PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryu Hoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Smith has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hoshi
vs
Smith

180 cm
23
167 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

180 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryu Hoshi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mike Smith!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hoshi tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
A jab from Hoshi does it's job there.
Hoshi scores with a jab to the head.
Hoshi misses with a few strikes there.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hoshi but Hoshi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hoshi doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice jab there from Hoshi.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hoshi is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.
Hoshi drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hoshi is working for takedown but Smith is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith has hold of one of Hoshi's legs. Hoshi is fighting the takedown attempt but Smith gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Smith throws and elbow that misses. Hoshi uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Smith's guard. Nice move by Hoshi!
Smith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hoshi is controlling him.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Smith can do anything to dispel that myth.
Smith wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hoshi trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith pulls Hoshi in to control the position.
Hoshi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hoshi wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Hoshi puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Hoshi trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith has his hands clasped together around Hoshi's back. He's all about the action.
It looks like Hoshi is going to stand back up.
Hoshi tries to stand and escape but Smith actually recovers to full guard.
Hoshi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hoshi is fighting to break Smith's control of his arms but Smith is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Smith wants to stand up but Hoshi is controlling him.
Hoshi tries to stand but Smith is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoshi wants to stand and escape but instead Smith has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Hoshi controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smith chips away with some ground and pound.
Hoshi will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Smith stops Hoshi from standing up.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hoshi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hoshi can't keep his opponent in guard - Smith advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Smith working the head and body with strikes.
Hoshi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smith on the ground.

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.
Smith prevents Hoshi from improving his position.
Hoshi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.
Hoshi pushes Smith off looking to stand but Smith dives back in and keeps control.
Smith lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hoshi wants to control but Smith passes into side.
Hoshi tries to bench press Smith off him but Smith keeps the position.
Check out the look on Smith's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Hoshi wants to get back to his feet.
Hoshi is breathing heavily.
Smith creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Smith will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. Hoshi tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hoshi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A right-left combo lands from Hoshi.
Hoshi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Smith closes the distance and clinches up with Hoshi, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes Hoshi against the cage but Hoshi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hoshi tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hoshi won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hoshi 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 working the head with strikes.
Smith is putting a hurting on Hoshi here, landing some big shots from side control.
Hoshi is trying to buck Smith off.
Hoshi takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith controlling the position from side mount.
Smith trying to control the action but Hoshi is working from the bottom.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smith has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Hoshi!
Smith trying to control but Hoshi is having none of it.
Smith is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Smith fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

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.
Hoshi gets back to half guard.
Hoshi tries to kick Smith off but Smith keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith working over Hoshi with some ground and pound. Hoshi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Smith is trying to control the action in half guard but Hoshi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hoshi wants to get back to his feet.
Hoshi regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hoshi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smith is controlling him.
Hoshi is trying to keep Smith in close.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hoshi fails with the takedown

and Smith counters with a takedown into side control.
Smith controlling the position.
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.
Hoshi is working to avoid the ground and pound but Smith connects with a decent elbow.
Hoshi takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Hoshi takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Smith looks up at the clock and then as Hoshi takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Smith smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Smith moves into full mount!
Smith scoring with strikes but Hoshi is staying in there.
BOOM! Smith connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Smith lands a heavy elbow.
Smith lands a nice shot to the head.
Smith working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Hoshi hang on?
Smith controlling the pace for now.
Smith connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Smith sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Smith moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Hoshi has worked his arm free - good work by Hoshi!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith cracks Hoshi with a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Smith takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hoshi but Hoshi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hoshi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hoshi swinging wildly here.
Hoshi stuffs the takedown.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ryu Hoshi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Smith.

Hoshi gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Smith to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoshi wants to stand but Smith is controlling the position.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Hoshi is keeping the position.
Hoshi has momentary wrist control but Smith slips an elbow through the middle.
Mike Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hoshi is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Hoshi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hoshi works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Smith changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hoshi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hoshi wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Hoshi takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Smith landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Hoshi is trying to get back to his feet.
Smith scoring with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith working the ground and pound.
Smith advances to mount.
Smith prevents Hoshi from getting the reversal.
Smith landing shots from mount.
Mike Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smith controlling from the full mount.
Hoshi tries to reverse the position but Smith maintains control.
Smith tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoshi swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

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