PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Helio James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by In The Morning. James is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Limp Bizkit Eat You Alive. This should be a great matchup!

Smith
vs
James

183 cm
32
217 lbs
23 - 19 - 0

190 cm
29
213 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Reaper Combatwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Smith!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Helio James!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Steven Brown and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and James moves out of range easily.
Smith stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Smith wants it to stay on the feet.
James lands an overhand right.
James blocks a jab.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith throws a right and a left that both miss.
James fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
James clobbers Smith with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

It looks like Mike Smith has been cut.
James with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Smith to score with a decent uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith throws a quick inside leg kick.
James connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Smith - that will leave a mark!
A cross from James lands.
James misses the jab.
James throws a big shot that misses.
Smith tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
James connects with an inside leg kick.
Smith staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith takes a swing at James's ribcage but misses.
The fighters circling - Smith throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Smith lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
A cross from Smith lands.
James takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Smith misses with a series of wild punches.
James is looking to slow Smith down with leg kicks.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.
James misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith thuds his right hand into James's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
James throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
James lands a jab to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
James moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Smith doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Smith swings for the body but James moves out of range.
Smith throws a big shot that misses.
James lands a nice looking body shot.
James throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith pivots, looking for a leg kick but James is out of range and Smith settles back down.
Nice body kick from Smith.
Both fighters circling a little - James finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but James was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Mike Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by James.
James has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A jab from James misses.
James catches Smith with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Smith slips under a jab from James.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
James lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Smith throws a combination but it was largely blocked by James.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
James misses the shot to the body.
James with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Smith misses with an uppercut
letting James counter with a right hand.
Smith thuds his shin into the meat of James's side.
Smith takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
James is looking to clinch.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick misses from Smith.
James is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smith.
Smith scores with a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James lands with an uppercut that bounces Smith off the cage and back into range.
Mike Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
James misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Smith throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but James manages to avoid it.
Sloppy strikes from James. Those never looked like landing.
James lands a nice hook to Smith's body. Smith takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Smith lands a jab to James's midsection.
James misses with a right hand
and Smith counters with a good low kick that James was not able to check.
James misses with a straight left.
Nice uppercut there from James.
Smith throws a head kick that misses
enabling James to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
James throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Smith throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent James stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A head kick by Smith misses
and James connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
James is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Smith had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Smith lands with an overhand left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Helio James will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mike Smith's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

James looks to land a left hand but Smith moved out of range nicely.
Helio James seems to be getting the better of the standup.
James with a poor takedown
and Smith counters with a low kick, right behind James 's knee.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
James thumps Smith with a low kick.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
James staying out of range there.
James looks to land a right hand but Smith moved out of range.
Smith is looking to wear down James with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
James uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Smith has time to react.
James looks to land a left hand but Smith moved out of range nicely.
James lands a nice hook to Smith's body. Smith takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
James works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
James misses with a wild body shot.
James throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.
James digs a good body shot into Smith's ribs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James with a jab.
James drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith slips a straight right by James.
Smith tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Smith throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
James ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Smith is looking to slow James down with leg kicks.
Smith misses with an uppercut. James saw that one coming.
James pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Smith throws a leg kick
and James connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
James takes a jab right on the kisser.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Smith.
James lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Smith waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract James.
James misses with a body shot.
James takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

James pushes Smith up against the cage in a clinch.

Smith breaks the clinch.
James tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from James.
James works the jab nicely.
A shot to the liver by James. Beautiful body shot.
Smith gets cracked there but stands up to it.
James tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Smith misses the jab.
Smith throws a leg kick but James sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Smith moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Smith connects with a leg kick. James looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Smith keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but James is just out of range.
James shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
Smith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by James.
James misses with a straight left.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
James scores with a nice head shot.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smith looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
James throws an overhand right that lands on Smith's shoulder, as Smith tries to avoid the shot.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Smith cracks James with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
James avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smith misses with a two punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Smith does no damage.
James scores with a jab to the jaw.
Smith tries to land a front kick but James steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
James's corner calls for a 1-2. James obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
James misses with a straight right.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A slow jab from Smith misses its intended target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but James was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
A jab lands there for James.

James drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

James gets to his feet. Smith looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith lands a straight punch to the body, keeping James at a distance.
James connects with a good right hand that stumbles Smith. Smith circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Smith comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Helio James will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Mike Smith's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

James takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Smith misses with a head kick.
A jab from James finds it's way through Smith's defenses.
James fails with a takedown attempt.
James lands with a nice body punch.
A swing and a miss from James.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by James.
Smith throws a jab when James was well out of range.
James misses the jab.
James on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Smith ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Smith misses with a body shot.
Nice cross by James.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Smith fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches James on the side of the head.
Smith lands a straight punch to the body, keeping James at a distance.
James throws a leg kick but Smith sees it coming and checks it nicely.
James throws a half hearted mid kick.
James scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
James fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by James.
James takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
James swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Smith.
James loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.
Smith leaves James with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
James cracks Smith with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James misses with a straight left.
Smith takes one to the chin there.
Smith turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Smith stuns James with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but James manages to avoid it.
James lands with a shot to the body.
Donk. Smith catches James right on the button with a cross.
Smith throws out a loose jab but James uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith connects with a single shot there.
Some wild striking there from James.
James sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
James tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from James.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
James shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mike Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Helio James.
Smith misses with a body kick.
James throws a push kick but Smith slaps the foot to one side.
Smith plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
James swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
James moves out of range of the strikes.
James fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
A big left from Smith misses.
James looks to land a left hand but Smith moved out of range nicely.
James throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith tries to land a front kick but James steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Smith. Those never looked like landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith scores with a shot to the body.
Smith throws a jab when James was well out of range.
Smith throws an overhand right that lands on James's shoulder, as James tries to avoid the shot.
A slow jab from James misses its intended target.
Smith missing with a left hand there. James was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
James shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smith sprawls well. Smith wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. James gets slowly back to his feet.
Smith scores with the left hand. James knows he should have avoided that one.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A head kick misses from Smith.
Smith misses with a hook
and James counters with a stiff right hand.
Smith walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Smith clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Mike Smith's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

James throws a hook but Smith avoids it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Smith misses the target.
Smith misses with a leg kick.
James lunges at Smith with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Smith's hand.
Smith throws a nice looking combination but James bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Smith lands a glancing blow to the side of James's head.
Smith throws out a loose jab but James uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
James has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Smith.
James ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Smith rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and James counters with a straight right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from James. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
James looks to land a left hand but Smith moved out of range nicely.
A jab lands there for Smith.
A swing and a miss from Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from James.
James tries to move into range but Smith moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
James lands a nice hook to Smith's body. Smith takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Smith scores with a kick to the body.
James closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
James connects with a looping right hand.
James gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and James takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
James is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Smith. James shrugs it off though.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but James moves away.
James cracks Smith with a good jab.
James misses with a wild body shot.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Smith checks a leg kick.
Smith has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from James.
James fails with the takedown
and Smith makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Mike Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Helio James.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Smith.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James avoids the head kick by Smith.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Smith.
James tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
James takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Smith throws a push kick but James slaps the foot to one side.
Smith will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
James throws a leg kick but Smith sees it coming and moves out of range.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from James.
Smith takes a swing at James's ribcage but misses.
Smith takes a jab right on the kisser.
James connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
James digs a good hook to Smith's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Smith backs up against the cage.
A head kick by Smith misses
and James counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
James shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smith lands a right hook to the body.
A swing and a miss from Smith.
Smith looks to land a left hand but James moved out of range nicely.
James takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Nice body punch from James.
James shoots for a takedown but Smith saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
James sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
James connects with the punch.
James moves out of range of the body kick.
A combination from Smith does no damage.
James showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
James swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
James moves out of range as Smith strikes.
Smith moves out of range as James strikes.
James throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sloppy strikes from Smith. Those never looked like landing.
James steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Smith.
James 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.
James ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but James manages to avoid it.
James moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Mike Smith will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mike Smith's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Smith dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on James. That did some damage!
James takes one on the chin but seems OK.
James uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Smith throws a body kick that misses.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A big right from Smith misses.
James wants to clinch
and Smith counters with a lovely straight right hand!
James misses with a straight left.
Smith moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
James looks to land a right hand but Smith moved out of range.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith moves out of range of the body kick.
James avoids a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James ducks under a wild hook from Smith.

James drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.
James misses with a punch to the body.
James softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith throws an overhand right that lands on James's shoulder, as James tries to avoid the shot.
Smith closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Smith scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Smith misses with a low kick.
Smith blocks the body kick.
James buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but James is just out of range.
James throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Smith throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James misses the shot to the body.
Smith lands a nice looking body shot.
Smith takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice shot lands for Smith.
James throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.
James tries to clinch up.
James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
James throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Smith blocks the body kick.
James lands the left hand.
James swings and misses with a hook to the body.
James bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Smith's head backwards.
James throws a low kick but Smith moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Smith.
James is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
James misses with a few strikes there.
James sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Smith scores with a spinning back kick!
Smith lands an overhand right.
Smith lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
James thows a body shot but no joy.
James gets cracked there but stands up to it.
James keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
James darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Smith misses with a double jab.
James misses with a body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
James throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. James does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a lazy right hand but James sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
James keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A combination from Smith does no damage.
Smith looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Smith on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from James.
James's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
James slips a jab from Smith.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
James tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Smith misses with an attempted mid kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
James shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed James's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Smith lands with a shot to the body.
Smith misses with a few strikes there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smith 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 47:48
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 49:47
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Helio James!
Helio James is the new light heavyweight champion!
Helio James decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.