PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between james pimentel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Todd Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

pimentel
vs
Smith

165 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, james pimentel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Todd Smith!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Russell Pearce and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
pimentel throws a right and a left that Smith avoids nicely.
pimentel could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.

pimentel is fighting off a takedown attempt but Smith is just too persistent for him and manages to trip pimentel to the mat. pimentel regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
pimentel controlling the position.
pimentel keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

Smith decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Smith closes the distance and clinches up with pimentel, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes pimentel against the cage but pimentel circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Smith moves out of range as pimentel throws a body kick.

pimentel closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Smith did well to prevent pimentel getting side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
pimentel tries to pass to full mount but Smith defends it.
Smith is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to roll over but pimentel keeps him under control.
pimentel takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Smith pushes pimentel off looking to stand but pimentel dives back in and keeps control.
pimentel is figuring out what he wants to do next.
pimentel is thwarting Smith's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
pimentel prevents Smith from improving his position.
pimentel seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
pimentel with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Smith kicks off pimentel and gets to his feet.
Smith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from pimentel.
pimentel is breathing heavily.
pimentel shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed pimentel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Smith wants to clinch but pimentel slips to the side

and pimentel counters with a nice double leg into side control. Smith won't be happy with that.
Smith is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
pimentel just content to control the position.
pimentel working the ground and pound from side control.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.
Smith manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Smith tries to get to full guard but pimentel has control of the leg.
Smith trying to control here.
Smith is trying to stand back up but pimentel is controlling him
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
pimentel fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Smith.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

james pimentel dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

pimentel shoots in for a double leg but Smith sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Smith tries for a takedown but pimentel circles away easily

and pimentel counters with a nice double leg into side control. Smith won't be happy with that.
Smith is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on pimentel's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Well, if pimentel 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.
pimentel moves into full mount! Smith won't be happy about that!
pimentel postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Smith looks a forlorn figure.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

pimentel has hold of Smith's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Smith manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
pimentel misses with a head shot.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
pimentel unloads with some shots from mount but Smith bucks and avoids them well.
Smith tries to hold on but pimentel postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
pimentel manages to capitalize on a mistake by Smith to take his back!

pimentel working for the choke.
Smith manages to reverse the position and now he's in pimentel's guard. Nice work there by Smith.
Smith controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Smith preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Smith trying to control but pimentel is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Todd Smith.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Smith changes levels and goes for a takedown here. pimentel fights it off and pushes away nicely.

pimentel shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Smith is trying to defend but pimentel finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

pimentel seems to be looking for submissions.

Smith is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but pimentel pulls his head out easily.
Well, if pimentel 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.
pimentel wants to stand up but Smith has a hold of him and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

james pimentel dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Smith with a poor takedown

and pimentel counters with a shoot takedown. Smith fights it but they end up in guard.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
pimentel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smith throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Smith might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control pimentel kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
pimentel slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
pimentel wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

pimentel shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Smith's guard.
pimentel trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith looking to control.
Smith being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is adopting a defensive guard.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
pimentel passes Smith's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Smith is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute pimentel jumps into side control!

pimentel stands up and beckons Smith to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
pimentel closes the distance looking to clinch

and Smith decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in pimentel's guard.
Smith postures up.
pimentel keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
pimentel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
pimentel throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith stays in close to pimentel's body and controls the position.
pimentel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smith is controlling him.
pimentel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Todd Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smith shoots and misses

so pimentel counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
pimentel looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
james pimentel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
pimentel passes Smith's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
james pimentel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for pimentel, 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... james pimentel!