PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Eli Gabriel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reggie Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reggie Smith has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Eli Gabriel's chin.

Gabriel
vs
Smith

160 cm
26
147 lbs
9 - 5 - 1

167 cm
22
140 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 9 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Eli Gabriel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Reggie Smith!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Elvis Blanc and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gabriel darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Gabriel seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Smith does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Smith is looking to improve his position.
Gabriel missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Smith taking some punishment here, with Gabriel in his half guard.

Gabriel is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Smith is just riding it out for now. Gabriel eventually gives up the hold.
Smith is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gabriel looking to pass the guard.
Smith wants to sweep here but Gabriel controlling him for the moment.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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.
Gabriel landing some decent shots from guard.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gabriel trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gabriel!
Gabriel is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gabriel tries to lock up and control but Smith gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel is working to get back to half guard.

Smith goes for an armbar but Gabriel turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Gabriel.
Gabriel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gabriel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gabriel's guard.

Smith drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gabriel looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gabriel looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gabriel!
Smith manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Gabriel gets full guard.

Smith decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Smith shoots and misses

and Gabriel counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Smith is not content to let Gabriel control the position.

Gabriel is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Smith sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Gabriel dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Gabriel throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Smith takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Reggie Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Smith, as that shot connected.

Gabriel shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
BOOM! Gabriel connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Gabriel lands with some strikes.
Smith is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gabriel wants to control the pace but Smith is squirming around nicely.
Smith really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabriel is landing with some decent strikes but Smith is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
BOOM! Gabriel connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Gabriel scoring with strikes but Smith is staying in there.

Smith is rocked!
Gabriel has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Smith's face.
Smith is still in real trouble! Can Gabriel finish him?
Gabriel tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Smith seems to have recovered his senses.
Gabriel trying to control but Smith is having none of it.
Gabriel has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Gabriel unloads with some shots from mount but Smith bucks and avoids them well.
Smith is looking to get to half guard.
Gabriel working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Smith slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Gabriel thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Smith's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel passes to full mount!
Gabriel landing shots from mount.
Smith is squirming around, avoiding Gabriel's attempts to control the action.
Gabriel scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Smith is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gabriel is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Smith has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Smith!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith tries to stand but Gabriel is controlling from the bottom.
Gabriel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gabriel lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Smith!

Gabriel is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Smith has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Smith!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Gabriel dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gabriel fails to land the takedown.
Smith fails to land the takedown.

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!
Gabriel is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Smith is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Gabriel loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a big shot that misses.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gabriel but Gabriel pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Reggie Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gabriel was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Smith shoots and misses
and Gabriel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Eli Gabriel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Reggie Smith.
Smith swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Gabriel gets caught flat footed, as Smith shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Gabriel manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Smith has Gabriel in his guard.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gabriel passes Smith's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Nice strikes from Gabriel there.
Gabriel is keen to just control but Smith is a slippery customer.
Eli Gabriel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gabriel lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gabriel is working for a kimura but Smith is defending it quite comfortably.
Smith moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gabriel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gabriel trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reggie Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four 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.
Gabriel landing with the ground and pound.
Smith has momentary wrist control but Gabriel slips an elbow through the middle.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Smith is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gabriel sees it coming and defends easily.
Eli Gabriel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Smith is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gabriel is just riding it out for now. Smith eventually gives up the hold.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Reggie Smith.
Well Gabriel has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eli Gabriel!