PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sean Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicholas Edward Cave (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Smith
vs
Edward Cave

172 cm
23
130 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

169 cm
23
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sean Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nicholas Edward Cave!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Daniel Cesar and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Smith in side control lands a decent elbow.
Cave tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Smith wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Cave is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Smith's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Cave slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Smith with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Cave utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith is working Cave over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Smith working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Cave working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Smith landing some decent shots from guard.
Cave looking for a sweep. Not yet Cave, not yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cave working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.

Cave is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smith lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

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

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cave looks gassed!

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cave's head.
Smith connects with a couple of short punches.
Smith postures up in Cave's guard and throws a big left but Cave blocks it.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cave's head.
Smith is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cave looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
Smith stands up over Cave, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cave has momentary wrist control but Smith slips an elbow through the middle.
Smith makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Smith lands a couple of elbows.
Cave can't keep his opponent in guard - Smith advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Cave looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Cave actively working from the bottom here.
Smith scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Smith lands with a punch from half guard.

Cave looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cave looking for submissions off his back.
Smith slips a nice elbow through Cave's hands, connecting with Cave's forehead.
Smith working over Cave with some ground and pound. Cave looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Smith landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ground and pound from Smith.
Cave has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Smith scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Cave actively working from the bottom here.
Smith working over Cave with some ground and pound. Cave looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Smith is nestled in close to Cave, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Smith winds up and cracks Cave with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cave gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cave keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Cave has wrist control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Smith's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Smith distracts Cave with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Smith distracts Cave with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Cave looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Cave.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.

Cave throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nicholas Edward Cave will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith working the ground and pound.
Cave tries to bench press Smith off him but Smith keeps the position.

Smith is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cave knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Cave is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Smith off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cave has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Smith has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Smith is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Cave is breathing heavily.
Smith just trying to survive but Cave is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Smith fending off the submission attempt from Cave.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith breaks Cave's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Cave keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smith connects with a couple of short punches.

Cave is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cave's head.
Smith postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

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

Cave is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Smith lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Cave had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.
Smith lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Smith keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cave's head.
Smith works over Cave with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cave has momentary wrist control but Smith slips an elbow through the middle.

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.
Cave has momentary wrist control but Smith slips an elbow through the middle.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cave tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Smith slips a jab from Cave.
Cave throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicholas Edward Cave showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Cave misses with a body shot.
Cave tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cave loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cave gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Smith is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
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.
Smith controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Nicholas Edward Cave has got the better of the ground game so far.

Cave escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Smith makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Smith working some strikes from top position.
Smith makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cave utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Cave looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
Nicholas Edward Cave is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cave takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cave works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Smith postures up in Cave's guard and throws a big left but Cave blocks it.
Cave not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cave wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Cave shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Cave moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Cave rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Cave gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Smith to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Cave looking to control.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cave is trying to keep Smith in close.
Cave is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Sean Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sean Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cave has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Nicholas Edward Cave!