PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matanel Barak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Busta Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barak
vs
Smirnov

165 cm
20
245 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
23
235 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Matanel Barak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Busta Smirnov!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Ackerman and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Barak with that takedown attempt.

Smirnov rushes Barak and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Smirnov tightens his grip and picks Barak up, before dumping him to the ground. Barak manages to land in guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Barak throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Barak scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Barak really is a fat lump.
Smirnov trying to control but Barak is working from the bottom.

Barak is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smirnov is aware though and is defending well.
Barak can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smirnov controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov trying to control the position from guard on top but Barak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Busta Smirnov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Barak tries to clinch but Smirnov is having none of it.
Barak misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barak tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Smirnov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Smirnov trying to control the position from guard on top but Barak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Barak is looking for a triangle here but Smirnov uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Smirnov decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov throws the kick towards the body but Barak avoids it.

Smirnov moves into the clinch.

Smirnov jumps guard and drags Barak to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Smirnov throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smirnov wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Barak is now in half guard.
Smirnov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Smirnov regains full guard. Nicely done.
Smirnov throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov pulls Barak in close to his closed guard and prevents Barak from doing any damage or advancing position.
Barak tries to free his leg and advance position but Smirnov is retaining full guard.
Barak prevents Smirnov from getting back to his feet.
Smirnov wants to sweep but no luck.
Barak might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Barak swings for the body but Smirnov moves out of range.

Barak drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Smirnov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smirnov looks winded!
Barak looking to pass the guard.
Barak is looking to work some ground and pound but Smirnov has wrist control.

Smirnov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Barak avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Busta Smirnov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Barak fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smirnov, pushing him back against the cage.
Smirnov is trying to drag Barak to the mat but Barak just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Smirnov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Barak goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Barak is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Smirnov to keep the fight standing.
Barak is trying to drag Smirnov to the mat but Smirnov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smirnov pulls Barak into guard.
Smirnov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Smirnov keeping moving, preventing Barak from controlling successfully.
Smirnov throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Smirnov 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barak wanted to stand there but Smirnov had control of the position.
Smirnov has his hands on Barak's head, controlling the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Barak throws a right and a left that Smirnov avoids nicely.
Barak misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smirnov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Matanel Barak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Busta Smirnov.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smirnov. Barak does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smirnov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barak.

Smirnov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Smirnov is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov prevents Barak from standing back up.
Smirnov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Smirnov is looking to take a break and control but Barak is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Barak wants to get back to his feet.
Smirnov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Busta Smirnov.
Smirnov looks to score with a jab to the body but Barak is just out of range.
Smirnov swings for the body but Barak moves out of range.

Smirnov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Barak to the ground. Smirnov is now in Barak's guard.
Smirnov postures up in Barak's guard and throws a big left but Barak blocks it.
Busta Smirnov has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smirnov controlling from the top position.
Barak wants to stand up but Smirnov is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Busta Smirnov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Smirnov is looking to clinch but Barak is avoiding it.
Barak moves in looking to clinch but Smirnov pushes him off.
Smirnov shoots for a takedown but Barak saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Smirnov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Barak is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Barak gets full guard.
Barak pulls Smirnov in close to prevent any damage.
Barak wants to sweep here but Smirnov controlling him for the moment.
Barak wants to improve his position but instead Smirnov has moved into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barak is staying active underneath Smirnov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Smirnov stalling.
Barak regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Barak's guard.
Smirnov is controlling the pace.
Smirnov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Barak does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Barak wants to get back to full guard.
Smirnov is looking to advance position but Barak won't allow it.
Smirnov is taking a breather. Barak says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Busta Smirnov wasn't active enough on the ground.
Smirnov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Barak swivels and escapes.

Barak scores with a takedown into Smirnov's guard.
Barak prevents Smirnov from getting back to his feet.
Smirnov wants to sweep but no luck.
Smirnov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Barak is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Smirnov looking for a sweep. Not yet Smirnov, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Barak dives into side control.
Barak tries to move into full mount but can't pass Smirnov's legs.

Barak is trying to get an arm triangle but Smirnov is defending well.
Smirnov tries to buck Barak off but Barak is having none of it.
Matanel Barak has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Busta Smirnov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Barak wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Smirnov, who protects the arm well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Busta Smirnov.
Well Smirnov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Busta Smirnov!
After winning the bout, Busta Smirnov thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.