PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Angel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Caleb SmithJr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). SmithJr has chosen California Love-Tupac as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Angel
vs
SmithJr

175 cm
26
135 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

161 cm
20
139 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Miguel Angel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Caleb SmithJr!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Alec Ball and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Angel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by SmithJr.
Angel looks to clinch

and SmithJr moves into the clinch.
SmithJr tries for a takedown. No joy.

Angel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Angel tries to clinch but SmithJr moves out of range.
Angel misses with a head kick.

SmithJr fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Angel sprawls well initially but SmithJr persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Angel is trying to stand back up but SmithJr is controlling him

Angel looking for submissions off his back.
Angel trying to control from the bottom.
SmithJr wants to take a breather but Angel is having none of it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Angel manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
SmithJr is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Angel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. SmithJr gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Angel keeping moving, preventing SmithJr from controlling successfully.

SmithJr stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Angel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Angel shoots in looking for a takedown. SmithJr tries to sprawl out of it but Angel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. SmithJr manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Angel is breathing heavily.
Angel misses with a hook.
Angel tries to close the distance and clinch but SmithJr swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

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.
Angel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from SmithJr.

SmithJr scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

SmithJr escapes and gets back to his feet.
SmithJr will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

SmithJr looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Still in half guard, SmithJr seems content to control.
SmithJr trying to control from half guard but Angel is working away.
Angel wants to improve his position but SmithJr is controlling well.
Angel is refusing to be controlled, as SmithJr sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angel is looking for a sweep. SmithJr is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Caleb SmithJr.

SmithJr closes the distance and clinches.
Angel gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from SmithJr.
Miguel Angel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Caleb SmithJr.
Angel avoiding damage as SmithJr throws knees to the body.
Angel tries to pull guard but SmithJr won't allow it.

SmithJr has clasped his hands together around Angel's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
SmithJr wants to control but Angel is keeping him busy.
Angel really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

SmithJr stands up.
Angel wants to clinch

and SmithJr moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

SmithJr successfully pulls guard.
Angel pushes down on SmithJr's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Angel looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

SmithJr kicks Angel off and gets back to his feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Angel enables SmithJr to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Angel manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
SmithJr is stalling in the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caleb SmithJr dominated that round.
That's time! Angel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A head kick misses from Angel.
Angel shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and SmithJr counters with a shoot takedown. Angel fights it but they end up in guard.
SmithJr must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

SmithJr is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
SmithJr won't allow Angel to sweep him here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Angel looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Angel keeping moving, preventing SmithJr from controlling successfully.
SmithJr content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
SmithJr with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Angel keeping moving, preventing SmithJr from controlling successfully.
SmithJr is stalling in the full guard.
Angel keeping moving, preventing SmithJr from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Angel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. SmithJr defends it easily.
SmithJr postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
SmithJr trying to control the position from guard on top but Angel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Caleb SmithJr was stalling too much, according to the referee.

SmithJr shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
SmithJr drops an elbow to the side of Angel's head.
SmithJr stalling.
SmithJr scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
SmithJr seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Angel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
SmithJr works his foot free and advances to mount.
SmithJr trying to control but Angel is having none of it.

SmithJr working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Angel is squirming around, avoiding SmithJr's attempts to control the action.

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.
Angel is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
SmithJr sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

SmithJr wants to finish this one by submission but Angel is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from SmithJr.
Angel is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caleb SmithJr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

SmithJr fails to land the takedown.
Angel misses with a takedown attempt

and SmithJr counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Angel's guard now.
Angel is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
SmithJr is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
SmithJr pushes down on Angel's leg and manages to get into half guard.
SmithJr passes to side control.
SmithJr looks up at the clock and then as Angel takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, SmithJr smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

SmithJr decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

SmithJr feints and as Angel raises his hands in defense, SmithJr changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

SmithJr stands and steps away. Angel gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Angel has his takedown stuffed

and SmithJr counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Angel working for a triangle but SmithJr defends it easily.
SmithJr stays in close to Angel's body and controls the position.
SmithJr postures up and lands a big shot to Angel's brow.
SmithJr content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Angel striking off his back but it's not causing SmithJr any problems.
Caleb SmithJr has got the better of the ground game so far.

Angel has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but SmithJr can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

SmithJr decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Angel, up you get!
Angel avoids the body shot from SmithJr.

SmithJr closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Angel quickly recovers to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
SmithJr is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
SmithJr is trying to control. Angel wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Angel actively working from the bottom here.
SmithJr prevents Angel from improving his position.
SmithJr seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. SmithJr lands a nice short elbow.
Angel wants to get back to full guard.

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.
SmithJr wants to pass the guard but Angel is defending well.
Angel is looking to escape.
SmithJr has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
SmithJr wants to control but Angel is keeping him busy.
SmithJr moves into full mount! Angel won't be happy about that!
SmithJr can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Angel is looking to escape.
Miguel Angel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Caleb SmithJr is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Angel swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Caleb SmithJr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got SmithJr winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 26:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Caleb SmithJr!