PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gareth Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Shinsato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Kiss - Nowhere to run. Shinsato has chosen Yoshi Story as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Akira Shinsato has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Smith
vs
Shinsato

180 cm
25
199 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

175 cm
33
187 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gareth Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Shinsato!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yuuki Gou and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shinsato feints and as Smith raises his hands in defense, Shinsato changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Shinsato decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Smith, up you get!
Shinsato fails to land with a series of punches.

Shinsato closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Smith quickly recovers to half guard.
Shinsato wants to stand up but Smith has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Smith is trying is best to control the position here.
Shinsato tries to stand and escape but Smith is controlling the position.

Smith manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Smith closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shinsato circles away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shinsato swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shinsato misses with a takedown
and Smith counters with a big head kick but Shinsato shrugs it off.
Smith tries to clinch but Shinsato is having none of it.
Smith tries to clinch up but Shinsato circles away and keeps his distance.

Shinsato closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Smith's guard.
Shinsato wants to stand and escape but instead Smith has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Smith wants to control from the top but Shinsato keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Smith stays in close to Shinsato's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gareth Smith wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by Shinsato.
Smith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shinsato.
Shinsato shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smith sprawls well. Smith wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shinsato gets slowly back to his feet.
Gareth Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Shinsato.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Smith stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Smith wants it to stay on the feet.

Smith has taken the fight to the clinch.
Shinsato throws an elbow that misses.
Smith tries a body shot but Shinsato blocks it.
Smith throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shinsato just stands there and leans against the cage.
Shinsato lands a damaging elbow.
Shinsato pushes Smith back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shinsato throws a punch but it's blocked by Smith.
Smith dodges an elbow strike from Shinsato.
Shinsato misses with a body punch.
Shinsato misses with the head strike.
Shinsato misses with a hook from the clinch.
Smith tries to pull guard but Shinsato holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smith.
Smith looking to stall.
Smith jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Shinsato walks away with a smile on his face. Smith gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Akira Shinsato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck for Shinsato with that takedown attempt.

Shinsato scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Shinsato seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
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!
Shinsato wants to stand up but Smith has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Shinsato escapes and gets back to his feet.
Shinsato looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Shinsato persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.
Shinsato avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Smith instigates a clinch.
Shinsato misses with a punch on the inside.
Shinsato lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Shinsato misses with a hook to the ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Shinsato dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Smith scoring well with a low kick there.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Shinsato swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shinsato misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A punch combination from Smith misses.
Shinsato shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Smith defends it nicely.
Shinsato avoids the head kick by Smith.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. Shinsato tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shinsato manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Shinsato throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Smith tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Shinsato is in Smith's guard.
Shinsato is looking to stand up but Smith won't let him.
Akira Shinsato has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinsato is looking to stand up but Smith won't let him.
Smith is wriggling around but Shinsato manages to pass to half guard.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.

Shinsato decides to stand up.
Shinsato throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
Smith misses with an uppercut.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Smith slaps away a takedown attempt from Shinsato, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Gareth Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Shinsato.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shinsato.
Shinsato tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shinsato somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shinsato avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smith misses with a body shot

so Shinsato counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Shinsato wants to stand but Smith is controlling his posture from full guard.
Shinsato postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shinsato is looking to stand up but Smith won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gareth Smith wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Smith gets caught napping as Shinsato dives in and scores a takedown. Smith manages to retain guard.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
Smith is adopting a defensive guard.

Shinsato decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Smith, up you get!
No luck for Smith with that takedown attempt.
Shinsato fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a shot from downtown. Shinsato moves away and avoids it.

Shinsato fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Smith sprawls well initially but Shinsato persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.

Shinsato gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shinsato fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shinsato.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shinsato closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. Shinsato pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Smith instigates a clinch.
Smith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shinsato just stands there and leans against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Akira Shinsato will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Shinsato closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. Shinsato pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Smith stuffs the takedown attempt from Shinsato. Shinsato gets slowly back to his feet.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Shinsato circles away.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith tries to clinch but Shinsato is having none of it.
Nice takedown defense from Smith. No joy for Shinsato on that attempt.
Gareth Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Shinsato.
No luck for Shinsato with that takedown attempt.
Shinsato throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Smith shoots for a takedown but Shinsato saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Shinsato shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shinsato shoots in and drives through. Smith sprawls well.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shinsato swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shinsato takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith tries to clinch there but Shinsato circles away.

Shinsato feints and as Smith raises his hands in defense, Shinsato changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing Shinsato from standing up.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Shinsato gets to his feet. Smith looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Shinsato stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Smith.
Shinsato blocks the body kick.
Nice defenses there by Shinsato.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Shinsato sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Smith attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Gareth Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shinsato paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shinsato changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smith tries to avoid it but Shinsato manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smith to the ground. Smith escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gareth Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Smith fails to land the takedown.
Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Shinsato drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Smith.
Shinsato fails with a takedown attempt.
Shinsato shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
Smith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shinsato.
Shinsato shoots in and drives through. Smith sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Smith wants it to stay on the feet.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shinsato paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith is looking to clinch but Shinsato is avoiding it.
Smith throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Smith stuffs the takedown.
Smith throws a right and a left that both miss.
Shinsato tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gareth Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Shinsato swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shinsato paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shinsato tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Smith fails to land the takedown.
No luck for Smith with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Shinsato sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Shinsato decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shinsato wants to get back to his feet.

Shinsato decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Smith tries to clinch but Shinsato is having none of it.
Shinsato fails to land the takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shinsato fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Smith.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gareth Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shinsato has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akira Shinsato!