PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luciano Contini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Contini comes to the cage accompanied by -. Smith has chosen Redman - Da goodness as his entrance music. Frank Smith has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Contini
vs
Smith

185 cm
24
184 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

187 cm
32
175 lbs
20 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

[CBK] LEGAL HIGHS - AJFC ↑ DOUBLE 160Q *
[CBK] LEGAL HIGHS - AJFC ↑ DOUBLE 160Q *

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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Luciano Contini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frank Smith!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Cecil Peabody and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith defending well as Contini loads up on a big left hand.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Contini sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Contini tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Contini fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Smith has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A left lands for Smith.
Smith tries for a takedown but Contini sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Contini blocks a head kick by Smith.
Contini throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Contini is looking to clinch.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Contini closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Smith checks a leg kick.

Contini closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Contini lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Contini blocks an uppercut.
Contini fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Contini has time to react.

Contini gets a double leg takedown into Smith's guard.
Smith can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Contini controls the pace.
Smith doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Smith wants to sweep here but Contini controlling him for the moment.
Contini looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Contini pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Contini has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Contini trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Contini controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

The ref stands the fighters back up because Luciano Contini just wasn't active enough.

Smith closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Contini quickly recovers to half guard.
Smith trying to control from half guard but Contini is working away.
Smith uses his free foot to push down on Contini's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Contini.
Contini holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Smith tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Contini sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Smith is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Contini working to try and regain half guard.
Smith trying to control but Contini is having none of it.
Smith lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Contini hang on?
Smith trying to control but Contini is having none of it.
Smith putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control but Contini is having none of it.
Contini is desperately trying to improve his position but Smith has a good base and remains in mount.
Smith controlling his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
BOOM! Smith connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Contini is trying to escape the mount.
Contini is working hard here to advance position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Smith prevents Contini from getting the reversal.

Smith goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Contini is on top in guard.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Smith dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Smith tries to work over Contini's front leg with a kick but Contini checks it.
A telegraphed right hand from Smith misses the target.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Smith lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Contini has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Contini and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Frank Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Contini blocks a leg kick.
Contini throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Smith sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Smith rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Contini moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Contini.
Contini uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Smith fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Smith throws a lazy head kick
and Contini counters with a thumping low kick.
Smith misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith missing with a left hand there. Contini was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Smith throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Contini.
Contini blocks a jab.
Smith misses with a straight left.
Contini staying out of range there.
Contini throws a good cross that connects.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Contini.

Smith looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Contini keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Contini is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Contini wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Smith is now in half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Contini is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Contini controlling the position for now.
Contini trying to control but Smith postures up.
Contini 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!

Contini looking for the RNC.
A lull in the action here.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Contini wants to control but Smith is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is really stuck here.

Smith manages to escape to his feet.
Contini walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Contini waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith.
Contini buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Contini is looking to clinch.
Contini misses with a body kick.
Contini swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smith counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Smith misses with a body shot.
Smith defending well as Contini loads up on a big left hand.
Contini tries to land a leg kick but Smith saw it coming and moves away.
A shot to the body from Contini misses
and Smith counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Contini.
Smith lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith checks a leg kick.
Smith moves out of range as Contini strikes.
Contini lands a lovely overhand right.
A leg kick checked by Smith.
A clash of legs there as Smith blocks the low kick.
Contini tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smith lands a nice hook to Contini's body. Contini takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Contini fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Smith works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Contini lands with a thumping leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Luciano Contini will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Contini tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Contini lands a nice looking body shot.
Contini lands a head kick. Smith smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Contini avoids the body shot from Smith.
Smith wants to land a leg kick but Contini is out of range.
Smith misses with a lunging right hand
and Contini counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Smith thinking.
Contini tries to move into range but Smith moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Contini moves out of range as Smith strikes.
Smith thumps Contini with a low kick.
Contini throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.
Smith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Contini counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Contini scores with a spinning back kick!

Contini takes the fight into the clinch.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Contini takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Smith throws a hook but Contini avoids it easily.
Smith throws a big shot that misses.
Frank Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Donk. Smith catches Contini right on the button with a cross.
Smith misses with a leg kick.
Contini fails with a takedown attempt.
Smith swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Contini to counter with a crisp jab.
Both fighters circling a little - Smith finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
A clash of legs there as Smith blocks the low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Contini throws a leg kick but Smith moved away.
Luciano Contini is winning the standup battle so far.
Smith connects with a good right hand that stumbles Contini. Contini circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The fighters circling - Smith throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
Luciano Contini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Smith.
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!
Contini lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Smith closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Smith tries to bum rush Contini with a series of wild strikes but Contini uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt

and Contini counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Contini lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Contini is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Contini seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Smith for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Contini tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Contini from controlling successfully.
Contini being controlled here momentarily.
Contini content to stall in guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Luciano Contini wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A chopping leg kick lands by Contini.
Contini scores with a leg kick.
Contini with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with an uppercut. Contini saw that one coming.

Smith shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Contini napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith in side control, throwing shots but Contini defends.
Contini manages to get back to half guard.
Contini moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
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!
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Contini seems keen to control Smith's posture.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Contini keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Contini bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luciano Contini showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Contini has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight for Luciano Contini!
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight for Luciano Contini!
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight for Frank Smith!

Luciano Contini wins by split decision!
Luciano Contini bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.