Zaretski throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Zaretski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeping full guard, as Zaretski tries to pass.
Zaretski loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zaretski fails with the takedown.
Smith scores with a jab to the body.
Zaretski looks to land a combination but Smith avoids it well.

Zaretski shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zaretski showed some decent athleticism there.
Zaretski sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Smith defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaretski not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Zaretski missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Zaretski is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Zaretski is breathing heavily.
Zaretski thows a huge punch but Smith dodges it nicely.
Zaretski not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Zaretski throws a strike but Smith avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Zaretski prevents Smith from getting back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zaretski was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Smith connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Steve Zaretski will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Smith scores with a one two! Zaretski had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Zaretski blocks a low kick nicely.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zaretski moves away.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zaretski.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zaretski was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Zaretski is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smith sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zaretski shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Zaretski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zaretski blocks a head kick by Smith.
Zaretski throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zaretski tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from Zaretski.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick by Zaretski misses
and Smith counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Smith scores with a hook to the body. Zaretski takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zaretski.
Smith throws a nice looking combination but Zaretski bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Smith feints and then cracks Zaretski's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Zaretski down.
Smith moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zaretski.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Smith uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zaretski.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Smith clinches up against the cage.
Zaretski is trying to break the clinch but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Zaretski avoids the damage to the body.
Smith lands with a short shot to the head.
A body shot lands from Smith.
Zaretski's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Zaretski blocking some punches.
Zaretski can't get the takedown.
Smith blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zaretski looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Smith stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zaretski avoiding damage as Smith throws knees to the body.
Smith lands a good knee to the midsection. Zaretski won't want to take too many of those.
Smith digs a right hand underneath Zaretski's ribcage. Zaretski let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Smith lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Zaretski backwards.
Zaretski has had enough of the clinch but Smith keeps him there for the moment.
Zaretski managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
Smith working Zaretski over with knees to the body.
Smith landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Zaretski fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Smith scores with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zaretski backwards.
A short uppercut from Smith.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Smith.
Smith with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Smith lands a hook to the side of the head.
Smith has Zaretski pressed against the cage, preventing Zaretski from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Zaretski tries to break the clinch but Smith is controlling the position.
A short left from Smith.
Smith comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Smith misses with a knee to the head.
Smith lands a good knee to the midsection. Zaretski won't want to take too many of those.

Zaretski drags the fight down to the ground.
Zaretski is striking but Smith is not phased and passes to half guard.
Zaretski wants to get back to full guard.
Zaretski slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith stands and steps away. Zaretski gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Jack Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zaretski shoots in but no luck this time.
Zaretski ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Zaretski tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Smith throws a shot to the body.
Smith scores with a kick to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zaretski blocks a jab.
Zaretski takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Smith scores with a spinning back kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Zaretski's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Zaretski bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zaretski takes one to the chin there.
Smith swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Zaretski.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.
Zaretski tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
Zaretski wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Smith lands a body shot in the clinch.
Zaretski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A frustrated look appears on Zaretski's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Smith lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Smith working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Smith prevents Zaretski from breaking the clinch.
Smith connects with a knee to the head.
Zaretski takes a shot to the head.

Zaretski is rocked!
Smith lands a knee to the head.
Oh Zaretski is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith unloads with a big right hand that wobbles Zaretski! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but Smith is unloading with more strikes now! Zaretski drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jack Smith!