PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sean Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ric Flair (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Flair

167 cm
28
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
28
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sean Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ric Flair!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yuuki Gou and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flair fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Flair misses the shot to the body.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Flair.
Flair is trying to push Smith away but Smith has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Smith lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Ric Flair has been cut.
Flair wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Smith has a couple of punches blocked by Flair.
Smith trying to control the position but instead, Flair has worked for underhooks and has pushed Smith into the cage.
Flair missing with knees to the body.

Flair jumps guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Flair.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Flair is retaining full guard.

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

Smith postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Flair is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Smith, into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flair wants to stand but Smith has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Flair controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Flair stands up from Smith's guard - Flair perhaps looking for a knockout.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Flair looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Flair jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Smith walks away with a smile on his face. Flair gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Smith fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Flair, pushing him back against the cage.
Flair is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Smith to keep the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flair working hard to break the clinch.
Smith is trying to stall.
Flair tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.
Sean Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ric Flair.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Smith wants a takedown.
Flair blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Smith pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Smith tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Flair breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Smith moves into the clinch.
Flair wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Smith looking to slow down the pace here.

Flair manages to pull guard.
Smith wants to control from the top but Flair keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Flair pushes Smith off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Flair throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Sean Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Flair has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Flair there as he acknowledges the shot.
Flair misses with a hook. Smith ducked under it nicely.
Flair misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Smith instigates a clinch.
Flair tries to stall but Smith uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Flair is trying to break free.
Nice elbow from Smith.
Flair looks gassed!
Flair is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.
Flair drops down looking for an ankle pick but Smith pulls his leg out and moves away.
Smith pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.
Smith lands an elbow that stopped Flair in his tracks for a moment.
Smith taking a breather.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith lands a damaging elbow.

That has opened up Ric Flair's cut even more.
Flair takes an elbow to the forehead.

Flair gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Flair throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smith is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Flair is aware though and is defending well.
Flair scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Flair got a little sloppy there for a moment and Smith has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Flair has managed to get both his arms back between Smith's legs - danger averted.
Flair would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sean Smith will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ric Flair's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Smith pushes Flair up against the cage in a clinch.

Flair has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Smith uses from the top position.

Flair scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Flair throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith lands the left hand.

Smith rushes Flair and presses him up against the cage.
Flair avoids a wild elbow strike from Smith.
Flair misses with a knee to the head.
Smith tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Flair tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.
Flair scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Flair manages to break the clinch.

Smith has taken the fight to the clinch.
Flair wants to get back to striking at distance but Smith won't allow it.

Flair is trying to trip Smith. He has hold of a leg but Smith is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Flair persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Flair is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith is working an open guard so Flair takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Smith lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Smith gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Smith trying to control the position but instead, Flair has worked for underhooks and has pushed Smith into the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Flair's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Flair takes a shot to the head.
Smith lands an elbow that stopped Flair in his tracks for a moment.
Smith lands an elbow just above Flair 's eye.
Smith trying to stall but Flair improves his position.
Flair taking a breather.
Smith misses with an elbow strike.
Flair avoids a wild elbow strike from Smith.
Flair wants to break the clinch but can't.
Flair doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flair is trying to push Smith away but Smith has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Smith just misses with a elbow thrown towards Flair's brow.
Smith wants to stall.
Flair wants to get back to striking at distance but Smith won't allow it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Flair fails to pull guard.
Flair gets underhooks to prevent Smith's takedown attempt.
Flair on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smith misses with a hook from the clinch.
Smith looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Flair has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Flair wants a takedown.
Sean Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ric Flair.
Smith gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

The cut above Ric Flair's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Smith keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Flair's efforts to push away.
Flair jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Smith walks away with a smile on his face. Flair gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Smith rushes Flair and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Flair is defending well for now.
Flair blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Flair tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Smith misses with an elbow over the top.
Flair looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Flair is trying to pull guard but Smith turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Flair misses with the head strike.
Smith lands a damaging elbow.

Ric Flair's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Smith comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Ric Flair's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Sean Smith!