PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Great Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Kross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Kross

160 cm
25
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
180 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Great Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nick Kross!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kross stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kross wants it to stay on the feet.
Kross throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smith tries to clinch there but Kross circles away.
Kross throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kross feints a jab promting Smith to slip. Kross then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Smith slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Smith moves into the clinch.
Kross is looking to take this one to the mat.
Smith prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith prevents Kross from breaking the clinch.
Smith has Kross pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kross manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Smith goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kross prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Great Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kross after a bit of a struggle.
Smith has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kross after a bit of a struggle.
Kross comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kross is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kross lands an uppercut.

Smith works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kross escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kross has his hands on Smith's head, controlling the position.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kross works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kross looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Kross has wrist control.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kross wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Smith looking to pass the guard.

Smith thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kross is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith works over Kross with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kross working a defensive guard but Smith passes into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Smith stands up from half guard.
Kross swinging wildly here.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kross throws a right and a left that Smith avoids nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Kross. Those never looked like landing.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Kross circles away.
Kross fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kross lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kross throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kross defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smith.
A left and a right from Kross both land. Nice combination.
Kross misses with the combination.
Kross looks gassed!
Kross tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Smith looks to land a left hand but Kross moved out of range nicely.
Smith dodges the punch combination from Kross.
Smith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kross tries to avoid it but Smith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kross to the ground. Kross escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Smith takes the fight into the clinch.
Kross looking for a takedown.
Kross pushes Smith back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kross tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Smith has clasped his hands together around Kross's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Smith has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Smith creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
You can see the frustration on Kross's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith scoring with punches and elbows.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith working the body and head with strikes.
Smith postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Smith is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kross knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Smith lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Smith throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Smith scores with punches from side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Smith tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Smith has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kross takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kross stalks Smith and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Smith's face. Smith staggers backwards, shaken.
Kross lands a jab-cross combination.
Kross throws a series of punches but Smith moves out of range.
Kross throws a combination. Smith tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Kross misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kross thumps Smith with a low kick.

Kross closes the distance and pushes Smith back into the cage.
Smith is looking to take this one to the mat.

Smith gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Kross looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith scoring with punches to the head and body.
Smith might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kross looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith landing with the ground and pound.
Kross is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Kross is breathing heavily.
Kross looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Kross is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kross pulls Smith in to control the position.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Smith's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Kross has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Kross looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Smith lands a couple of elbows.
Smith postures up in Kross's guard and throws a big left but Kross blocks it.
Smith working some strikes from top position.
Smith makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kross tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith lands a couple of elbows.
Smith postures up.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith lands a couple of digs.
Kross wants to control the position but Smith says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kross's head.

Smith decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kross paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kross lands a leg kick that knocks Smith off balance momentarily.
Kross displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.
Kross lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Nick Kross is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith has closed the distance and engaged Kross in a clinch.
Kross is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Smith is defending well for now.

Smith has hold of one of Kross's legs. Kross is fighting the takedown attempt but Smith gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Smith looking to pass the guard.

Kross looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kross's head.
Smith postures up in Kross's guard and throws a big left but Kross blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kross trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kross's head.
Kross is trying to keep Smith in close.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Smith passes Kross's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kross avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smith.

Smith decides to stand up.
Nice sprawl there from Kross as Smith shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Great Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kross misses with a few strikes there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kross swivels and escapes.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kross.
Kross lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Smith backs up against the cage.
Kross defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smith.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Great Smith dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Smith is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kross.
A combination from Kross does no damage.
Kross thumps Smith with a low kick.

Smith gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Kross breaks from the clinch.
Kross throws a combination. Smith tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Kross fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kross lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Smith backs up against the cage.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith tries to clinch there but Kross circles away.
Kross tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Smith has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kross takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kross looking to throw knees to the head but Smith is blocking nicely.
Smith avoiding damage as Kross throws knees to the body.
Smith has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kross is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kross landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kross misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kross is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kross avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Great Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smith is trying to trip Kross. He has hold of a leg but Kross is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Smith persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Kross is retaining full guard.
Kross is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Kross.
Smith landing some decent shots from guard.
Smith working some strikes from top position.
Kross is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kross working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Great Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Kross.
Smith passes Kross's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Nice strikes from Smith there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith is nestled in close to Kross, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kross is looking to improve his position.
Kross has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kross wants to get back to full guard.
Kross is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ground and pound from Smith.

Smith is working for a kimura but Kross is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith escapes and gets back to his feet.
Kross moves out of range of the strikes.
Smith shoots in but Kross avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kross throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Great Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kross was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Kross works over Smith's head and body with a nice combination.
Kross is working the combinations to good effect here.
Kross tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kross.
Kross dodges the punch combination from Smith.
Smith is looking to clinch but Kross is avoiding it.
Nick Kross seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Kross. Those never looked like landing.
Smith swings for the body but Kross moves out of range.

Smith darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kross is looking to improve his position.
Kross is looking to control Smith's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kross avoid being mounted?
Smith is nestled in close to Kross, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kross pushes Smith off looking to stand but Smith dives back in and keeps control.
Nick Kross has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith is trying to control the action in half guard but Kross is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Great Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Smith, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Great Smith!