PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jones is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: .. Mike Smith has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Smith
vs
Jones

180 cm
20
170 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

180 cm
27
180 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mike Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, George Jones!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones closes the distance but Smith moves to the side

and Smith decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Jones's guard.
Smith with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Smith sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Jones's guard.
Smith is pressing down on Jones's thigh, looking to free his foot. Jones is holding on for now.
Jones tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Jones works his way to full guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
Smith chips away with some ground and pound.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Jones is keeping the position.
Smith trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Jones will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Smith wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.

Jones had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Jones throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Jones.
Jones throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Jones trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Jones throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Jones 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.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith is in close to Jones's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Jones scores with a short punch from the bottom.

That's two 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 pushes down on Jones's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Smith seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Jones does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Smith 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.
Smith passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Jones!
Smith blocks Jones's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Smith lands a big shot there that rocks Jones but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Smith landing punches.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Smith cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Smith controlling from mount.
Jones throwing hammer fists to the chest of Smith. What's that going to do exactly?
Jones tries to reverse the position but Smith maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith landing punches.
Jones tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Smith has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Jones's face.
Smith with a couple of short strikes.
Smith looking to control but Jones is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Smith lands a heavy elbow.
Smith connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Smith cracks Jones with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Jones keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Jones regains half guard.
Jones is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.
Smith is trying to control the action in half guard but Jones is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith is looking for a kimura here.
Jones has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Jones wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
Jones tries to kick Smith off but Smith keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Jones trying to control from the bottom.
Smith stalling.
Smith looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Jones with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Smith trying to control the action but Jones is working from the bottom.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Smith passes to full mount!
Smith prevents Jones from getting the reversal.
Smith lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Jones hang on?
Smith fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Jones keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Smith with good strikes from the mount here!
Jones throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Jones is looking to improve his position but Smith isn't that keen on the idea.
Jones flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Smith cracks Jones with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Jones can't escape the position.
Jones throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Smith pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Smith with a couple of short strikes.
Jones is squirming around, avoiding Smith's attempts to control the action.
Jones in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Smith with the ground and pound from mount.
Jones is looking to get to half guard.
Smith with good strikes from the mount here!
Smith controlling the pace for now.
BOOM! Smith connects with a massive shot to the dome!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Smith blocks Jones's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Jones is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Smith with the ground and pound from mount.
Jones is in all sorts of trouble here.
Jones is in a horrible position here. Smith smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Jones in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Jones throwing hammer fists to the chest of Smith. What's that going to do exactly?
Jones swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Smith cracks Jones with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Smith looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Smith sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Smith cracks Jones with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Jones is wriggling around trying to escape.
Smith controlling from mount.
Smith landing punches.
Smith lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Jones is looking to escape.
Jones taking shots to the head.
Jones is squirming around, avoiding Smith's attempts to control the action.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Jones flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Jones throwing hammer fists to the chest of Smith. What's that going to do exactly?
Jones swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Jones tries to buck Smith off but he can't manage it.
Jones tries to lock up and control but Smith gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Jones tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Jones looks gassed!
Smith blocks Jones's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
BOOM! Smith connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Jones swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Smith dominating with strikes here.
Jones tries to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jones throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Smith looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Jones is looking to escape.
Smith connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Smith dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Smith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jones lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt
and Jones counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Jones has managed to clinch.
Jones lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jones.
Smith drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Jones gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones lands an elbow that stopped Smith in his tracks for a moment.
Jones misses with the head strike.
Smith blocks an uppercut.

Smith gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Smith working Jones over with strikes.
Smith wants to control but Jones is keeping him busy.

Jones looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Smith prevents Jones from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jones actively working from the bottom here.
Jones is breathing heavily.
Smith is trying to control. Jones wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Jones on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jones keeps working.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Smith lands a nice short elbow.
Mike Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith working the head and body with strikes.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Jones is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith passes to side control.
Smith wants to control but Jones is keeping him busy.
Smith is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Jones is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

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.
Jones misses with a strike from the bottom.
Smith working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Smith wants to control but Jones is keeping him busy.
Smith working the head and body with strikes.
Jones manages to work his way to half guard, despite Smith's best efforts.
Smith is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Smith uses his free foot to push down on Jones's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Jones.
Smith trying to control but Jones is having none of it.
Jones gets back to half guard.
Smith takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Jones lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith working Jones over with strikes.

Jones looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Jones missing with punches from the bottom.
Smith controlling the pace.
Smith trying to control the action but Jones is working from the bottom.
Jones flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Smith is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Jones doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Smith.
Jones is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Jones has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Smith is working away from the top position though.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Jones is defending well.
Jones is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Smith scores with a couple of nice shots.
Smith scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Jones tries to roll over but Smith keeps him under control.

Jones actively working from the bottom here.
Jones is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Smith is trying to control. Jones wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Smith lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Smith there.
Jones is trying to get back to full guard.
Smith is keen to just control but Jones is a slippery customer.
Jones is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Jones is staying active underneath Smith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Smith wants to free his trapped foot but Jones is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Jones wants to get back to full guard.
Smith working Jones over with strikes.
Smith winds up and cracks Jones with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Smith seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Jones does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jones looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Smith scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Smith lands with some strikes.
Jones is squirming around, avoiding Smith's attempts to control the action.
Smith cracks Jones with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Smith dominating with strikes here.
Smith dominating with strikes here.
Smith looking to control but Jones is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Smith landing punches.
Jones slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Jones on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Smith drops an elbow to the side of Jones's head.
Jones misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Smith sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Jones is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Smith missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Jones looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Smith lands strikes from half guard.
Jones is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
Smith seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Smith wants to control but Jones is keeping him busy.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smith looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Jones is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Smith scores with a couple of nice shots.
Smith blocks the strikes from Jones.
Jones wants to get back to full guard.
Jones is staying active underneath Smith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Jones throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Mike Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jones punching from the bottom.
Smith blocks the strikes from Jones.
Jones flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Smith stalling.
Smith is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jones can do to turn this around?

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mike Smith.
Smith defending well as Jones loads up on a big left hand.
Jones tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.

Smith looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Smith is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Smith's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Jones is retaining full guard.
George Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith controls from within his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Mike Smith!
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Mike Smith!
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Mike Smith!

Mike Smith wins by unanimous decision!