PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roberto Smitinato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kanye West (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smitinato comes to the cage accompanied by Wale - Slight Work feat. Big Sean . We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Smitinato
vs
West

188 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roberto Smitinato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kanye West!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
West misses with a head kick.
West throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smitinato's waist but Smitinato gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing West off to one side.
Crunch! Smitinato slams his shin into West's torso.
Smitinato keeps the fight on the outside.
No luck for Smitinato with that takedown attempt.
West shoots in looking for a takedown. Smitinato tries to sprawl out of it but West keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Smitinato manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Smitinato tries to keep at a distance but West has taken the fight into the clinch.

Smitinato breaks from the clinch.
West throws a head kick that misses.
No luck for West with that takedown attempt.
Roberto Smitinato has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kanye West.
West stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and West wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
West tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smitinato swivels and escapes.
Smitinato scores with a one two! West had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Smitinato misses with a head kick.
Good shot there by West.
Smitinato shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says West as he avoids it easily.
Smitinato misses with a double jab.
Smitinato fails with a takedown attempt.
West wants to clinch.
West defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smitinato.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smitinato throws a body kick that misses.
West shoots for a double leg takedown but Smitinato sprawls well. He's pushed West's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Smitinato moves into range and clinches up with West.
West scores with a shot to the side of Smitinato's head.

Smitinato wants the takedown. West is fighting it off but Smitinato persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in West's guard against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Smitinato trying to control but West is working from the bottom.
Smitinato is breathing heavily.
Smitinato stops West from standing up.
Smitinato pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. West is keeping the position for now.
West wants to stand up but Smitinato is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smitinato wants to control from the top but West keeps moving.

West scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Smitinato leaves West with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Smitinato moves in looking to clinch but West pushes him off.
West thows a leg kick but Smitinato checks it
and Smitinato counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
West wants to clinch up but Smitinato keeps it at a distance.
West shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Smitinato defends it nicely.
West should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
West keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Horrible takedown by Smitinato or perhaps it was just good defense by West which made him look bad.
West keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smitinato tries to close the distance and clinch but West swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smitinato stuffs the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Smitinato dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Smitinato has West up against the cage in a clinch.
Smitinato tries to pull guard but West forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Smitinato tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. West smiles and moves away.
West dives in and grabs Smitinato's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smitinato pushes down on West's head and hops out.
Smitinato tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but West swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roberto Smitinato. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Smitinato with that takedown attempt.
Smitinato shoots in looking for a takedown but West manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smitinato's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
West leaves Smitinato with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

West has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

West is fighting off a takedown attempt but Smitinato is just too persistent for him and manages to trip West to the mat. West regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
West is adopting a defensive guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
West wants to sweep but no luck.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
West escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smitinato gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
West is pulling down on Smitinato's head. It's preventing any offense from Smitinato, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smitinato wants to pass the guard but West is keeping the position.
Smitinato won't allow West to sweep him here.
Smitinato throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as West works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
West trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Smitinato trying to control the position from guard on top but West is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Smitinato is really struggling to control West but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West trying to strike off his back.
West looking for a sweep. Not yet West, not yet.
Smitinato wants to control from the top but West keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Roberto Smitinato wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Smitinato shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with West but West pushes him off and we're back to square one.

West closes the distance and clinches.
West tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Smitinato avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
West content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Smitinato stalls.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Smitinato as West tries to tie him up.
West lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Smitinato backwards.

West pulls guard.
West preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Smitinato gets to his feet. West looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Smitinato shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from West.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Roberto Smitinato will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Smitinato tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but West paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smitinato fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but West avoids it really well and circles away.
Roberto Smitinato is winning the standup battle so far.
West listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
West keeps the fight on the outside.
West tries to clinch there but Smitinato circles away.

Smitinato darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
West is not content to let Smitinato control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
West slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Smitinato trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smitinato is stalling in the full guard.
West has his hands on Smitinato's head, controlling the position.
Smitinato throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smitinato would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Smitinato trying to control but West is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Roberto Smitinato.
Smitinato avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

West gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
West drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Smitinato gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Smitinato is trying to pull guard but West has him pressed against the cage.

Smitinato pulls guard effortlessly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West throws a big elbow that misses.
West throwing strikes but missing.

Smitinato is looking for a triangle but West pushes his legs off easily.
Smitinato being controlled here, momentarily.
West preventing the sweep.
West stays in close to Smitinato's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

West got a little sloppy there for a moment and Smitinato has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, West has managed to get both his arms back between Smitinato's legs - danger averted.

West stands up from guard. Let's bang!
West looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smitinato is fending him off so far but West persists. Nope, Smitinato circles away and we're back to standing.
West cracks Smitinato with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

West fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smitinato, pushing him back against the cage.
West displaying some good clinch control by pressing Smitinato up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Smitinato successfully pulls guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kanye West.
I think Smitinato 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kanye West!