PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Puzzle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Smit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smit is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by It's Dark and Hell is Hot. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Puzzle
vs
Smit

188 cm
22
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jason Puzzle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paul Smit!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Dean Styles and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Puzzle shoots for a takedown but Smit saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Smit shoots in looking for a takedown. Puzzle tries to sprawl out of it but Smit keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Puzzle manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Puzzle tries to bum rush Smit with a series of wild strikes but Smit uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smit throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Jason Puzzle has been cut.
Puzzle scores with a hook.
Puzzle pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Puzzle closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Puzzle seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Puzzle missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Smit trying to control here.
Puzzle throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puzzle throws a strike but Smit avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Puzzle postures up.
Puzzle working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smit looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Puzzle throws a lazy right hand but Smit sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Smit throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Puzzle misses with a hook. Smit ducked under it nicely.
Smit tries to close the distance and clinch up but Puzzle swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Smit is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Puzzle circles away from the clinch attempt.
Paul Smit seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smit tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Puzzle paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smit looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
No joy there for Puzzle, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Puzzle lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smit tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Puzzle paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Puzzle swinging wilding here.
Puzzle fails to land with a series of punches.
Puzzle doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Smit counters by moving into the clinch.

Smit ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Smit no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Smit has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Puzzle gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Smit won't allow Puzzle to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Puzzle isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Smit stacks Puzzle on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Smit!
Puzzle is breathing heavily.

Puzzle bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
A left lands for Puzzle.
Puzzle doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Smit counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Smit.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Puzzle. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smit pulls Puzzle into guard.
Puzzle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smit swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smit trying to keep a closed guard but Puzzle is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puzzle throwing strikes but missing.
Smit has a closed guard, preventing Puzzle from standing up.
Puzzle throws a big right hand that misses.
Puzzle chips away with some ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Puzzle wants to get up but he can't break Smit's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Smit controls Puzzle momentarily but Puzzle frees himself.
Puzzle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smit swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Smit dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jason Puzzle's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smit moves in looking to clinch but Puzzle pushes him off.
Puzzle connects with a looping right hand.
Smit throws a body punch but Puzzle moves out of range.
Smit lands with a slapping head kick.
Smit tries to clinch up but Puzzle circles away and keeps his distance.

Smit drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Puzzle wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Smit is now in half guard.
Puzzle tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Puzzle is trying to stand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Puzzle trying to hold on to Smit's head to control him but Smit postures up.
Smit trying to control the action but Puzzle is working from the bottom.
Smit is breathing heavily.
Smit missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puzzle wants to get back to full guard.
Puzzle is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Smit's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Smit's back!
Smit manages to scramble and ends up in full guard, under a barage of strikes . Great composure from Smit.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Horrible takedown by Puzzle or perhaps it was just good defense by Smit which made him look bad.
Smit slips a jab and a cross from Puzzle.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Smit.
Smit trying to control the position but Puzzle is working away.
Smit tries to stand but Puzzle controls the position and pulls Smit into his guard.
Smit tries to stand but Puzzle is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puzzle is striking from the bottom but Smit uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Puzzle is trying to maintain the position but Smit is very close to passing his half guard.
Smit controlling the pace.

Smit stands up out of the half guard.
Puzzle swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Smit connects with a solid leg kick.
Puzzle takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Puzzle misses with a double jab
and Smit counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smit pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Smit gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Smit pressing his opponent against the cage.
Smit with a knee to the head.
Puzzle has had enough of the clinch but Smit keeps him there for the moment.
Smit lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Puzzle.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Smit.
Smit lands a nice knee to the body.

Smit breaks the clinch.
Puzzle takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Puzzle shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Smit tries to hold on but Puzzle pushes him away.
Smit squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Puzzle thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Puzzle swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Smit is now in Puzzle's guard. A big mistake from Puzzle there, giving up the dominant position!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smit throwing strikes but missing.

Puzzle has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Smit off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Puzzle misses with the combination.
Puzzle lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Smit sprawling to the canvas. Puzzle follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Smit hang on?

Smit is rocked!

It looks like Paul Smit has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Puzzle wants to work for an arm triangle but Smit is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Smit is still in real trouble! Can Puzzle finish him?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Puzzle thows a huge punch but Smit dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Smit showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Puzzle swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smit seems to have recovered his senses.
Smit misses with a double jab

and Puzzle counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Smit's guard now.
Smit is trying to control the position but Puzzle postures up.
Puzzle thows a big elbow that misses.
Smit is trying to keep Puzzle in close.
Puzzleis looking to pass into half guard but Smit pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Smit is in guard.
Puzzle is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Puzzle throws his legs up looking for a submission but Smit uses it to pass to side control.

Smit decides to stand back up.
Smit throws a nice head kick!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puzzle bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Puzzle shoots and misses
and Smit counters with a big head kick but Puzzle shrugs it off.
Puzzle throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A low kick from Puzzle is predictable there

and Smit moves into the clinch.
Puzzle with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Smit manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Puzzle trying to control but Smit is working from the bottom.
Paul Smit has got the better of the ground game so far.
Puzzle is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Smit is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Smit manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Smit lands with a kick to the ribs.
Smit shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Smit gets a clinch.

Smit breaks from the clinch.
Smit throws a body punch but Puzzle moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smit takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A decent looking cross lands there for Puzzle.
A decent looking cross lands there for Puzzle.

Puzzle changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Smit looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Smit looking for a sweep but Puzzle has passed into full mount! Oh no!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smit tries to lock up and control but Puzzle gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Puzzle throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Puzzle looking to control and managing it successfully.
Puzzle throwing strikes here but Smit is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smit holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Puzzle tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Puzzle stands up from mount. Strange move.

Puzzle looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Puzzle is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Smit defends it well.
Jason Puzzle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smit keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Smit is trying to stand.
Puzzle throws a strike but Smit avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Puzzle drops back, looking for a kneebar! Smit looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Smit looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Smit!
Puzzle has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Puzzle looks to move to half guard but instead Smit has passed into mount! Damn!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puzzle is trying to escape the mount.
Puzzle bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Puzzle wants to control from the top but Smit keeps moving.
Smit keeping full guard, as Puzzle tries to pass.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smit is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jason Puzzle.
I think Smit has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Smit!