PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Arm Strong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rutger Smoot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Strong
vs
Smoot

180 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
173 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Arm Strong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rutger Smoot!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Nard Betker and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smoot tries a head kick but it misses.
Strong thows a left - swing and a miss!
Smoot doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Strong counters with a takedown into side control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Smoot takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Strong landing a few strikes.
Smoot struggling a bit here.
Smoot tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Strong presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

Strong has control of Smoot's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Smoot regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Strong sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strong 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.
Smoot tries to reverse the position but Strong maintains control.
Smoot tries to lock up and control but Strong gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strong landing shots from mount.
Smoot bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Smoot wants to control from the top but Strong keeps moving.
Smoot wants to get up but he can't break Strong's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Smoot keeps the fight on the outside.
Smoot lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Strong looks for the body kick but Smoot saw that one coming.
Smoot shoots in looking for a takedown. Strong tries to sprawl out of it but Smoot keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Strong manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Strong leaves Smoot with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Arm Strong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rutger Smoot.
Smoot looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smoot keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Strong has a takedown stuffed.
Smoot shoots in for a takedown but Strong shows good takedown defense.
Strong wants to clinch up but Smoot keeps it at a distance.
Strong looks for the body kick but Smoot saw that one coming.
Strong slaps away a takedown attempt from Smoot, before circling back to the center of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smoot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smoot shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Strong but Strong pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smoot moves out of range of the body kick from Strong.

Strong gets a clinch.

Strong jumps guard and drags Smoot to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Strong working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smoot doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smoot manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Strong preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arm Strong 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.

Strong will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Smoot swats away the attempt to clinch by Strong.

Strong gets tackled into the cage by Smoot. Smoot maintains the clinch.

Smoot breaks the clinch.

Strong takes the fight into the clinch.
Smoot tries to pull guard but Strong forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Smoot is trying to force a seperation but Strong has the dominant position.

Strong jumps guard and drags Smoot to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Strong working for a triangle but Smoot defends it easily.
Strong is looking to stand back up but Smoot counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Strong.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smoot wants to take a breather but Strong is having none of it.
Smoot not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strong is staying active underneath Smoot, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Strong moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Smoot engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Smoot is looking to work some ground and pound but Strong has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smoot prevents Strong from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Strong is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smoot wants to get up but he can't break Strong's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Strong on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Strong tries to get out of the position.
Smoot stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Strong swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smoot shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smoot doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Strong counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Arm Strong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rutger Smoot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smoot is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Strong wants to pass the guard but Smoot is keeping the position.
Smoot is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Strong stands up from Smoot's guard - Strong perhaps looking for a knockout.

Strong has Smoot up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smoot tries to pull guard but Strong forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Smoot breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Strong gets tackled into the cage by Smoot. Smoot maintains the clinch.
Smoot is trying to pull guard but Strong has him pressed against the cage.
Strong can't break the clinch.
Strong wants to get back to striking at distance but Smoot won't allow it.

Smoot breaks the clinch.
Strong misses with a shot to the body
and Smoot counters with a low kick, right behind Strong 's knee.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Strong keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Strong drives through with a takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arm Strong dominated that second round.
That's time! Strong's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Smoot. No joy for Strong on that attempt.
Smoot shoots for a takedown but Strong saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Strong closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Smoot is trying to buck Strong off.
Smoot is trying to get back to half guard.
Smoot wants to control but Strong postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Strong has control of an arm but Smoot manages to advance to Strong's back!
You can see the frustration on Strong's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Strong rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smoot is thwarting Strong's attempts to control the position.
Smoot is looking to stall here but Strong recovers full guard.
Smoot wants to pass the guard but Strong is keeping the position.
Strong is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smoot trying to control but Strong is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Strong is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Smoot is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Strong tries to pull guard but Smoot won't allow it.
Smoot tries to break free but Strong pushes him back against the cage.
Smoot tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Strong has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Smoot is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arm Strong. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Strong jumps guard and drags Smoot to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smoot with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smoot passes Strong's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Smoot trying to control the action but Strong is working from the bottom.

Smoot is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Smoot is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Strong!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smoot looking to control but Strong is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Strong is desperately trying to improve his position but Smoot has a good base and remains in mount.
Smoot controlling his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Strong wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Smoot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rutger Smoot.
I think Strong has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arm Strong!