PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Florent Menez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Menez
vs
Smith

180 cm
26
175 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

152 cm
20
179 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

Bushido Clothing
BLKOUT Clothing

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Florent Menez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Nathan Smith!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Ackerman and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Menez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Smith looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Menez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Smith defends it well.

Menez is looking for a kimura here.
Menez is looking to advance position but Smith won't allow it.

Menez is looking for a kimura but Smith is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Menez to get the leverage.
Smith wants to control but Menez is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Smith is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Menez pulls his head out easily.
Smith is trying to control but can't.

Menez is working for a submission of some sort.

Smith looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Smith is looking to control Menez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smith avoid being mounted?
Menez is pressing down on Smith's thigh, looking to free his foot. Smith is holding on for now.

Menez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Smith is just riding it out for now. Menez eventually gives up the hold.
Smith trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Menez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Smith is just riding it out for now. Menez eventually gives up the hold.

Menez is working for a kimura but Smith is defending it quite comfortably.
Menez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Menez pulls his head out easily.

Smith looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Menez is looking for a kimura here.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.

Smith looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Menez is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Smith sees it coming and defends easily.

Smith looking for submissions off his back.

Smith looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Menez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Smith doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Menez.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith wants to control but Menez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Florent Menez dominated that round.
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.

Menez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smith sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Menez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Menez is keeping the position for now.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Menez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Menez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Menez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Menez wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Menez working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Menez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Menez keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Menez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Menez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Menez is trying to stand.
Smith trying to control from half guard but Menez is working away.

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

Smith is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Menez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Menez is not content to let Smith control the position.
Menez gets full guard.
Menez keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith passes Menez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control from half guard but Menez is working away.
Well, if Smith is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Smith is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Menez has managed to free his arm - good work.
Menez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Menez 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.

Menez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Menez keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Menez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Menez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith pushes down on Menez's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Smith is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Menez sees it coming and defends easily.
Menez wants to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are battling for position here. Menez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith advances to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Smith looks for a takedown but Menez sprawls well.
Smith has his takedown stuffed

and Menez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Smith is looking for a triangle here but Menez uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Menez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smith is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Smith tries to improve position but can't.

Menez looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Smith is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Menez off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menez wants to escape the position.

Menez showing good submission defense here.

Smith is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Smith looking for the choke from the back.
Menez has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Well, with Smith on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Menez is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Smith is trying to stick to Menez's back but Menez is turning into Smith. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Smith's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Menez.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Menez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nathan Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith looking for a guillotine here but Menez defends easily.
Menez tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.

Smith working for a triangle but Menez defends it easily.

Smith working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Menez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Menez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Menez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Menez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Menez drops back looking for a leg! Smith is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Smith manages to kick Menez off! Menez jumps back into Smith's guard.

Smith working for a triangle but Menez defends it easily.

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Menez wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeping full guard, as Menez tries to pass.

Smith working for a triangle but Menez defends it easily.

Menez drops back looking for a leg! Smith is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Smith manages to kick Menez off! Menez jumps back into Smith's guard.
Menez tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Menez trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith controls Menez momentarily but Menez frees himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nathan Smith.
Well Smith 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathan Smith!