PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Manuel Neuer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mick Smithwick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Neuer
vs
Smithwick

196 cm
31
270 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

170 cm
22
245 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Manuel Neuer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mick Smithwick!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Jorge Garcia and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Neuer lands a high kick!
Neuer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smithwick.

Neuer instigates a clinch.

Neuer escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Smithwick has closed the distance and engaged Neuer in a clinch.
Neuer utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Neuer lands a knee to the head.
Neuer landing some nice looking knees to the body.

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

Smithwick has Neuer up against the cage in a clinch.
Neuer putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Smithwick in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Smithwick looks gassed!

Neuer escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Smithwick clinches.

Neuer has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Smithwick is trying to keep an underhook but Neuer manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Neuer seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Manuel Neuer has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Neuer drives through and clinches with Smithwick against the cage.
Neuer lands a body punch in the clinch.
Neuer slowing the pace effectively.
Neuer keeps control of Smithwick as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Neuer breaks the clinch.
Smithwick throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Neuer.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Neuer.
Smithwick avoids the head kick by Neuer.
Neuer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neuer lands an overhand right.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Smithwick closes the distance and clinches.
Neuer lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Neuer with a knee to the head.

Neuer's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Neuer changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Smithwick looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Smithwick is pushing Neuer's head away, looking to escape. Neuer manages to hold on to the position though.
Neuer remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smithwick gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Neuer controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smithwick wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

Manuel Neuer has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Neuer has taken the fight to the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Smithwick's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Neuer has Smithwick pressed against the cage, preventing Smithwick from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Neuer throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smithwick blocks it with crossed arms.
Neuer using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Neuer.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smithwick is trying to force a seperation but Neuer has the dominant position.
Smithwick misses with some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel Neuer dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Neuer tries to clinch there but Smithwick circles away.

Neuer closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Neuer manages to break the clinch.
Neuer lands a high kick!
Horrible takedown by Neuer or perhaps it was just good defense by Smithwick which made him look bad.

Smithwick forces Neuer back against the cage and clinches.
Neuer tries a body shot but Smithwick blocks it.
Smithwick is trying to break free.
Smithwick is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Neuer lands a good knee to the midsection. Smithwick won't want to take too many of those.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smithwick can't break the clinch.
Smithwick wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Neuer has him pressed against the cage.

Neuer breaks the clinch.
Neuer dodges the punch combination from Smithwick.
Smithwick is breathing heavily.

Neuer pushes Smithwick up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neuer scores with a knee to the head.
Neuer landing knees to the body.
Neuer scores with a knee to the head.
Smithwick has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Smithwick wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Neuer lands a nice elbow.
Neuer using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Smithwick's face as he tries to break the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Neuer breaks from the clinch.
Smithwick takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Neuer stuns Smithwick with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Neuer pushes Smithwick up against the cage in a clinch.
Neuer effectively controlling the action here.
Neuer lands a nice knee to the body.

Neuer has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Smithwick clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Neuer controlling the position well here. Smithwick rolled but Neuer kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neuer has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Smithwick trying to get back to his feet but Neuer is in full control for now.
Neuer controlling from the back.
Smithwick trying to get back to his feet but Neuer is in full control for now.
Good control from Neuer.
Neuer will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neuer seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Smithwick for as long as he can get away with.
Smithwick controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
What can Smithwick do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Manuel Neuer.
Neuer dodges the punch combination from Smithwick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smithwick clinches up with Neuer and pushes him back against the cage.
Neuer scores with a knee to the head.
Manuel Neuer has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Neuer wants the takedown. Smithwick is fighting it off but Neuer persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Smithwick's guard against the cage.

Neuer stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Neuer comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Neuer lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Mick Smithwick has been cut.

Neuer manages to break the clinch.
Manuel Neuer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Smithwick moves into the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smithwick has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Neuer with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Neuer's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Smithwick has managed to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel Neuer dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mick Smithwick's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Neuer rushes Smithwick and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Smithwick is looking to break free of the clinch but Neuer has double underhooks.
A short body shot lands from Smithwick as the two fighters clinch.
Neuer dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Smithwick can't break the clinch.
Knees to the body from Neuer.
Neuer utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
The referee calls for Neuer to work.
Smithwick has had enough of the clinch but Neuer keeps him there for the moment.
A right hand to the body from Neuer.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smithwick tries a body shot but Neuer blocks it.
Neuer lands a knee to the body.
Neuer content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Smithwick takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Neuer connects with a nasty looking knee right to Smithwick's face.
Neuer connects with a nasty looking knee right to Smithwick's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neuer effectively controlling the action here.
Neuer goes for a takedown in the clinch but Smithwick prevents it.
Smithwick has a couple of punches blocked by Neuer.
A knee to the head by Neuer.
Neuer taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Neuer prevents Smithwick from breaking the clinch.

Neuer gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Smithwick regains guard.
Neuer is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Smithwick wants to stand and escape but Neuer is having none of it.
Neuer controlling from the top position.
Mick Smithwick has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manuel Neuer has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Smithwick throws a combination that misses

and Neuer counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Smithwick!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
You get the feeling that Smithwick really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Neuer controlling from mount.
Neuer's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Manuel Neuer.

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

Neuer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Smithwick takes the fight into the clinch.
Neuer tries a knee to the head but Smithwick blocks it.
Neuer just leaning against Smithwick, taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neuer keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Smithwick's efforts to push away.
Smithwick lands with a short shot to the head.
Smithwick wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Neuer lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Smithwick backwards.
Smithwick wants to break free but Neuer has control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Neuer is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Smithwick can't fight it off and eventually Neuer manages to take the fight to the floor. Smithwick looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neuer is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

And that's the end of the fight!
Manuel Neuer showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Neuer has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manuel Neuer!