PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tsingtao Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Vioto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vioto has chosen Eminem - Not Afraid as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Vioto

185 cm
25
178 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

181 cm
22
180 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tsingtao Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, George Vioto!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vioto shoots in looking for a takedown. Smith tries to sprawl out of it but Vioto keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Smith manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Vioto misses with a straight left.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt

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

Smith kicks Vioto off and gets to his feet.
Vioto throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
Smith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Vioto.

Vioto shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Vioto postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Smith is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Vioto, into his guard.

Vioto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Vioto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Vioto is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.
Smith lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Smith working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Vioto is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.
Vioto looks gassed!
Vioto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smith postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Vioto 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.
Vioto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Vioto has wrist control.
Vioto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control but Vioto is working from the bottom.
Smith connects with a couple of short punches.

Vioto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith works over Vioto with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Vioto 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.

Vioto looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
Smith with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vioto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Smith's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Vioto is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith thows a big elbow that misses.

Vioto is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Vioto gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Vioto drops back, looking for a kneebar! Smith looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Smith looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Smith!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Smith.
Smith throws a strike aimed at the side of Vioto's head but Vioto avoids it well.
Vioto tries to bench press Smith off him but Smith keeps the position.
Vioto takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Smith misses with the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith looks up at the clock and then as Vioto takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Smith smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Vioto manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Vioto is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Vioto counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Smith!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Vioto jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Smith is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Smith and Vioto has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vioto is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Vioto is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Smith is just riding it out for now. Vioto eventually gives up the hold.
Vioto is breathing heavily.
Smith tries to get to full guard but Vioto has control of the leg.

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 concentrating on defense, preventing Vioto from advancing position.
Smith knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vioto on the ground.

Vioto is trying to work for a kimura but Smith is defending well.
Smith is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vioto works his way into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Vioto is trying to get an arm triangle but Smith is defending well.

Vioto tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Vioto goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Smith rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Vioto's guard! Nice work there by Smith!
Smith lands a couple of digs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Vioto had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.
George Vioto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith trying to control but Vioto is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Vioto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith tries to clinch up but Vioto circles away and keeps his distance.
Vioto circles away from the clinch attempt

and Vioto decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Smith's guard.

Vioto 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 wants to stand and escape but Vioto is having none of it.

Vioto postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Smith is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Vioto, into his guard.
Vioto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Vioto is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Vioto has wrist control.

Vioto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Smith lands a couple of digs.
Smith trying to control but Vioto is working from the bottom.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Vioto has his foot on Smith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smith works his way back into a safe position though.
Smith working some strikes from top position.
Smith won't allow Vioto to sweep him here.
Smith with a flurry of punches that miss.

Vioto looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smith is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Smith with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Vioto's head.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Vioto blocks nicely.
Vioto manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vioto looking to pass the guard.
Smith trying to control the position here.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Vioto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Vioto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Vioto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smith won't allow Vioto to sweep him here.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Vioto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
Smith looking to pass the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Vioto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vioto 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight for George Vioto!
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight for George Vioto!
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight for George Vioto!

George Vioto wins by unanimous decision!