PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stef Rabox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Stef Rabox has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Rabox
vs
Smith

180 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

150 cm
22
220 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Stef Rabox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Steve Smith!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Ackerman and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rabox tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Smith feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Smith controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Smith won't allow Rabox to get back to his feet.
Smith content to stall in guard here.
Smith won't allow Rabox to get back to his feet.
Smith looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rabox wants to stand up but Smith is controlling him.
Rabox looking for a sweep. Not yet Rabox, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rabox on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rabox tries to get out of the position.
Rabox wants to stand up but Smith is controlling him.
Smith is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rabox trying to strike off his back.
Smith passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rabox tries to kick Smith off but Smith keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rabox tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Smith in particular looking to stall.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Despite being in the dominant position, Steve Smith just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rabox looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stef Rabox is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rabox looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rabox tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Smith controlling from the full mount.
Rabox is trying to escape the mount.
Rabox sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Smith is looking to advance position but Rabox won't allow it.
Smith scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Smith lands a nice short elbow.
Smith sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rabox is looking to escape.
Smith is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Smith trying to mount his opponent but Rabox defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabox is trying to stand up here but Smith is controlling him well.
Rabox is breathing heavily.
Smith is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Smith.
Smith stops Rabox from getting back to his feet.
Rabox tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Smith manages to move to mount!
Smith controlling from the full mount.
Rabox is trying to escape the mount.
Smith is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rabox can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Smith looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Smith cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith controlling his opponent.
Smith prevents Rabox from getting the reversal.
Smith looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Smith sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rabox is wriggling around trying to escape.
Smith content just to control the position here.

Despite being in the dominant position, Steve Smith just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Smith dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Smith scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Smith not doing much here.
Smith slips a nice elbow through Rabox's hands, connecting with Rabox's forehead.
Smith is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rabox is trying to stand.
Smith lands with a punch from half guard.
Rabox is trying to stand.
Well, if Smith is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Smith lands a nice short elbow.
Smith stops Rabox from getting back to his feet.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Smith is looking to advance position but Rabox won't allow it.
Smith is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Smith keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Steve Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rabox is trying to stand up here but Smith is controlling him well.
Rabox is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rabox is trying to stand up here but Smith is controlling him well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rabox is not content to let Smith control the position.
Rabox tries to kick Smith off but Smith keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rabox is looking to clinch.
Rabox wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Rabox tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Steve Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.
Rabox tries to clinch up.
Rabox tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Rabox wants to clinch.
Rabox fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rabox moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Rabox tries to clinch up.
Rabox moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Rabox wants to clinch.
Rabox is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Rabox tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Rabox shows good takedown defense.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Rabox.
Rabox moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Rabox tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Smith avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rabox tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Rabox.
Rabox wants to clinch.
Rabox tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Rabox fails in his attempt to clinch.

Smith scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rabox works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rabox thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Smith is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabox wants to stand and escape but Smith is having none of it.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Rabox is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rabox keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Rabox wants to stand and escape but Smith is having none of it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rabox tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Rabox.

Smith feints and as Rabox raises his hands in defense, Smith changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smith controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rabox wants to stand and escape but Smith is having none of it.
Smith controls from within his opponent's guard.

Rabox pushes Smith off and gets back to his feet.

Smith decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is controlling the pace.
Smith stops Rabox from getting back to his feet.

Rabox makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Rabox.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.

Smith drives through and clinches with Rabox against the cage.
Nice body punch from Rabox.
Rabox tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Smith has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Rabox clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Smith throwing damaging strikes from the back! Rabox could be in trouble here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Rabox grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Smith controls the action.
Rabox wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rabox tries to clinch

and Smith counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rabox's guard now.
Rabox is looking to stand up but Smith isn't so interested in that idea.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Smith wants to control from the top but Rabox keeps moving.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
Smith with a nice head shot there.
Rabox is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Smith controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Smith won't allow Rabox to get back to his feet.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rabox will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Rabox is retaining full guard.
Smith slips nicely into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rabox does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rabox moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Smith prevents Rabox from getting back to his feet.
Smith trying to control but Rabox is working from the bottom.
Smith not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Despite being in the dominant position, Steve Smith just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rabox tries to clinch but Smith moves away

and Smith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Smith won't allow Rabox to sweep him here.
Rabox being controlled here, momentarily.
Rabox wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Smith wants to control from the top but Rabox keeps moving.
Smith passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Smith tries for a kimura but Rabox is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Rabox is pushing Smith's head away, looking to escape. Smith manages to hold on to the position though.
Smith controlling the position.
Rabox is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.
Rabox is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Smith has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Smith scoring with punches from side control.
Rabox tries to escape but Smith is in control.

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

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rabox wants to get back to his feet but Smith is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Smith looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabox is looking to stand up but Smith isn't so interested in that idea.
Smith wants to control from the top but Rabox keeps moving.
Rabox is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smith is controlling him.
Smith not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Smith is in close to Rabox's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Smith stays in close to Rabox's body and controls the position.
Smith stands and throws Rabox's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rabox is looking to reverse the position.

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 controlling the position from side mount.
Smith scoring with punches and elbows.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rabox is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Smith asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Smith has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Rabox stuffs the takedown attempt from Smith. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Rabox tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Smith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rabox looking for a sweep. Not yet Rabox, not yet.
Smith controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Stef Rabox has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Despite being in the dominant position, Steve Smith just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rabox connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smith winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

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