PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Attention Aie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phill Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Aie
vs
Smith

180 cm
23
130 lbs
2 - 5 - 1

160 cm
24
145 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 5 - 1, fighting out of London, Attention Aie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of London, Phill Smith!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Atkins and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Aie is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Smith gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith presses Aie against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Aie goes for a takedown in the clinch but Smith prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Attention Aie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith unloads a knee to the mid-section. Aie lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Smith gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Aie.
Aie drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A shot in the inside from Smith.
Aie goes for a takedown attempt but Smith pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Aie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aie misses with a takedown attempt

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown. Aie fights it but they end up in guard.

Aie is rocked!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Smith passes into half guard.
Oh Aie is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Aie is breathing heavily.
Smith working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Smith working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Aie's head.
Aie wants to get back to his feet.

Smith 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.
Aie is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Smith scores with a couple of nice shots.
Aie is trying to get back to full guard.

Smith is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Aie has managed to free his arm - good work.
Smith trying to mount his opponent but Aie defends it.
Smith is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Aie seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith controlling the action here.

Smith is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Aie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Smith.
Smith working the head and body with strikes.
Aie is not content to let Smith control the position.
Aie really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aie actively working from the bottom here.
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 keen to just control but Aie is a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Phill Smith.
Aie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
Aie gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Aie shoots in but no luck this time.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smith stalling in the clinch but Aie improves position.
Aie goes for a takedown in the clinch but Smith prevents it.
Aie changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Smith fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to clinch up but Aie keeps it at a distance.
Aie doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Smith counters with a low kick, right behind Aie 's knee.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Aie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smith pinned against the cage. Smith gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Smith forces Aie back against the cage and clinches.

Smith is trying to trip Aie. He has hold of a leg but Aie is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Smith persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith looking to pass the guard.

Aie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.
Smith looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phill Smith 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.

Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Aie circles away quickly and effectively.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith wants to clinch up but Aie keeps it at a distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Aie.
Smith closes the distance looking to clinch

and Aie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Aie is looking for a kimura here.
Smith controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aie is trying to work for a kimura but Smith is defending well.
Aie prevents Smith from improving his position.
Phill Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.

Aie is looking for a kimura here.
Smith trying to control but Aie postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aie seems to be looking for submissions.
Aie drops an elbow to the side of Smith's head.

Aie seems to be working for a kimura but Smith defends the submission attempt.
Smith tries to roll over but Aie keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aie is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Smith as he works his way to full guard.
Smith has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Aie has passed into side control.

Aie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Smith, who protects the arm well.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aie throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Aie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smith has escaped the position, nice work there.

Aie is trying to get an arm triangle but Smith is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith holding on.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith sneaks back into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Attention Aie dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith tries to clinch up but Aie circles away and keeps his distance.

Aie shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Aie showed some decent athleticism there.

Aie trying to work for an americana but Smith has managed to regain full guard.

Aie drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Smith manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Aie has Smith in his guard.
Aie throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Aie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Aie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aie keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

Aie has his foot on Smith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smith works his way back into a safe position though.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Aie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aie throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Smith wants to control from the top but Aie keeps moving.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Phill Smith hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Aie circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Aie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith throws a nice looking combination but Aie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Aie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Aie misses with a takedown
and Smith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Smith throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Aie.
Aie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Smith lands a right hand that snaps the head of Aie backwards.
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!
Aie wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Attention Aie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith is pushing Aie up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aie can't get the takedown.
A short right from Smith on the inside.

Smith has Aie pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Smith pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Aie tumbling to the mat - Smith dives into Aie's guard.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Aie keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Aie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Smith stays in close to Aie's body and controls the position.

Aie 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 wants to control from the top but Aie keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Aie keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Phill Smith was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Aie fails with a takedown attempt.
Smith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Aie manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phill Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

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