PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Richie Fanoogon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julio Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Smith's choice of entrance music: Criminal Minded. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Fanoogon
vs
Smith

176 cm
22
194 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

179 cm
20
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Richie Fanoogon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Julio Smith!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Julio Smith has been cut.
Nice shot by Fanoogon.
Fanoogon scores with a nice right hand.

Fanoogon shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Smith manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Fanoogon trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
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 because Richie Fanoogon just wasn't active enough.
Smith throws a series of punches but Fanoogon moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith looks to land a combination but Fanoogon avoids it well.
Smith connects with the punch.

It looks like Richie Fanoogon has been cut.
Smith misses with a looping left.
Nice takedown defense from Smith. No joy for Fanoogon on that attempt.

Fanoogon closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Smith to the mat! Smith manages to get full guard.
Fanoogon wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith wants to improve his position but instead Fanoogon has moved into half guard.
Fanoogon tries to pass to full mount but Smith defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fanoogon performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Smith is in trouble now - Fanoogon has advanced to mount!
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fanoogon. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fanoogon putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Fanoogon throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Fanoogon takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is squirming around, avoiding Fanoogon's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richie Fanoogon dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smith tries to bum rush Fanoogon with a series of wild strikes but Fanoogon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fanoogon shoots in but Smith avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fanoogon fails with a takedown attempt.
Smith throws a combination that misses
and Fanoogon connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That has opened up Julio Smith's cut even more.
Smith throws a sloppy body shot
letting Fanoogon counter with a right hand.
Fanoogon throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Smith misses with a combination
and Fanoogon counters with a stiff right hand.
Smith with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Fanoogon to score with a decent uppercut.
Fanoogon connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Smith momentarily.
Fanoogon dodges the punch combination from Smith.
Smith throws a head kick but Fanoogon moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a body kick that misses.
Smith takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Smith misses with a shot to the body

and Fanoogon counters with a takedown into side control.

Fanoogon 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 bench press Fanoogon off him but Fanoogon keeps the position.

Fanoogon is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smith is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith being controlled for a moment.

Fanoogon is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smith is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith prevents Fanoogon from moving into mount.
Fanoogon controls the position.
Smith is looking for a sweep.

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.
Fanoogon controlling from side mount.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Richie Fanoogon wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Smith!
Fanoogon connects with a nice looking jab.
Nice defenses there by Fanoogon.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fanoogon manages to avoid it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Fanoogon gets the takedown into side control.
An elbow from Fanoogon crashes against the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richie Fanoogon dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Smith stuffs the takedown.
Fanoogon tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A swing and a miss from Smith.

Fanoogon looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Fanoogon wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Fanoogon controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Richie Fanoogon wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Fanoogon shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Fanoogon was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Fanoogon is landing with some decent strikes but Smith is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Fanoogon looking to secure an arm triangle but Smith defends it well.
Fanoogon sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fanoogon is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Smith has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Fanoogon can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Smith is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fanoogon is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?

Fanoogon is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Smith is surviving well by controlling Fanoogon's body position as best he can.

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 tries to reverse the position but Fanoogon maintains control.
Julio Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fanoogon lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Smith hang on?

And that's the end of the fight!
Richie Fanoogon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Fanoogon has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richie Fanoogon!