PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tully Ray Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith has chosen Guerilla Radio by RATM as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ray Sanders
vs
Smith

190 cm
22
242 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

188 cm
19
245 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

PP Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tully Ray Sanders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Smith!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanders manages to get back to half guard.
Smith wants to control but Sanders is keeping him busy.
Sanders is trying is best to control the position here.
Smith wants to control but Sanders is keeping him busy.
Smith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sanders makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sanders.
Sanders wants to stand but Smith is controlling the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sanders is on top in guard.
Smith trying to strike off his back.
Smith trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sanders postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Smith is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Sanders postures up.
Smith throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Sanders missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sanders with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smith is trying to control the position but Sanders postures up.
Smith has Sanders pulled in close to control his posture.
Smith throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Sanders doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Smith counters with a single leg into guard. Sanders didn't expect that.
Sanders is breathing heavily.
Smith seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sanders looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
Sanders wants to hit a switch here but Smith passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Sanders there!
Smith takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a heavy elbow.
Smith takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Smith looking for a guillotine from mount but Sanders is having none of it.
Smith lands a big elbow.
Smith working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith working the ground and pound effectively.
Sanders is looking to improve his position but Smith isn't that keen on the idea.
Smith controlling the position easily from mount.
Smith blocks Sanders's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Sanders is squirming around, avoiding Smith's attempts to control the action.
Sanders is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sanders is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Sanders is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Smith dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sanders closes the distance but Smith moves to the side

and Smith counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sanders's guard now.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Sanders is retaining full guard.
Sanders is wriggling around but Smith manages to pass to half guard.
Sanders tries to roll over but Smith keeps him under control.

Sanders kicks off Smith and gets to his feet.
Smith shoots and misses

and Sanders counters by clinching up.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sanders prevents it.
Tully Ray Sanders has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Smith.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sanders changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Smith fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sanders with a poor takedown

and Smith counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sanders wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Sanders cracks Smith with a nice body shot.

Sanders breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sanders throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Smith sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sanders stuffs the takedown attempt from Smith. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Sanders lands with an uppercut that bounces Smith off the cage and back into rage.
Tully Ray Sanders seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

A head kick lands from Smith that sends Sanders to the canvas. Sanders tries to scramble back to his feet but Smith brings him back down into side control.

Sanders is rocked!
Smith in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Oh Sanders is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Smith connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Sanders some visible discomfort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanders taking punishment in the form of punches.
Sanders seems to have got his legs back now.
Smith trying to control the position but Sanders is working away.
Smith working the body and head with strikes.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sanders keeps working.
Sanders is being controlled here.
Sanders on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Smith taking a breather here.
Smith lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith working the body and head with strikes.

Smith is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sanders has escaped the position, nice work there.

Smith tries for a kimura but Sanders is defending well.
Sanders tries to improve position but can't.
Sanders manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Sanders trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Sanders thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Smith keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Smith wants to control but Sanders is keeping busy and won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sanders darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Smith is rocked!
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sanders fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sanders closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. Sanders pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sanders doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Smith tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sanders swivels and escapes.
Sanders connects with a body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanders lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Sanders wants to clinch

and Smith counters with a single leg into guard. Sanders didn't expect that.
Sanders striking off his back but it's not causing Smith any problems.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Good exchange - Sanders coming out on top.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Sanders shows good takedown defense.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Smith shoots in and drives through. Sanders sprawls well.
Tully Ray Sanders has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Smith.
A jab-cross combination lands for Sanders and sends Smith crashing to the mat! Sanders follows him down to the mat - Smith regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!
Smith is still in real trouble! Can Sanders finish him?

It looks like Matt Smith has been cut.
Sanders thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Smith is looking to control Sanders's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smith avoid being mounted?

Smith looking for submissions off his back.
Smith wants to control but Sanders is keeping busy.
Smith seems to have recovered his senses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanders wants to stand up but Smith is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to control here.
Smith controlling the position for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Smith shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sanders pinned against the cage. Sanders gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Smith stalks Sanders and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sanders's face. Sanders staggers backwards, shaken.
Smith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sanders counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Smith connects with the punch.
Smith scores with a shot to the body.
Sanders takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Smith throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sanders.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smith closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Matt Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sanders slips a jab and a cross from Smith.

Smith shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Smith was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Smith with the ground and pound from mount.
Smith with good strikes from the mount here!
Sanders tries to buck Smith off but he can't manage it.
Smith trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders working to try and regain half guard.
Sanders tries to buck Smith off but he can't manage it.
Smith tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Matt Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sanders squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sanders taking shots to the head.
Smith sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Smith wants to control the pace but Sanders is squirming around nicely.
Smith sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Tully Ray Sanders has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The referee warns Sanders that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tully Ray Sanders.
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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Smith!