PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mark Strait (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenneth Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kenneth Smith has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Mark Strait's chin.

Strait
vs
Smith

173 cm
20
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

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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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mark Strait!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kenneth Smith!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab from Strait.
Strait is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Mark Strait seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strait tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Strait is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Strait tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Strait looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Strait tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Strait looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Smith!
Smith is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Strait is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Smith can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Smith keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Smith blocking the ground and pound.
Smith blocking the ground and pound.
Smith is squirming around, avoiding Strait's attempts to control the action.
Smith working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Smith is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Smith gets back to half guard.

Smith looking for submissions off his back.
Strait wants to free his trapped foot but Smith is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Smith tries to roll over but Strait keeps him under control.
Strait trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Strait passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to control but Strait is having none of it.
Strait working the ground and pound effectively.
Smith is desperately trying to improve his position but Strait has a good base and remains in mount.
Smith looks gassed!
Strait trying to control but Smith is having none of it.
Strait fails to move to back control.
Smith sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Smith is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Strait pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Strait trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith tries to roll over but Strait keeps him under control.

Strait is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are battling for position here. Smith manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Strait from controlling successfully.
Strait distracts Smith with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Strait is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Strait wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Strait 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.

Strait throws a looping overhand right but Smith ducks down to avoid it.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Strait tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Strait tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strait is looking to clinch.
Strait fails in his attempt to clinch.

Strait decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strait won't allow Smith to sweep him here.

Smith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Strait can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith works his foot free and advances to mount.
Strait is looking to get to half guard.
Smith seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Strait is holding on tight.
Smith moves to the back.
Smith avoiding Strait 's attempts to control his hands.
Smith struggling to keep hold of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith has the hooks in. Strait is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Smith is persistently looking for the submission but Strait is defending it well.

Strait is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Smith gets his way!
Strait is in bad spot here.
Smith keeps control of the position easily here as Strait tries to buck him off.
Smith is not going to allow Strait to sit and survive in this position.

Smith is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith trying to control.
Smith scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Strait is looking for a way out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith scores with punches and elbows.
Kenneth Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.

Strait fending off the submission attempt from Smith.

Smith is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Strait is defending well though. Smith let's go of the attempt for now.

Smith has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Strait.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strait tries to roll but Smith sticks to his back.
Strait trying to control the action but Smith just sinks the hooks in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Smith is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Strait knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Strait for a finish.

Smith looking for the choke from the back.
Smith is not going to allow Strait to sit and survive in this position.

Smith is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.

Smith is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Strait with him. Strait is trying to defend but Smith has an arm under the chin now! Strait grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Kenneth Smith!