PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lauri Pasanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by Superman's Song. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Pasanen

182 cm
21
200 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

185 cm
26
188 lbs
11 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricky Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lauri Pasanen!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Matheus Silva and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Smith throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pasanen misses with a lunging right hand
and Smith makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Pasanen scores with a takedown into Smith's guard.
Pasanen postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Smith is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pasanen is aware though and is defending well.
Pasanen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Pasanen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pasanen throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pasanen passes Smith's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Pasanen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Pasanen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Smith keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Pasanen is trying to work for a kimura but Smith is defending well.
Pasanen is pressing down on Smith's thigh, looking to free his foot. Smith is holding on for now.

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.
Pasanen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Pasanen is trying to control the action in half guard but Smith 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.
Pasanen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pasanen is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Pasanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pasanen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Pasanen from controlling successfully.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pasanen with a nice head shot there.
Pasanen throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Pasanen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four 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.
Pasanen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smith is on top in guard.
Pasanen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pasanen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lauri Pasanen dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Smith with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Pasanen slips under a jab from Smith.
Smith throws a leg kick that is checked

and Pasanen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Smith's guard.
Pasanen postures up.
Pasanen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Pasanen wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Pasanen stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pasanen throws a strike but Smith rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Pasanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ricky Smith wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Pasanen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

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 throws a head kick that misses
and Pasanen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Smith throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Pasanen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Smith misses with a body shot
and Pasanen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Smith throws a lazy uppercut

and Pasanen counters with a single leg into guard. Smith didn't expect that.
Pasanen connects with a couple of short punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pasanen trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Pasanen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pasanen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pasanen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Pasanen throws and elbow that misses. Smith uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pasanen's guard. Nice move by Smith!
Pasanen has Smith pulled in close to control his posture.
Smith sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pasanen's guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pasanen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith postures up.
Pasanen looking for a sweep. Not yet Pasanen, not yet.
Pasanen wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Smith controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Smith thows a left - swing and a miss!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lauri Pasanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A low kick from Smith is predictable there
and Pasanen counters with a nice uppercut.
A solid body kick from Smith.
Jab by Pasanen.
Pasanen keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith throws a lazy uppercut
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pasanen with a poor takedown
and Smith counters with a nice leg kick.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Ricky Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a lazy uppercut

and Pasanen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Pasanen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pasanen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Smith avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pasanen.
Pasanen trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Pasanen is looking to advance position but Smith won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pasanen with the ground and pound but Smith uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Pasanen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Pasanen looking to pass the guard.
Lauri Pasanen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pasanen.
Pasanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pasanen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pasanen cracks Smith with a solid left hand.
Smith working a defensive guard but Pasanen passes into half guard.

Pasanen is trying to work for a kimura but Smith is defending well.
Pasanen is keen to just control but Smith is a slippery customer.
Smith keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Pasanen is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pasanen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

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.
Smith regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Pasanen.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Pasanen from controlling successfully.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pasanen is working Smith over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Pasanen from controlling successfully.
Pasanen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lauri Pasanen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pasanen 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lauri Pasanen!