PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Amin Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Val Engine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Engine

170 cm
18
138 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

187 cm
22
145 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Amin Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Val Engine!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Fedor Mirinova and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith misses with a looping right.
Smith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Engine counters with a single leg into guard. Smith didn't expect that.
Engine is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Engine is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Smith is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Smith has escaped and now he's on top!
Engine wants to stand and escape but Smith is having none of it.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Engine is keeping the position.
Smith stops Engine from standing up.
Smith trying to control but Engine is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Engine manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. Engine tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Engine manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith misses with a few strikes there.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith shoots and misses

and Engine counters with a shoot takedown. Smith fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Amin Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Engine drops back looking for a leg! Smith is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Smith manages to kick Engine off! Engine jumps back into Smith's guard.
Smith might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Engine is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Engine drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Engine jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Engine drops back looking for a leg! Smith is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Smith manages to kick Engine off! Engine jumps back into Smith's guard.

Engine drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Smith dives on top into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Engine scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Engine shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Engine showed some decent athleticism there.

Engine is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Engine is looking to advance position but Smith won't allow it.

Engine is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Engine is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Smith doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Engine.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Engine is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Val Engine dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Engine feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Engine advances position into side control!

Engine tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Engine has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Engine is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Smith knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Engine is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smith is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Engine wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Smith, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Engine goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Smith has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Engine but great work by Smith.

Smith thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Engine wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith swings around for an armbar but Engine sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Smith's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Engine has gone for a leg lock! Smith slips out almost immediately though and dives into Engine's guard.

Engine manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Smith tries to sprawl but Engine drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Engine is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Smith sees it coming and defends easily.

Engine is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Val Engine has got the better of the ground game so far.

Engine is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Engine is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Smith defends it well.

Engine is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Smith sees it coming and defends easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Engine is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Smith is just riding it out for now. Engine eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Val Engine showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Engine shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Smith manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Engine pushes down on Smith's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Engine is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Engine is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Smith scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Engine manages to mount him!

Engine is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Smith can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Engine goes for an armbar but Smith turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Engine wriggles free and stands up.

Engine closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Engine lands in his opponent's guard.

Engine stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Amin Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a right and a left that Engine avoids nicely.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt

and Engine counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Smith's guard now.

Engine is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Engine drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Smith manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Engine has Smith in his guard.
Engine is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Engine uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Smith shoots in for a double leg but Engine sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Engine shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Engine is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Smith sees it coming and defends easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Engine is working for a submission of some sort.

And that's the end of the fight!
Val Engine comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Engine winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Val Engine!
Val Engine looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Thank you SPFT for giving me awesome fights!'.