PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cicero Recopa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cicero Recopa will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Smith
vs
Recopa

200 cm
24
200 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

194 cm
25
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cicero Recopa!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Recopa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smith pinned against the cage. Smith gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Smith looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Smith drives through and clinches with Recopa against the cage.
Smith gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Recopa.
Recopa has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Smith avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
John Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cicero Recopa.
Recopa can't get the takedown.
Smith is pressed up against the cage. Recopa 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.
John Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Recopa with a poor takedown
and Smith counters with a three punch combo that has Recopa backing up. Recopa nods at Smith to acknowledge the strikes.
Recopa misses with a takedown
and Smith counters with a nice body kick.
Recopa shoots and misses

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch.
Recopa wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith gets control of Recopa's arms and successfully pulls guard. Smith will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Recopa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Recopa from controlling successfully.
Recopa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Recopa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Recopa is controlling him.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Recopa.
Recopa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Recopa is controlling him.
Recopa chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Recopa is working Smith over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Recopa postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
Recopa forces his way into half guard.
Smith is not content to let Recopa control the position.
Smith has hold of Recopa's hands but Recopa slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Recopa is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Smith taking some punishment here, with Recopa in his half guard.
Ground and pound from Recopa.

Recopa is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to stand up here but Recopa is controlling him well.
Nice strikes from Recopa there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Recopa is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Recopa working Smith over with strikes.
Recopa looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Recopa seems to be working for a kimura but Smith defends the submission attempt.
Recopa working the head and body with strikes.
Recopa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smith tries to kick Recopa off but Recopa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Recopa thows a huge punch but Smith dodges it nicely.
Recopa stops Smith from getting back to his feet.
Recopa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Smith taking some punishment here, with Recopa in his half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Recopa drops an elbow to the side of Smith's head.
Smith has hold of Recopa's hands but Recopa slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Recopa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Smith's head.
Recopa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Smith avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Recopa.

Recopa is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Smith defends it well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Recopa looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Smith with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cicero Recopa dominated that round.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Recopa moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Recopa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Smith counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Smith clinches with his opponent.

Smith gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Recopa is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Smith's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Smith's back!
Recopa softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Smith covers up after that shot from Recopa.

Smith is rocked!
Recopa throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Smith!
Oh Smith is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
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!
Recopa punishes Smith with strikes from the back mount.
Recopa is landing big shots and Smith is squirming looking to escape! He can't escape though and the ref jumps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Cicero Recopa!