PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Ricci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Colton Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Colton Smith enters the cage!

Ricci
vs
Smith

190 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Great elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Ricci!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Colton Smith!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Stewart Dunkirk and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Ricci fails to land the takedown.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ricci moves into full guard.
Ricci has a closed guard, preventing Smith from standing up.
Ricci trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Ricci is trying to hold Smith in close to prevent damage but Smith has managed to pass into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Smith decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Smith swinging wildly here.
Ricci really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ricci moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Ricci wants to clinch

and Smith decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ricci's guard.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith stays in close to Ricci's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricci is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mike Ricci wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Ricci has his takedown stuffed

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown. Ricci fights it but they end up in guard.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Ricci is retaining full guard.
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.
Smith is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ricci has a closed guard, preventing Smith from standing up.
Ricci lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Smith!
Smith is desperately trying to improve his position but Ricci has a good base and remains in mount.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ricci. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Smith wants to control but Ricci is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to improve his position but instead Ricci has taken his back!
Ricci tries to keep control of the position but Smith is staying busy.

Ricci patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Ricci is trying to stick to Smith's back but Smith is turning into Ricci. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Ricci's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Smith.
Ricci will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ricci is breathing heavily.
Ricci not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ricci is trying to hold Smith in close to prevent damage but Smith has managed to pass into half guard.
Smith seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Colton Smith 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.

Ricci tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Smith tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ricci knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Smith drops an elbow to the side of Ricci's head.
Smith looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ricci wants to get back to his feet.
Ricci has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Smith is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the pace.

Colton Smith has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Smith lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Ricci has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ricci and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Smith fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ricci is out of range.
Ricci with a lazy takedown attempt

so Smith counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Smith drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ricci dives on top into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throwing short punches from the bottom.
Ricci stops Smith from standing up.
Smith controlling the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ricci wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Smith is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ricci is aware though and is defending well.
Smith is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Smith can do anything to dispel that myth.
Smith has control of Ricci's left arm, preventing Ricci from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A head kick from Ricci lands but Smith takes it in his stride.
Smith misses with the body kick

and Ricci holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Smith misses with a knee to the head.
Ricci tries for a takedown. No joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ricci wants to break the clinch but can't.

Smith gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Smith slips a nice elbow through Ricci's hands, connecting with Ricci's forehead.
Ricci throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Smith is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ricci trying to control here.
Smith looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Smith tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Smith stands up out of the half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Smith shoots in and bounces Ricci off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Colton Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ricci.
Ricci looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Ricci persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.

Smith scores a takedown into full mount!
Smith controlling from the full mount.
Smith in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Smith avoids the attempt from Ricci to control.
Colton Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ricci is trying desperately to improve position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith fails to move to back control.
Smith landing punches.
Ricci tries to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Ricci's face.
Smith wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Smith sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Ricci's face.
Ricci working to try and regain half guard.
Ricci is working hard here to advance position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Smith avoids the attempt from Ricci to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith controlling the pace for now.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Smith stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Smith closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ricci to the mat! Ricci manages to get full guard.
Ricci is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Smith thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is working Ricci over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Smith postures up.
Smith looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith stands up over Ricci, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Colton Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smith 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

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