PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Felix Basilan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paavo Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Felix Basilan could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Paavo Smith's chin.

Basilan
vs
Smith

182 cm
21
179 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

180 cm
27
180 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
KO power

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps
Canadian Fighter 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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Felix Basilan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Paavo Smith!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Dillan Fox and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Basilan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Basilan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.
A clash of legs there as Smith blocks the low kick.

Smith drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith controls from within his opponent's guard.
Basilan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smith throws an elbow that misses. Basilan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Smith's guard. Nice move by Basilan!
Basilan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Smith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Basilan's guard.
Basilan 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.
Basilan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smith with a flurry of punches that miss.
Basilan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Basilan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smith on the ground.
Basilan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smith throws a big elbow that misses.
Basilan controlling the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Basilan keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Basilan has wrist control.
Smith wants to control from the top but Basilan keeps moving.
Smith lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Basilan.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Basilan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Smith trying to control but Basilan is working from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Paavo Smith hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Basilan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Smith misses its intended target.
Basilan lands a leg kick that knocks Smith off balance momentarily.
Smith on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Smith takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Basilan misses with a wild body shot.
Basilan wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Smith works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Smith avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Paavo Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith throws a shot from downtown. Basilan moves away and avoids it.
Smith checks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Basilan, as that shot connected.
Basilan is looking to slow Smith down with leg kicks.
Basilan slips a straight right by Smith.
Basilan throws a low kick but Smith moves out of range easily.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Basilan was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A big right from Basilan misses.
Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith tries for a takedown but Basilan circles away easily
and Basilan counters with a nice body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Basilan looks to land a body kick but Smith moved away.
Basilan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Smith defending well as Basilan loads up on a big left hand.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
A slow jab from Basilan misses its intended target.
Smith takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Smith misses with a straight left.
Basilan thows a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basilan misses with a straight right.
Basilan tests Smith's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Basilan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
Basilan throws a wild body kick that Smith sees coming a mile off.
Basilan misses with a low kick.
Smith ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A nice inside leg kick there by Basilan. That's going to slow Smith down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Basilan is just out of range.
Basilan lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Basilan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Basilan defending well though.
Paavo Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.

Smith is working for a submission of some sort.
Basilan trying to hold on to Smith's head to control him but Smith postures up.
Basilan is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Smith missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to mount his opponent but Basilan defends it.
Smith is trying to control. Basilan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Smith is just content to waste time from the top position. Basilan takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Smith wants to control from the top but Basilan keeps moving.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Basilan wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Smith is now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Basilan is defending well.
Basilan is trying to get back to full guard.
Smith sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Basilan defending well though.
Smith not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smith looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith wants to control but Basilan is keeping him busy.
Smith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Smith 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. This is the final round!

Basilan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Basilan throws a body kick that misses.
Smith takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Basilan swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Smith has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Smith there as he acknowledges the shot.
Basilan throws a solid leg kick but Smith takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Basilan.
Basilan misses with a body shot.
Basilan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Basilan throws a hook to the side of Smith's head but Smith sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Basilan tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Basilan checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses with a body shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.
Basilan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Basilan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Basilan smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Basilan tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Basilan scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Smith keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Felix Basilan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basilan throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Smith misses the jab.
Basilan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith throws a looping overhand right but Basilan ducks down to avoid it.
A bone on bone clash there as Smith blocks the leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. Basilan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Basilan misses the shot to the body.
A head kick misses from Basilan.
Smith fails with the takedown.
Paavo Smith is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basilan throws a right and a left that Smith avoids nicely.
Smith shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Basilan pinned against the cage. Basilan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Felix Basilan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paavo Smith.
A head kick misses from Basilan.
Basilan misses with a few strikes there.
Smith checks the leg kick.
A slow jab from Smith misses its intended target.
Smith is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Basilan rather than just go for the knockout.
Basilan throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Basilan.

Smith closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Basilan to the mat! Basilan manages to get full guard.
Basilan being controlled here, momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Let's hope that Smith has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Paavo Smith was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Basilan lands with a kick to the ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Felix Basilan showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paavo Smith!
A victorious Paavo Smith thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.