PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Helio Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Pilgrim by Iron Maiden. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Smith
vs
Ali

180 cm
26
200 lbs
15 - 12 - 1

185 cm
27
194 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

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 15 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, John Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Helio Ali!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws a looping overhand right but Ali ducks down to avoid it.
Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.
A shot to the liver by Smith. Beautiful body shot.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Ali crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Smith - the referee stops the clock and Ali gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Smith. Ali manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Ali shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smith pinned against the cage. Smith gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Ali is just out of range.
Smith dips to his left and cracks Ali with an uppercut!

It looks like Helio Ali has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ali misses with a takedown attempt
letting Smith counter with a right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. Ali does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ali steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Smith.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses with a few strikes there.
Smith lands a body shot.
Smith takes a swing at Ali's ribcage but misses.
Donk. Smith catches Ali right on the button with a cross.
Smith is looking to wear down Ali with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Smith misses with a few strikes there.
Smith stuffs the takedown.
John Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Helio Ali.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ali.
Ali uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Smith.
A shot to the body from Smith misses

and Ali counters with a nice double leg into side control. Smith won't be happy with that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith tries to improve position but can't.

Ali is trying to get an arm triangle but Smith is defending well.
Smith sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Ali seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Smith does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ali keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Ali is trying to control. Smith wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control here.
Smith wants to improve his position but Ali is controlling well.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Ali sits in half guard.

Ali is looking for a kimura but Smith is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ali to get the leverage.
Ali tries to pass the half guard into mount. Smith knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Smith is staying active underneath Ali, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Smith on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smith tries to get out of the position.

Helio Ali has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Smith throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ali stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ali gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Smith counters with a left to the body.
Smith throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith loads up on a big right hand but Ali slips the punch.
Smith scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ali doesn't seem bothered though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith lands with an overhand left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Smith dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Helio Ali's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Smith lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Smith thows a body shot but no joy.
Ali backs away from a small jab... but Smith lunges forward with a huge superman punch! Ali crumples to the ground as his mouth piece is sent flying! Smith with a spectacular finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:17 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Superman Punch). John Smith!