PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Steve Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
James

160 cm
23
160 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

170 cm
26
165 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI
Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Steve Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jesse James!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith swings for the body but James moves out of range.

James shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Smith napping and manages to drive through into side control!
James trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

James looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
You can see the frustration on Smith's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
James passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Smith!
Smith knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for James on the ground.

James is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Smith has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Smith wants to control but James is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Smith can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
James looking to control but Smith is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Smith tries to reverse the position but James maintains control.

James 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!

James looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
James looks gassed!
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
James not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

James looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.

James has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smith lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
James looking to control.
James keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith with a nice head shot there.
Smith trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
Smith cracks James with a solid left hand.
Smith lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Smith wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of James's head.
James tries to land a sweep but no joy.
James keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith postures up and lands a big shot to James's brow.

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.
James preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
James wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
James has a closed guard, preventing Smith from standing up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Smith cracks James with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
James uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Smith scores with a jab to the body.
Smith darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Smith fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. James looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
James takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith lands with a nice body punch.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Smith dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Smith throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent James stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Smith takes a swing at James's ribcage but misses.

James looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Smith is trying to stand back up but James is controlling him
Smith won't allow James to pass to mount.
Smith is looking to escape.
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Smith is looking to escape.
James is breathing heavily.
James 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.

James is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Smith tries to kick James off but James keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smith lands a nice hook to James's body. James takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Steve Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith lands a nice hook to James's body. James takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Jesse James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith scores with a shot to the body.
James takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Smith throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent James stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Smith wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Smith throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent James stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Smith fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Steve Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Smith scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Smith scores with a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith lands a nice looking body shot.
Smith scores with a body shot.
Smith with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a body shot.
Smith fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Smith lands with a nice body punch.
James has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Smith finds it's way round the side to connect with James's head.
Smith stalks James and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into James's face. James staggers backwards, shaken.
Smith fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Smith scores with a body shot.
Smith connects with a body shot.
James takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Smith is looking to wear down James with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Smith scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. James doesn't seem bothered though.
Smith thuds a left hand into James's body.
Smith lands with an uppercut that bounces James off the cage and back into rage.
Smith scores with a hook to the body. James takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Smith with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Smith with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith works James's body with a nice hook.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from James is defended easily by Smith.
James takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Smith swinging wildly here.
James takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Smith lands a nice shot to the body.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but James is just out of range.
James looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but James persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Smith scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Smith lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Smith ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Smith lands with a straight right. James didn't see that one coming.
Smith connects with a body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith lands with an overhand left.
Smith dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Smith stalks James and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into James's face. James staggers backwards, shaken.
Smith stalks James and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into James's face. James staggers backwards, shaken.
James gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Smith lands a head shot.
Smith lands a jab to James's midsection.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice body punch from Smith.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Smith comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Smith punishes James's body with a nice straight punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Smith dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. James doesn't seem bothered though.
James changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smith tries to avoid it but James manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smith to the ground. Smith escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Smith digs a good hook to James's body.
Smith catches James with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
James drops his hands momentarily and Smith takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
James walks into a straight right hand from Smith.
Smith lands with a shot to the body.
Smith lands a nice hook to James's body. James takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Smith jabs at James's body.
James takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Smith throws a combination. James tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
James has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Smith scores with a hook to the body. James takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Smith scores with a jab to the head.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith lands a nice shot to the body.
Smith takes a swing at James's ribcage but misses.
Smith is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of James's head.
Smith is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that James can do to turn this around?
Smith connects with a jab.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Smith lands a nice hook to James's body. James takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Smith lands with a nice body punch.
Smith lands a nice looking body shot.
A shot to the liver by Smith. Beautiful body shot.
Smith lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Smith.
James throws a shot to the body.
Smith throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Smith scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Good standup being displayed there by Smith as he connects with a hook.
Smith scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Smith lands a nice looking body shot.
James doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Smith digs a good body shot into James's ribs.
Smith works James's body with a nice hook.
Smith with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Smith scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
James takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A shot to the liver by Smith. Beautiful body shot.
Smith with a hook.
Smith lands with a shot to the body.
A jab lands there for Smith.
Smith lands a jab to the nose.
Smith lands a nice hook to James's body. James takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
James takes one to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Smith. No joy for James on that attempt.
Smith fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Smith lands a right hook to the body.
Smith lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Smith.
James takes a shot right to the bread basket.
James takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Smith with a nice cross.
Smith punishes James's body with a nice straight punch.
Smith lands a body shot.
Smith scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
James changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smith tries to avoid it but James manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smith to the ground. Smith escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Steve Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse James.
Smith lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Jab by Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Smith.
A jab from Smith finds it's way through James's defenses.
James keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Smith moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
James thows a left - swing and a miss!
Smith lands with a good body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith lands a nice shot to the body.
Smith dips to his left and cracks James with an uppercut!
James takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Smith lands a straight punch to the body, keeping James at a distance.
Smith scores with a body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith lands a straight punch to the body, keeping James at a distance.
Smith scores with the left hand. James knows he should have avoided that one.
Smith scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Jesse James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith lands a nice shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Smith, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Steve Smith!
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Steve Smith!
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Steve Smith!

Steve Smith wins by unanimous decision!