PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Neho Kipei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brendan Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Brendan Smith enters the cage!

Kipei
vs
Smith

185 cm
21
219 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

184 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Neho Kipei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Brendan Smith!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Ren Mimura and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kipei gets a double leg takedown into Smith's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Smith trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kipei in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Smith working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kipei doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kipei manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Smith is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Smith has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Kipei off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Smith stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Smith wants it to stay on the feet.

Smith drives through and clinches with Kipei against the cage.
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 changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kipei fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith slaps away a takedown attempt from Kipei, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kipei as he jumps to the side.
Kipei fails with the takedown

and Smith holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neho Kipei. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kipei goes for a takedown in the clinch but Smith prevents it.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith wants to clinch up but Kipei keeps it at a distance.
Kipei tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily
and Smith counters with an inside leg kick.

Smith throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kipei tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Smith is in Kipei's guard.
Kipei on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kipei tries to get out of the position.
Kipei keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith content to stall in guard here.
Smith looks gassed!

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Brendan Smith wasn't active enough on the ground.
Kipei is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smith sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kipei paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith shoots in but Kipei avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Neho Kipei seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith fails with the takedown.
Smith wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kipei closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Smith to the mat! Smith manages to get full guard.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Kipei is proving a slippery customer.
Kipei pushes down on Smith's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kipei slows the pace down in half guard.
Kipei landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kipei working over Smith with some ground and pound. Smith looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Smith is not content to let Kipei control the position.
Kipei looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kipei looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kipei takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kipei trying to control from half guard but Smith is working away.
Kipei is nestled in close to Smith, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kipei perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Smith is in trouble now - Kipei has advanced to mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kipei breaks from Smith's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kipei wants to control the pace but Smith is squirming around nicely.
Kipei raining down hammerfists from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Kipei cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neho Kipei dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kipei scores with a takedown into Smith's guard.
Kipei postures up.
Kipei pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Kipei from controlling successfully.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Kipei is proving a slippery customer.
Kipei is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kipei shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Kipei closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Smith quickly recovers to half guard.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Kipei throwing shots but Smith is blocking nicely.
Kipei scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kipei working Smith over with strikes.
Kipei is keen to just control but Smith is a slippery customer.
Kipei content to control rather than advance.
Kipei working over Smith with some ground and pound. Smith looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kipei takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kipei is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kipei looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Smith with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kipei trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Kipei is really struggling to control Smith but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith kicks off Kipei and gets to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kipei is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smith sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kipei fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neho Kipei. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith tries to clinch up but Kipei circles away and keeps his distance.
Kipei shoots in but Smith avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Smith throws a head kick that Kipei semi-blocks.
Kipei tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kipei.
Kipei throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smith's waist but Smith gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kipei off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to clinch but Kipei is having none of it.
Kipei gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Smith counters with a big head kick but Kipei shrugs it off.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kipei misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kipei avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Kipei shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kipei showed some decent athleticism there.
Smith is doing well to control the position and prevent Kipei from advancing to side control.

Smith looking for submissions off his back.
Kipei is thwarting Smith's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kipei is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kipei not doing much here.
Kipei is trying to control the action in half guard but Smith is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, Kipei seems content to control.
Neho Kipei overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kipei is nestled in close to Smith, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kipei working the head and body with strikes.
Kipei controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neho Kipei dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Kipei closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. Kipei pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kipei closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Kipei shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Smith trying to control but Kipei is working from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Brendan Smith has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Smith connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kipei fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neho Kipei. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kipei swivels and escapes.

Kipei shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kipei is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kipei lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kipei chips away with some ground and pound.
Kipei scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kipei lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kipei looking to pass the guard.
Kipei forces his way into half guard.
Kipei looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kipei seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kipei not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Smith is in trouble now - Kipei has advanced to mount!
Kipei scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Smith?
Kipei sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
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!
Kipei working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Kipei raining down shots from the mount!
Smith is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kipei landing punches.
Kipei lands with some strikes.
Kipei is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Smith can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kipei postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Smith looks a forlorn figure.
Kipei raining down shots from the mount!
Kipei with good strikes from the mount here!
Kipei unloading with bombs!
Kipei cracks Smith with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Kipei fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kipei lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The referee warns Smith that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kipei controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kipei with the ground and pound from mount.
Smith keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kipei is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Smith can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Kipei looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Kipei can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Smith is looking to escape.
Kipei has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Smith's face.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith is bucking up trying to escape but Kipei cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Brendan Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Neho Kipei is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kipei sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neho Kipei showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kipei, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neho Kipei!
A pretty intense looking Neho Kipei took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.