PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Frank Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Stajin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Eric Stajin has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Smith
vs
Stajin

187 cm
21
172 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
20
181 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frank Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eric Stajin!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Gwen Towbar and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt - Stajin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stajin circles away from the clinch attempt.
An inside leg kick lands from Stajin.
Stajin misses the jab.
Smith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith throws a head kick but Stajin moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stajin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stajin swivels and escapes.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt - Stajin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Smith looks for a takedown but Stajin sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stajin scores with a jab. Smith acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Stajin misses with the combination.
Stajin stuffs the takedown.
Stajin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Frank Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stajin throws a low kick but it's checked well by Smith.
Stajin throws a nice looking combination but Smith bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Stajin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Donk. Stajin catches Smith right on the button with a cross.

Stajin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smith, pushing him back against the cage.

Stajin breaks the clinch.
Smith throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stajin pushes Smith up against the cage in a clinch.

Smith has picked Stajin up - he's going for a ride! Smith dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Stajin keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Stajin tries to roll over but Smith keeps him under control.
Stajin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Stajin.
Stajin wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stajin swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control but Stajin is working from the bottom.

Stajin has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Smith off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stajin as he jumps to the side.
Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stajin.
Smith needs to keep his hands up - Stajin had a free shot at his head there.
Stajin swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Smith shoots in for a double leg but Stajin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stajin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Smith trying to stall but Stajin improves his position.

Stajin pulls guard successfully.

Stajin scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Smith darts in trying to clinch
and Stajin counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Stajin moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Smith with a lazy takedown attempt

and Stajin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stajin is working away from the top position though.

Smith looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stajin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stajin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stajin looks to land a combination but Smith avoids it well.
Nice takedown defense from Smith. No joy for Stajin on that attempt.
Smith has his takedown stuffed

and Stajin counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Smith!
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stajin controlling the pace for now.
Smith is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stajin is breathing heavily.
Stajin tries to control but Smith wriggling away.
Smith is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Smith wants to hold on but Stajin pushes him away.
Smith is wriggling around trying to escape.
Smith tries to hold on but Stajin pushes him away.

That's two 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.
Smith tries to reverse the position but Stajin maintains control.
Stajin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Stajin avoids the attempt from Smith to control.
Stajin controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith tries to hold on but Stajin postures up.
Stajin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

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.
Smith working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stajin looking to control and managing it successfully.

Despite being in the dominant position, Eric Stajin just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith with a lazy takedown attempt
and Stajin counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Stajin 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stajin.
Smith has his takedown stuffed

and Stajin counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Smith's guard now.
Stajin is stalling in the full guard.
Smith is trying to keep Stajin in close.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Stajin from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith wants to sweep here but Stajin controlling him for the moment.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Stajin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smith working a defensive guard but Stajin passes into half guard.

Smith looking for submissions off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith fails with the takedown
and Stajin counters with a good low kick that Smith was not able to check.
Smith has his takedown stuffed
and Stajin counters with a left and a right that stings Smith.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Stajin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Smith has his takedown stuffed
and Stajin counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stajin tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Stajin keeps the fight on the outside.
Stajin misses with a hook. Smith ducked under it nicely.

Stajin has Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smith keeps control of Stajin as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stajin wants to get back to striking at distance but Smith won't allow it.
Smith tries for a takedown but Stajin manages to get underhooks.
Smith is pressed up against the cage. Stajin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Smith down to the mat. Smith avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Smith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Stajin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Smith's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Stajin decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Smith closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smith lands in his opponent's guard.
Eric Stajin has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to control from the top but Stajin keeps moving.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stajin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Smith will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stajin is keeping the position for now.
Smith sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Smith drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Smith jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Stajin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stajin wants to sweep but no luck.
Stajin keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Smith drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smith passes Stajin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Smith missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Frank Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith wants to free his trapped foot but Stajin is holding on for dear life with his legs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Stajin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stajin 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Stajin!