PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Al Iaquinta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ted Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Iaquinta
vs
Smith

170 cm
18
167 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
20
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

- - - - - All Nutrients 160 - - - - -

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Al Iaquinta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ted Smith!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Iaquinta gets a clinch.

Smith ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Smith no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Iaquinta is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Iaquinta working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smith controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Iaquinta wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.
Iaquinta is fighting to break Smith's control of his arms but Smith is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ted Smith.

Iaquinta throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Smith was covering up waiting for the punch and Iaquinta finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Iaquinta is proving a slippery customer.
Iaquinta not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Iaquinta works his way to full guard. Good work.
Iaquinta utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith trying to control but Iaquinta is working from the bottom.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Iaquinta has wrist control.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Iaquinta avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith trying to control but Iaquinta is working from the bottom.
Smith with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iaquinta trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Iaquinta seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smith trying to control but Iaquinta is working from the bottom.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smith keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Iaquinta's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith preventing the sweep.
Smith wants to control from the top but Iaquinta keeps moving.
Iaquinta wants to sweep but no luck.

Smith drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Smith jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iaquinta has control of Smith's left arm, preventing Smith from doing any damage.
Smith has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Iaquinta is proving hard to escape from.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Iaquinta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Smith thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Iaquinta is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Iaquinta is keeping the position for now.
Smith is fighting to break Iaquinta's control of his arms but Iaquinta is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Iaquinta blocks nicely.

Iaquinta throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smith stops Iaquinta from standing up.
Iaquinta is trying to keep Smith in close.
Smith with a flurry of punches that miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith is in close to Iaquinta's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Smith postures up and lands a big shot to Iaquinta's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ted Smith dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Iaquinta changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Smith looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Iaquinta is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith gets back to half guard.

Iaquinta is trying to work for a kimura but Smith is defending well.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.
Smith is trying to stand up here but Iaquinta is controlling him well.
Smith is staying active underneath Iaquinta, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Iaquinta seems content to control.
Smith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Iaquinta.
Iaquinta 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.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Al Iaquinta.

Iaquinta moves into the clinch successfully.
Iaquinta has Smith pressed against the cage, preventing Smith from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Iaquinta prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith drops down looking for an ankle pick but Iaquinta pulls his leg out and moves away.

Iaquinta scores a takedown into full mount!
Smith tries to lock up and control but Iaquinta gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Iaquinta prevents Smith from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Iaquinta throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith tries to reverse the position but Iaquinta maintains control.
Iaquinta controlling the pace for now.
Smith tries to reverse the position but Iaquinta maintains control.
Iaquinta tries to control but Smith wriggling away.
Iaquinta tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to hold on but Iaquinta pushes him away.
Ted Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Iaquinta looking to finish with strikes here!
Iaquinta controlling the position easily from mount.
Smith is in all sorts of trouble here.
Iaquinta throws some wild stikes that Smith manages to avoid easily.
Iaquinta working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Iaquinta is thwarting Smith's attempts to control the position.
Iaquinta content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Iaquinta missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Iaquinta with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Iaquinta is trying to control. Smith wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Iaquinta controlling the action here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

We're going to have a standup here because Al Iaquinta wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Smith shoots in and drives through. Iaquinta sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Iaquinta dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.

Iaquinta shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Iaquinta is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.

Iaquinta is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Smith works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Iaquinta is one step ahead there.
Iaquinta controlling from the top position.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Iaquinta is one step ahead there.
Smith manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Iaquinta manages to get himself to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iaquinta is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Iaquinta wants to get back to his feet but Smith passes into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Smith lands a nice short elbow.
Smith thows a huge punch but Iaquinta dodges it nicely.
Iaquinta is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Iaquinta trying to control from the bottom.
Iaquinta is looking to improve his position.
Smith lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith passes into side control, despite Iaquinta's attempt to control the position.
Smith misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Smith is chipping away with strikes.
Smith sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Iaquinta is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Iaquinta tries to escape but Smith is in control.
Iaquinta tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Smith wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Smith working the ground and pound.
Smith scoring with punches and elbows.
Smith landing strikes.
Iaquinta taking a bit of punishment here - Smith scoring with strikes.
Iaquinta is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.
Iaquinta avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith cracks Iaquinta with a big elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Iaquinta struggling a bit here.
Iaquinta on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Smith looks up at the clock and then as Iaquinta takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Smith smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Smith is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Iaquinta knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Smith working the head with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ted Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ted Smith!
Post fight, an emotional Ted Smith said 'Big thanks to my gym the WASPS Nest. Big things are coming from our gym. '.