PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicolas De Ertu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by Deour from Shinedown. This should be a great matchup!

Smith
vs
De Ertu

215 cm
21
185 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

185 cm
21
192 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jeff Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nicolas De Ertu!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Gwen Towbar and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Ertu changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smith tries to avoid it but De Ertu manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smith to the ground. Smith escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

De Ertu fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Smith to the ground. De Ertu is now in Smith's guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
De Ertu slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

De Ertu gets to his feet. Smith looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
De Ertu lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Smith has De Ertu up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith tries to work over De Ertu's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Smith is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Ertu creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
De Ertu avoiding damage as Smith throws knees to the body.

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

De Ertu looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Smith is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute De Ertu jumps into side control!
De Ertu connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Smith some visible discomfort.
De Ertu controls the position from side control.
De Ertu lands a nice forearm strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!

De Ertu decides to stand back up. De Ertu steps back and let's Smith get back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smith.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeff Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith has a takedown stuffed.

De Ertu closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Smith avoiding damage under a succession of punches from De Ertu.
Still in half guard, De Ertu seems content to control.
Smith really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
De Ertu looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
De Ertu working Smith over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Ertu stalling.
De Ertu wants to pass the guard but Smith is defending well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with De Ertu in particular looking to stall.
Smith knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for De Ertu on the ground.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Nicolas De Ertu.

Smith looking to score a takedown here. De Ertu is defending well but Smith drives through and ends up in De Ertu's guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
De Ertu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
De Ertu seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

De Ertu kicks Smith off and gets to his feet.
Smith shoots in but De Ertu avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Smith throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Nicolas De Ertu has been cut.
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!
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Smith shoots for a takedown but De Ertu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
De Ertu tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

De Ertu feints and as Smith raises his hands in defense, De Ertu changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
De Ertu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas De Ertu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nicolas De Ertu's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Smith darts in and clinches De Ertu up against the cage.

De Ertu pulls guard effortlessly.
De Ertu is looking to stand up but Smith isn't so interested in that idea.
De Ertu is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Smith wants to control from the top but De Ertu keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
De Ertu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Smith wants to control from the top but De Ertu keeps moving.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

De Ertu 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. De Ertu is in Smith's guard.
De Ertu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but De Ertu is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Smith can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as De Ertu controls the pace.
Smith on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smith tries to get out of the position.
De Ertu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
De Ertu throws a strike but Smith rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

De Ertu manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two 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.
De Ertu is looking to clinch.

Smith rushes De Ertu and presses him up against the cage.
Smith tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and De Ertu avoids it.
Smith unloads a knee to the mid-section. De Ertu lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
De Ertu blocks a body shot from Smith.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

De Ertu manages to break the clinch.

Smith instigates a clinch.
Smith misses with a hook to the ribs.
Smith scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a hook to the ribs.
Smith tries to circle away but De Ertu has him pinned against the cage.
Smith fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
De Ertu on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

De Ertu breaks from the clinch.
Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
De Ertu is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smith sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Smith has managed to clinch.
Smith changes levels and goes for a takedown here. De Ertu fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts De Ertu as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeff Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from De Ertu.

De Ertu closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - De Ertu lands in his opponent's guard.
De Ertu working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
De Ertu has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
De Ertu trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
De Ertu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nicolas De Ertu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Nicolas De Ertu's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.

De Ertu moves into the clinch.
De Ertu pushes Smith back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

De Ertu breaks the clinch.

Smith moves into the clinch.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but De Ertu avoids the damage to the body.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but De Ertu is controlling him.
Smith pushes off an throws an elbow but De Ertu leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
De Ertu on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smith is trying to break free.
Smith tries a body shot but De Ertu blocks it.
Smith drops down looking for an ankle pick but De Ertu pulls his leg out and moves away.

De Ertu decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Ertu is nestled in close to Smith, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
De Ertu is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

De Ertu decides to stand and escape the position.
De Ertu stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and De Ertu wants it to stay on the feet.

De Ertu drives through with a takedown into Smith's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but De Ertu is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Ertu controlling from the top position.
De Ertu throws a big right hand that misses.
Smith wants to stand but De Ertu is controlling the position.
De Ertu controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Nicolas De Ertu wasn't active enough on the ground.

De Ertu tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Smith gets underhooks to prevent De Ertu's takedown attempt.
Smith misses with an elbow strike.
Smith trying to land knees to the body.
Smith is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables De Ertu to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeff Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as De Ertu takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
De Ertu blocking some punches.
De Ertu goes for a takedown in the clinch but Smith prevents it.

Smith is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. De Ertu can't fight it off and eventually Smith manages to take the fight to the floor. De Ertu looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
De Ertu bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as De Ertu controls the pace.
Nicolas De Ertu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nicolas De Ertu has got the better of the ground game so far.
De Ertu stops Smith from standing up.
Jeff Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
De Ertu slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicolas De Ertu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got De Ertu 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicolas De Ertu!
In his post fight interview, Nicolas De Ertu started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.