PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Will Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bastion Vincent (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vincent has chosen The Final Countdown as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Vincent

180 cm
25
190 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

210 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Will Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bastion Vincent!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, John Mangel and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vincent pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vincent shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smith sprawls well. Smith wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Vincent gets slowly back to his feet.
Vincent tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Vincent tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vincent tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vincent tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Vincent wants to clinch.
Vincent shoots in but no luck this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vincent wants to clinch.

Smith darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith trying to control from half guard but Vincent is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vincent desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Smith seems to be working for a kimura but Vincent defends the submission attempt.
Smith passes the guard and advances to mount!
Smith dominating with strikes here.
Smith forces the positional change into back control.
Vincent is in bad spot here.

Smith patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control.

Vincent defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Smith's arms.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vincent is covering up but some of the strikes from Smith are getting through and doing damage.
Vincent has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Smith is hanging on to Vincent's back as he tries to escape.
Smith wants to control but Vincent manages to buck him off and is now in Smith's guard! Nice work there by Vincent!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Vincent is looking to stand up but Smith won't let him.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vincent gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Vincent tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Vincent shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Smith counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Vincent!
Will Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bastion Vincent.
Vincent is trying desperately to improve position.
Smith won't let Vincent get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Smith looking to finish with strikes here!
Vincent tries to hold on but Smith postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith looking for a guillotine from mount but Vincent is having none of it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vincent can do anything to dispel that myth.
Vincent is desperately trying to improve his position but Smith has a good base and remains in mount.

Smith has control of Vincent's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Vincent regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Vincent is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Smith moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Vincent has worked his arm free - good work by Vincent!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Smith dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Vincent closes the distance looking to clinch

and Smith counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Smith tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Smith has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Smith working away.

Smith stands up and beckons Vincent to his feet.
Vincent fails with an attempt to clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Vincent closes the distance and clinches.
Vincent is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Smith is defending well for now.
Vincent landing knees to the head.

It looks like Will Smith has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vincent misses with a knee to the head.
Smith avoids a wild elbow strike from Vincent.
Smith on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Vincent drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Smith gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Vincent crunches a lovely knee into Smith's ribcage.

Vincent pulls guard effortlessly.
Smith trying to control but Vincent is working from the bottom.
Will Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith stops Vincent from standing up.
Vincent looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Smith looking to pass the guard.

That's two 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.
Smith is working hard here to advance position.

Vincent wriggles free and stands up.
Vincent with a lazy takedown attempt

and Smith counters with a single leg into guard. Vincent didn't expect that.

Smith decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Vincent, up you get!
Smith takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Smith drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Vincent looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.

Smith drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Vincent dives on top into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Smith escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vincent gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.

Smith working for a triangle but Vincent defends it easily.
Smith wants to control but Vincent passes easily into half guard.
Smith is staying active underneath Vincent, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Vincent drops an elbow to the side of Smith's head.
Smith is looking to control Vincent's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smith avoid being mounted?
Smith taking some punishment here, with Vincent in his half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Vincent lands a nice short elbow.
Vincent lands strikes from half guard.
Smith is looking to get back to full guard here but Vincent has managed to pass to side control instead.
Smith takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Smith is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Vincent is landing with some decent strikes but Smith is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vincent lands with some strikes.
Vincent really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Vincent raining down shots from the mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Smith dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Will Smith's cut.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Vincent tries to clinch up

so Smith counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Vincent is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Vincent is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Smith won't allow Vincent to sweep him here.

Smith is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Smith lands a couple of elbows.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vincent wriggles free and stands up.
Vincent looks to clinch

and Smith counters with a single leg into guard. Vincent didn't expect that.
Vincent looking for a sweep. Not yet Vincent, not yet.
Vincent lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
Smith is stalling in the full guard.
Vincent keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.

Smith drops back, looking for a kneebar! Vincent looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Vincent looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Vincent!
Smith is looking to regain half guard here but Vincent keeps moving and retains side control.
Smith pushes Vincent away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Vincent gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vincent has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Vincent fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Smith tries to lock up and control but Vincent gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Vincent punishing his opponent with strikes.
Vincent prevents Smith from getting the reversal.
Vincent pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Vincent fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Smith wants to control but Vincent is having none of it.
Vincent with shots to the head and body - Smith looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vincent working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Smith working to try and regain half guard.
Vincent landing strikes from the mount.
Vincent avoids the attempt from Smith to control.
Vincent unloading with bombs!
Smith can't escape the position.
Vincent 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 might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Smith can't escape the position.

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.
Vincent with shots to the head and body - Smith looks very uncomfortable down there.
Vincent scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Smith?
Vincent is landing with some decent strikes but Smith is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Smith is trying to stand.
Smith swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The referee warns Smith that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Smith is looking to improve his position but Vincent isn't that keen on the idea.
Smith tries to hold on but Vincent pushes him away.
Bastion Vincent has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Will Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vincent landing strikes from the mount and Smith is in trouble!

And that's the end of the fight!
Will 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27

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