PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jim Smilehoven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitor Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Smilehoven
vs
Almeida

180 cm
24
160 lbs
14 - 13 - 0

178 cm
27
165 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 14 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jim Smilehoven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Almeida!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Mauricio Rocha and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donk. Almeida catches Smilehoven right on the button with a cross.
Smilehoven looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Almeida scores with a jab to the jaw.

It looks like Jim Smilehoven has been cut.
Danga de danga de dang - Almeida scores with a four punch combination!

Smilehoven is rocked!
Almeida scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Almeida wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Almeida fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nice defenses there by Smilehoven.
Almeida lands a jab.
Almeida lands a nice shot that snaps Smilehoven's head back.
Almeida connects with a right hand. Smilehoven shakes it off.
Almeida digs a good hook to Smilehoven's body.
Smilehoven moves out of range as Almeida strikes.
Almeida throws a big shot that misses.
Almeida misses with a looping left.
Almeida connects with a right hand. Smilehoven shakes it off.
Almeida pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Almeida throws a good cross that connects.
Smilehoven steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Almeida.
Almeida throws a jab when Smilehoven was well out of range.
Almeida digs a good body shot into Smilehoven's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida thuds a left hand into Smilehoven's body.
Jab, jab by Almeida - just one landing.
Jim Smilehoven seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smilehoven takes a jab right on the kisser.
Smilehoven on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Oh Smilehoven is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A swing and a miss from Almeida.
Almeida tests Smilehoven's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Almeida scores with a punch to the head.
Almeida connects with a single shot there.
Vitor Almeida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
No joy there for Almeida, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Almeida throws a lazy right hand but Smilehoven sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Almeida connects with a right hand. Smilehoven shakes it off.
Nice shot lands for Almeida.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Almeida connects with a body shot.
Almeida bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Smilehoven's head.
Almeida with a hook.
Almeida ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smilehoven misses with a left hand
and Almeida connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Smilehoven gets tackled into the cage by Almeida. Almeida maintains the clinch.
Almeida lands a body punch in the clinch.
Smilehoven seems to have got his legs back now.
Almeida lands with a light punch inside.
Almeida lands with a light punch inside.
A short uppercut from Almeida.
Almeida lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Smilehoven backwards.
Still in the clinch, Almeida scores with a nice short uppercut.
Almeida scores with a shot to the side of Smilehoven's head.
A right hook to the body lands for Almeida.
Nice body punch from Almeida.
Almeida lands a nice uppercut.
Almeida lands with a right to the head.
Almeida wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smilehoven has him pressed against the cage.
Smilehoven blocks an uppercut.
Smilehoven blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short uppercut from Almeida.
Nice body punch from Almeida.
Almeida lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida misses with a punch on the inside.
Almeida has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Almeida lands a hook that snaps the head of Smilehoven backwards.
Almeida lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Almeida is leaning against Smilehoven and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Smilehoven blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Almeida lands a hook to the side of the head.
Almeida lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Almeida wants to get back to striking at distance but Smilehoven won't allow it.
A head punch on the inside from Almeida fails to land.
Almeida lands a body punch in the clinch.
Almeida lands a right hand.
Almeida lands with a light punch inside.
Almeida pushes Smilehoven back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Almeida.
Smilehoven blocks an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Almeida.
A shot in the inside from Almeida.

That's four 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.
A head punch on the inside from Almeida fails to land.
Almeida throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Almeida digs a right hand underneath Smilehoven's ribcage. Smilehoven let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Almeida lands a body punch.
A right hook to the body lands for Almeida.
A nice right hand lands inside from Almeida.
Almeida lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Almeida scores with a hook to the body.
Almeida lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Almeida misses with a punch on the inside.
Almeida lands a shoulder strike.
Almeida lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Smilehoven.
A head punch on the inside from Almeida fails to land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A right hand to the body from Almeida.
Almeida works on Smilehoven's body with a couple of short punches.
Nice body punch from Almeida.
Almeida wants to get back to striking at distance but Smilehoven won't allow it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Almeida.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Almeida dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jim Smilehoven's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Almeida works the jab nicely.
Almeida lands with a good body shot.
A swing and a miss from Almeida.
Almeida bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Smilehoven's head.
Almeida lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Almeida throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Smilehoven sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Smilehoven looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
The crowd cheers as Almeida lands an impressive looking overhand right. Smilehoven doesn't seem phased though.
Smilehoven misses the body punch
letting Almeida counter with a right hand.

Almeida closes the distance and pushes Smilehoven back into the cage.
Almeida working aggressively here.
Almeida doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Smilehoven is trying to break the clinch but Almeida has him pressed against the cage.
A short right from Almeida on the inside.
Almeida lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Smilehoven backwards.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Almeida swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Almeida lands a hook that snaps the head of Smilehoven backwards.
Smilehoven blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Almeida.
Almeida scores with a hook to the body.
Almeida lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Smilehoven looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Almeida swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Almeida lands a body punch in the clinch.
Almeida swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Almeida lands with a short shot to the head.
Almeida misses with a short punch on the inside.
Almeida stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A shot in the inside from Almeida.
Almeida lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Smilehoven backwards.
Almeida lands a body shot.
Almeida lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Smilehoven or not.
Almeida swings wildly with an uppercut but Smilehoven uses good head movement to avoid it.
Almeida throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Almeida scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almeida works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Almeida swings wildly with an uppercut but Smilehoven uses good head movement to avoid it.
Almeida is trying to force a seperation but Smilehoven has the dominant position.
Almeida working aggressively here.

Almeida's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Almeida lands with a cross.
Almeida jabs at Smilehoven's body.
Almeida throws a jab but it's blocked by Smilehoven.
Jab from Almeida.
Almeida lands an overhand right.
Almeida connects with a jab.
Almeida fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Jim Smilehoven is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Almeida's corner calls for a 1-2. Almeida obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Vitor Almeida seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A left lands for Almeida.
Almeida's jab looks to have found its range, popping Smilehoven under the eye.
Smilehoven uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Almeida.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Almeida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smilehoven.
Almeida misses with a looping left.

Almeida clinches up with Smilehoven and pushes him back against the cage.
Almeida misses with some punches.
Almeida has a couple of punches blocked by Smilehoven.
Almeida lands with a light punch inside.
Almeida lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Almeida.
Almeida gets through Smilehoven's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Almeida.
Almeida has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Almeida throws a punch but it's blocked by Smilehoven.
Almeida lands a right hand that snaps the head of Smilehoven backwards.
Almeida lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Almeida works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Smilehoven blocks an uppercut.
Almeida doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Almeida wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smilehoven has him pressed against the cage.

That's four 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.
Almeida misses with some punches.
Almeida lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Almeida scores with a shot to the side of Smilehoven's head.
Almeida lands a nice uppercut.

Almeida's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Almeida clinches up with Smilehoven and pushes him back against the cage.
Almeida lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Smilehoven or not.
Almeida lands a left hand.
Smilehoven blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smilehoven takes a shot to the head.
Almeida misses with the head strike.
Smilehoven keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Almeida's efforts to push away.
Almeida scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short left from Almeida.
Nice body punch from Almeida - that landed with a thud.
Smilehoven blocks an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Almeida showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jim Smilehoven's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Almeida is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smilehoven.
Almeida swings for the body but Smilehoven moves out of range.
Almeida missing with a left hand there. Smilehoven was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Almeida changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Almeida throws a shot from downtown. Smilehoven moves away and avoids it.
Smilehoven throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Almeida to counter with a crisp jab.
Jab from Almeida.
Almeida tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smilehoven was well out of range. Poor timing from Almeida.
Almeida tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smilehoven was well out of range. Poor timing from Almeida.
Smilehoven bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Almeida scores with a jab to the head.
Smilehoven walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Smilehoven ducks under a wild hook from Almeida.
Almeida connects with a nice looking jab.
Smilehoven on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Almeida misses with a hook. Smilehoven ducked under it nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Good exchange - Almeida coming out on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Smilehoven at a distance.
Smilehoven looks to clinch
and Almeida counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A jab from Almeida does it's job there.
Almeida connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Smilehoven momentarily.
Smilehoven uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Almeida.
A decent looking cross lands there for Almeida.
Smilehoven walks into a straight right hand from Almeida.
Almeida cracks Smilehoven with a right hand to the side of the head.
Almeida throws out a loose jab but Smilehoven uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smilehoven misses with a right hand
and Smilehoven takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Smilehoven takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Smilehoven tries to clinch up
and Almeida counters with a stiff right hand.
Almeida lands a jab.
Smilehoven ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smilehoven falls off balance throwing a combination
and Almeida counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Almeida gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Almeida lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Almeida lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Smilehoven tries to pull guard but Almeida won't allow it.
Smilehoven tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Almeida just stands there and leans against the cage.
Almeida fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Almeida lands a hook that snaps the head of Smilehoven backwards.
Almeida misses with some punches.
Almeida doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Smilehoven blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Smilehoven blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Almeida misses with a hook from the clinch.
Almeida lands a nice shot to the body.
Jim Smilehoven has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smilehoven's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Almeida working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Almeida has a couple of punches blocked by Smilehoven.
Almeida is trying to force a seperation but Smilehoven has the dominant position.
Almeida is trying to push Smilehoven away but Smilehoven has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Almeida misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Almeida.
Almeida scores with a shot to the side of Smilehoven's head.
Almeida throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Almeida lands with a light punch inside.
Almeida lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Almeida misses with a short punch on the inside.
Smilehoven has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A nice left hand lands by Almeida.
Almeida throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Smilehovens head.
Almeida swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Smilehoven blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Almeida lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Almeida scores with a nice hook to the head.
Almeida lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Almeida scores with a shoulder strike.

Almeida escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smilehoven uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Almeida.
Almeida connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Smilehoven's hands.
Smilehoven takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Almeida connects with a body shot that sends Smilehoven's belly button to the back.
Almeida thows a left - swing and a miss!
Smilehoven slips a straight right by Almeida.
Good exchange - Almeida coming out on top.
Almeida connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Almeida has Smilehoven up against the cage in a clinch.
Almeida pushes Smilehoven back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Almeida scores with a shoulder strike.
Almeida working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Almeida lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Smilehoven backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vitor Almeida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Almeida has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 25:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 25:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vitor Almeida!