PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Van Candy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Candy kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is To Catch a Predator. Smith has chosen Superman's Song as his entrance music. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Candy
vs
Smith

178 cm
26
195 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

182 cm
21
200 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Van Candy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricky Smith!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Matheus Silva and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws a poor cross that misses

so Candy counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Smith trying to control the position.
Candy wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Candy throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Candy 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 Candy, into his guard.
Smith postures up.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith controls from within his opponent's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ricky Smith was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Smith drives through and clinches with Candy against the cage.
Candy tries to score a body lock takedown but Smith shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Candy can't get the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Candy displaying some good clinch control by pressing Smith up against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Candy is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Smith is keeping busy.
Smith tries a body shot but Candy blocks it.
Candy tries to score a body lock takedown but Smith shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Van Candy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Candy is breathing heavily.
Smith stops a takedown attempt from Candy.
Smith fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Smith misses with a short punch on the inside.
Smith throws a head punch that misses.
Candy wants to stall.
Smith makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Candy is trying to stall.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Smith softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Candy tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
With the fighters up against the cage, Candy throws an elbow but misses.
Candy tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.
Smith swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Candy is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Smith pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Candy blocking some punches.
Candy tries for a takedown but Smith manages to get underhooks.
Candy trying to control the position but instead, Smith has worked for underhooks and has pushed Candy into the cage.
Smith lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Smith lands a right hand.
A short right from Smith on the inside.

Candy drags the fight down to the ground.
Smith wants to stand but Candy has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Smith stands and throws Candy's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith controlling from side mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ricky Smith will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Smith lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Candy fails to pull guard.
Smith working aggressively here.
Candy stalling in the clinch but Smith improves position.
Good body shot from Smith.
Candy trying to stall but Smith improves his position.
Smith swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A right hook to the body lands for Smith.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A right hand to the body from Smith.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Smith throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Candy blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Candy wants a takedown.
Smith is looking to control Candy's arms but Candy gets an underhook and turns him. Now Smith has his back to the cage.
The referee calls for Candy to work.
Smith lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands a body punch in the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Smith as the two fighters clinch.
A short right from Smith.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Smith.
Smith lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Candy backwards.
Smith lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Candy backwards.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Candy wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Van Candy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith lands with a right to the head.
Smith lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Candy trying to stall but Smith improves his position.
Smith taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Smith cracks Candy with a nice body shot.
Smith is leaning against Candy and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A short uppercut from Smith.
Smith doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A left hand lands to the body for Smith.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Candy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Smith.
Smith manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Smith lands a nice uppercut.
Smith lands a left hand.
Smith swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Candy letting Smith take a breather here.
Smith is leaning against Candy and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Smith lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Smith digs a right hand into Candy's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Candy's gas tank.
Candy stalling in the clinch but Smith improves position.
Smith softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Smith lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Candy has Smith pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Smith manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith controlling the action here for a moment.
Smith receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Candy blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Candy tries for a takedown but Smith manages to get underhooks.
Smith lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Smith tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Smith lands a right hand that snaps the head of Candy backwards.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Smith as Candy tries to tie him up.
Smith lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Smith.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Smith slowing the pace effectively.
Smith lands a left hand.
Smith misses with the head strike.
Smith prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smith.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smith.
Candy takes a shot to the head.
Smith lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Candy.
Smith digs a right hand into Candy's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Candy's gas tank.
Smith lands a hook that snaps the head of Candy backwards.
Smith digs a right hand underneath Candy's ribcage. Candy let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Candy blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Candy tries for a takedown. No joy.
Smith lands a body shot.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Smith.
A shot in the inside from Smith.
Smith lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Candy backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Smith.
Smith swings wildly with an uppercut but Candy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Smith connects with a single shot there.

Smith sends Candy crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Smith is motioning to the referee to let Candy up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

Candy is rocked!
A big left from Smith misses.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Candy.
Candy is trying to maintain a safe position but Smith gets an underhook and turns Candy into the cage.
Candy can't get the takedown.
Candy blocks an uppercut.
Candy tries to stall but Smith uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Smith doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Smith.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Candy drops down looking for an ankle pick but Smith pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ricky Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Smith drops Candy with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Candy looks back up at him and smiles so Smith waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
Oh Candy is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Candy tries to get into range but Smith steps to the side and lands a beautiful hook that drops Candy! He's faceplanted into the mat, ass in the air... he's out cold! That's an image he won't want to show his grandkids when he gets older! Smith scores the big KO victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Ricky Smith!