PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Barry Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santeri Reijasalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by When Will They Shoot. Santeri Reijasalo is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Smith
vs
Reijasalo

190 cm
34
265 lbs
20 - 12 - 2

200 cm
26
275 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 20 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Barry Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Santeri Reijasalo!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith tries to clinch up but Reijasalo circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Reijasalo but Reijasalo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Reijasalo with a poor takedown

and Smith holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Reijasalo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Smith pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Smith gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Reijasalo.
Barry Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santeri Reijasalo.
Reijasalo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Reijasalo is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Smith is defending well.
Reijasalo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Smith avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Smith breaks the clinch.

Smith looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Reijasalo!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Reijasalo can't escape the position.
Reijasalo wants to control but Smith is having none of it.
Reijasalo is looking to get to half guard.
Reijasalo wants to hold on but Smith pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Reijasalo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Smith content just to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smith stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Reijasalo takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Reijasalo.

Smith pushes Reijasalo up against the cage in a clinch.
Reijasalo tries to score a body lock takedown but Smith shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reijasalo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Smith gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Reijasalo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Reijasalo tries for a takedown but Smith manages to get underhooks.

Smith lands a takedown into guard.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Reijasalo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reijasalo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Reijasalo has his hands on Smith's head, controlling the position.
Smith wants to control from the top but Reijasalo keeps moving.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Barry Smith wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Reijasalo misses with a takedown

and Smith counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith stops a takedown attempt from Reijasalo.
Reijasalo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Smith pulls his leg out and moves away.
Reijasalo looks gassed!
Reijasalo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Smith counters with a leg kick.
Smith 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.

It looks like Santeri Reijasalo has been cut.
Smith lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Santeri Reijasalo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Smith changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Reijasalo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Smith is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Reijasalo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Reijasalo can't do much from the bottom here.
Reijasalo prevents Smith from moving into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reijasalo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Smith landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Smith looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Reijasalo is staying active underneath Smith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Reijasalo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Reijasalo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Reijasalo looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barry Smith dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Santeri Reijasalo's cut.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smith tries to bum rush Reijasalo with a series of wild strikes but Reijasalo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
No luck for Reijasalo with that takedown attempt.
Smith throws a nice inside leg kick.
Smith takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Smith stuffs the takedown attempt from Reijasalo. Reijasalo gets slowly back to his feet.
Barry Smith is winning the standup battle so far.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Reijasalo.
Reijasalo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Barry Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santeri Reijasalo.
Come on Smith - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Reijasalo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Smith pulls his leg out and moves away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Reijasalo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Smith manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Reijasalo is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Smith working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Reijasalo gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Smith to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Reijasalo is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.
Reijasalo keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith is stalling in the full guard.
Reijasalo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Smith trying to control but Reijasalo is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Barry Smith just wasn't active enough.
Reijasalo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith is looking to clinch.

Reijasalo shoots in and bounces Smith off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Smith looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Reijasalo forces his way into half guard.

Reijasalo is looking for a kimura but Smith is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Reijasalo to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith looks like he's trying to stand up.
Smith trying to control here.
Smith works his way to full guard. Good work.
Reijasalo trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
Reijasalo trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Smith manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Reijasalo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Reijasalo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith forces his way into half guard.
Smith lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Reijasalo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith wants to pass to mount but Reijasalo is defending the position.

Reijasalo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barry Smith dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Santeri Reijasalo's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Reijasalo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Smith counters with a single leg into guard. Reijasalo didn't expect that.
Smith trying to control but Reijasalo is working from the bottom.
Smith won't allow Reijasalo to sweep him here.

Reijasalo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.

Reijasalo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Reijasalo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith advances to half guard.
Smith trying to mount his opponent but Reijasalo defends it.

Smith is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Reijasalo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Reijasalo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Reijasalo wants to control but Smith is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Reijasalo tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.

Reijasalo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Smith pulls his head out easily.
Smith looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Nice strikes from Smith there.
Reijasalo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Smith's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Smith's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Smith's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Smith is trying to stand back up.
Smith trying to control the hands but Reijasalo won't let him.
Barry Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith breaks Reijasalo's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Reijasalo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reijasalo wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Smith looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reijasalo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Reijasalo swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Barry Smith.
Reijasalo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smith tries to avoid it but Reijasalo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smith to the ground. Smith escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Reijasalo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Barry Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santeri Reijasalo.
Smith pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Reijasalo back to the cage. Smith follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Barry Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Smith closes the distance and pushes Reijasalo back into the cage.

Smith has hold of one of Reijasalo's legs. Reijasalo is fighting the takedown attempt but Smith gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Reijasalo keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.

Smith gets to his feet - Reijasalo follows without any prompting.

Reijasalo bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Reijasalo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Smith knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Smith prevents Reijasalo from improving position.
Santeri Reijasalo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barry Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smith is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Reijasalo can do to turn this around?
Reijasalo is trying to move to mount but Smith reverses beautifully and ends up in Reijasalo's guard.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Reijasalo has an active guard here but Smith has managed to pass into half guard.

Smith is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Barry Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Smith has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

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