PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alex Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sho Kazuki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by Madhouse. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Smith
vs
Kazuki

169 cm
22
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Prefers ground

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alex Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sho Kazuki!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Skip Squint and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith gets a takedown into half guard.

Smith is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kazuki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kazuki.
Smith might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Kazuki is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.

Kazuki looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Smith has picked Kazuki up and slammed him! Kazuki can't keep hold of the triangle and Smith manages to pass to side control!
Smith works to advance to full mount. Kazuki defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Kazuki keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Smith landing strikes from the mount.
Kazuki is trying desperately to improve position.
Smith with good strikes from the mount here!
Smith scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Kazuki is rocked!
Kazuki is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Kazuki is still in real trouble! Can Smith finish him?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith working for a guillotine from mount but Kazuki is in no mood to give up.
Kazuki seems to have recovered his senses.
Kazuki is working to get back to half guard.
Smith controlling from mount.
Kazuki is trying desperately to improve position.
Kazuki wants to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
Kazuki has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

Kazuki defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Smith's arms.
Kazuki tries to escape the position.
Kazuki trying to control but not successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith biding his time, controlling Kazuki.
Smith gets his hands free as Kazuki looks to control.
Kazuki manages to reverse the position and now he's in Smith's guard. Nice work there by Kazuki.
Smith wants to sweep here but Kazuki controlling him for the moment.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Kazuki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.

Smith has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Kazuki is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Smith.

Kazuki looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kazuki advances nicely into full mount.
Smith is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is working hard here to advance position.
Smith throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Kazuki looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kazuki looking to control but Smith is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Kazuki goes for an armbar but Smith turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Smith.
Kazuki looking to control.

Kazuki had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Smith is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kazuki Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Smith's back instead.
Kazuki is trying to stick to Smith's back but Smith is turning into Kazuki. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Kazuki's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Smith.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Kazuki looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Kazuki is cranking Smith's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Smith! He's tightened the choke and Smith is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:42 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Sho Kazuki!