PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bubba Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yazan Al Naber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Al Naber

200 cm
23
300 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

193 cm
24
295 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bubba Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yazan Al Naber!
The judges for this bout are , and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Al Naber swinging wilding here.
Smith takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

It looks like Bubba Smith has been cut.
Smith looks for a takedown but Al Naber sprawls well.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bubba Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith slaps away a takedown attempt from Al Naber, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Al Naber connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Al Naber takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Al Naber.
Smith throws a combination that misses
letting Al Naber counter with a right hand.
Smith with a poor takedown
and Al Naber counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith with a lazy takedown attempt
and Al Naber counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Danga de danga de dang - Al Naber scores with a four punch combination!

Al Naber shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Smith napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Al Naber decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Smith avoids the head kick by Al Naber.
Al Naber moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Al Naber connects with the punch.
A slapping leg kick lands for Al Naber.
Al Naber lands a jab-cross combination.

Bubba Smith's cut is getting worse.
Smith takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Al Naber fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Smith on the side of the head.

Bubba Smith's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

Al Naber gets a takedown into half guard.
Smith tries to get to full guard but Al Naber has control of the leg.

Al Naber is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Naber takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Al Naber throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Al Naber is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Smith tries to get to full guard but Al Naber has control of the leg.

Al Naber stands up out of the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Al Naber counters with a single leg into guard. Smith didn't expect that.
Al Naber preventing the sweep.
Smith looking to control.
Al Naber wants to stand but Smith has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Smith keeping full guard, as Al Naber tries to pass.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Al Naber is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smith tries to get out of the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice shot by Al Naber.
Smith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Al Naber paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Smith with a poor takedown
and Al Naber counters with a one-two to the body.
Al Naber rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Smith avoids the head kick by Al Naber.

Smith scores with a takedown into Al Naber's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Al Naber has momentary wrist control but Smith slips an elbow through the middle.
Smith lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yazan Al Naber dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bubba Smith's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Smith gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Al Naber.
Al Naber has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smith with a lazy takedown attempt

and Al Naber counters with a nice double leg into side control. Smith won't be happy with that.

Al Naber decides to stand back up.
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Al Naber counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A left and a right from Al Naber both land. Nice combination.
Al Naber pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Al Naber misses with a head kick.
Smith walks into a straight right hand from Al Naber.

Smith moves into the clinch.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
No luck for Al Naber with that takedown attempt.
Smith tries for a takedown but Al Naber circles away easily
enabling Al Naber to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bubba Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Al Naber manages to work his way to half guard, despite Smith's best efforts.

Smith is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Al Naber is looking to control Smith's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Al Naber avoid being mounted?
Al Naber pushes Smith off looking to stand but Smith dives back in and keeps control.
Al Naber flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Al Naber throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Al Naber taking some punishment here, with Smith in his half guard.
Al Naber slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Smith is trying hard to land a takedown here. Al Naber sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Al Naber lands with a kick to the temple. Smith shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Smith closes the distance and clinches up with Al Naber, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes Al Naber against the cage but Al Naber circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Al Naber scores with a three punch combo!
Al Naber lands with a nice combination. Smith backs away looking to recover.

Smith darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Al Naber is refusing to be controlled, as Smith sits in half guard.

Al Naber has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Smith escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Smith!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Al Naber lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Smith backs up against the cage.
Nice takedown defense from Al Naber. No joy for Smith on that attempt.
Yazan Al Naber seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith avoids the head kick by Al Naber.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Al Naber sprawls well. Al Naber wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Al Naber throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Al Naber is working the combinations to good effect here.
Nice sprawl there from Al Naber as Smith shoots in.
Yazan Al Naber seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Al Naber tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
Al Naber throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Al Naber sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
Al Naber defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smith.
Al Naber defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smith.
Smith blocks a leg kick.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smith avoids the head kick by Al Naber.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Al Naber circles away quickly and effectively.
Smith wants to clinch up but Al Naber keeps it at a distance.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt

and Al Naber decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Smith's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yazan Al Naber showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bubba Smith's cut.
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 throws a predictable looking body shot
and Al Naber counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Al Naber looks for the body kick but Smith saw that one coming.
Al Naber falls off balance throwing a combination

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown. Al Naber fights it but they end up in guard.
Al Naber preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Al Naber utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Al Naber has wrist control.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
Al Naber preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smith knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Al Naber on the ground.
Al Naber striking off his back but it's not causing Smith any problems.

Smith gets to his feet. Al Naber looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Smith takes one on the button.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt
and Al Naber counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Smith is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Naber throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Al Naber shows good takedown defense.
Smith with a lazy takedown attempt
and Al Naber counters with a left and a right that stings Smith.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bubba Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Naber throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Smith counters with a nice uppercut.
Smith shoots and misses
and Al Naber counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Al Naber as he jumps to the side.
Smith connects with a high kick.
Smith misses with a takedown
and Al Naber cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Al Naber tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Smith showed some decent athleticism there.
Smith takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith thows a huge punch but Al Naber dodges it nicely.
Al Naber on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Smith trying to mount his opponent but Al Naber defends it.
Smith landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Al Naber is trying to stand up here but Smith is controlling him well.
Smith wants to stand but Al Naber has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Al Naber is defending against the submission attempts here by Smith.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Smith misses with a takedown
enabling Al Naber to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith has his takedown stuffed
and Al Naber counters with a one-two to the body.
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Al Naber counter with a right hand.
Smith avoids the head kick by Al Naber.
Smith with a poor takedown
and Al Naber counters with a straight right hand.
Bubba Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yazan Al Naber is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Al Naber avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Smith blocks the body kick.

That's four 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.

Smith rushes Al Naber and presses him up against the cage.

Smith pulls guard effortlessly.
Smith trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Al Naber is proving a slippery customer.
Al Naber is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Al Naber trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith controlling Al Naber's posture.

Smith is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bubba Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Al Naber 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 Suge Night scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yazan Al Naber!