PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rob Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andy Souwer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andy Souwer will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Smith
vs
Souwer

175 cm
23
160 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

177 cm
22
159 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rob Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andy Souwer!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Chad Campbell and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws a low kick but Souwer avoids it.

Smith is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Souwer's half guard.
Souwer scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Smith manages to mount him!
Smith controlling from the full mount.
Souwer squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

Smith is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Souwer has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith looking to control and managing it successfully.
Souwer really wants to buck Smith off and get back to his feet.

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 scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Smith with the ground and pound from mount.
Smith controlling his opponent.
You get the feeling that Souwer really doesn't like being in this position too much.

Smith looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Smith landing strikes from the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Smith goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Souwer is on top in guard.
Souwer trying to stand up but can't free himself from Smith's guard.

Smith looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Souwer has picked Smith up and slammed him! Smith can't keep hold of the triangle and Souwer manages to pass to side control!

Souwer decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Souwer gets tackled into the cage by Smith. Smith maintains the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souwer gets underhooks to prevent Smith's takedown attempt.

Smith successfully pulls guard.
Souwer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Souwer postures up.
Souwer wants to stand but Smith has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Smith looking for subs off his back but Souwer has passed one foot through into half guard.

Souwer is trying to work for a kimura but Smith is defending well.
Souwer looks gassed!
Souwer is just content to waste time from the top position. Smith takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Smith dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Smith fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Souwer avoids it really well and circles away.
Souwer looks to land a combination. Smith sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Smith fails with the takedown.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Souwer shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Souwer throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Souwer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Souwer turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souwer's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Souwer duly obliges.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Souwer throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Souwer.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Souwer feints a jab promting Smith to slip. Souwer then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Smith slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Smith shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Souwer's thigh. Souwer counters though and makes it back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith stops Souwer from standing up.
Smith passes Souwer's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Souwer wants to get back to his feet.

Smith stands up out of the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith has a takedown stuffed.
Souwer throws a head kick that half lands.

Smith feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Souwer is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smith is controlling him.
Souwer wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Smith manages to pass to side control.
Smith takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Souwer does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Souwer is in trouble now - Smith has advanced to mount!

Smith looking for a guillotine from mount but Souwer is having none of it.
Rob Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Smith dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Smith moves into the clinch.

Smith drags the fight down to the ground.
Souwer wants to stand and escape but instead Smith has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Smith is standing up over Souwer. Souwer looks to escape but Smith dives into side control.
Souwer is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Smith is controlling him well.
Smith advances to full mount.
Souwer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Souwer wants to get back to his feet.
Smith sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Smith seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Souwer for as long as he can get away with.

That's two 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.
Smith looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Smith is landing with some decent strikes but Souwer is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Smith takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Smith working Souwer over with strikes here.
Smith cracks Souwer with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Souwer is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Smith tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Smith goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Souwer turns into him and now he's in Smith's guard.
Andy Souwer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Smith tries to strike from the bottom.
Rob Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smith lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Souwer!

And that's the end of the fight!
Rob 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 Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

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