PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chris Masters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reggie Smalls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reggie Smalls acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Masters
vs
Smalls

178 cm
31
158 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

170 cm
24
162 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great low kicks
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

West Coast Apparel

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 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Masters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Reggie Smalls!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Reed Andrews and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice shot by Smalls.
Smalls takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Smalls blocks a head kick by Masters.
Masters throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smalls is trying hard to land a takedown here. Masters sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Smalls gets a double leg takedown into Masters's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Smalls is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Smalls pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Masters is keeping the position for now.
Masters can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smalls controls the pace.
Smalls looking to pass the guard.
Smalls postures up in Masters's guard and throws a big left but Masters blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masters pulls Smalls in to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Smalls connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Smalls avoids the head kick by Masters.
Smalls avoids a kick to the body.
Smalls throws a lazy head kick
and Masters counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Smalls is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Masters throws a head kick that misses.
Masters tries to land a front kick but Smalls steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Smalls slips a jab from Masters.
Smalls blocks a head kick by Masters.
Masters lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Reggie Smalls has been cut.
Smalls misses with a hook. Masters ducked under it nicely.

Smalls shoots in and gets a takedown into Masters's guard.
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!
Masters working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smalls showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smalls accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Masters keeping moving, preventing Smalls from controlling successfully.

Smalls drops back looking for a leg! Masters is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Masters manages to kick Smalls off! Smalls jumps back into Masters's guard.
Smalls lands a couple of digs.
Smalls landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masters utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smalls passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Smalls is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Smalls thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

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

Smalls tries for a kimura but Masters is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masters is trying to get back to half guard.

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

Smalls swings around for an armbar but Masters sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Smalls's guard.
Masters has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Smalls kicks Masters off and gets to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Masters misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Smalls. That snapped Masters's head back.
Masters tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Smalls.
Smalls has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Smalls is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Masters has escaped the position, nice work there.
Smalls controls the position.
Smalls looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Masters is avoiding damage well.
Smalls moves into full mount!
Smalls landing shots from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smalls working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Masters wants to hold on but Smalls pushes him away.
Masters keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Masters takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Reggie Smalls has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smalls throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Smalls throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Masters is trying to escape the mount.

Smalls looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Smalls controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Smalls connects with a massive shot to the dome!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smalls in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Smalls is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Masters has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Masters!
Smalls wants to stand up but Masters is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smalls seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Masters wants to control from the top but Smalls keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Masters won't allow Smalls to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Chris Masters.
Smalls uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Masters.
Masters throws a body punch but Smalls moves out of range.
A punch combination from Smalls misses.
Masters throws a half hearted mid kick.
Smalls doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Masters looks to land a body kick but Smalls moved away.
Masters tries a low kick but Smalls avoids it.

Smalls feints and as Masters raises his hands in defense, Smalls changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smalls scoring with punches to the head and body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smalls looking to pass the guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Masters wants to sweep here but Smalls controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reggie Smalls showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Reggie Smalls's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Masters throws a head kick but Smalls moves out of range.
Masters misses with a body kick.
Masters tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Left hook, right uppercut from Smalls.
Nice body kick there by Masters.
Masters throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Smalls's head.
Masters misses with a wild body shot.

Masters gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Masters knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smalls on the ground.
Smalls slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Smalls stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Masters swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smalls throwing strikes from guard but Masters blocks nicely.
Smalls loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smalls trying to control but Masters is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Masters trying to keep a closed guard but Smalls is proving a slippery customer.
Smalls is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Chris Masters has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Reggie Smalls wasn't active enough on the ground.
Smalls swinging wildly here.
Nice defenses there by Masters.
Masters misses with a hook
and Smalls cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Masters misses with a lunging right hand

and Smalls counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Masters not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Smalls thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Smalls wants to control from the top but Masters keeps moving.
Smalls in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smalls trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smalls stopping the sweep attempt from Masters.
Smalls landing with the ground and pound.
Smalls is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Masters looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Masters throws a head kick that misses.
Smalls scores with a body shot.
Smalls motions for Masters to come forward. Smalls throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Smalls with a jab.
Smalls slips under a jab.
Masters lands a front kick.
Masters pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Masters takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smalls swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Chris Masters seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Masters throws a head kick that half lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reggie Smalls comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smalls 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reggie Smalls!
After winning the bout, Reggie Smalls thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.