PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joe Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Nate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Nate

170 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
29
147 lbs
9 - 11 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joe Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Liam Nate!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nate blocks a head kick by Smith.
Nate throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith moves away from the strike by Nate.
Nate leaves Smith with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nate throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nate as he avoids it easily.
A combination from Nate does no damage.
Smith shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nate pinned against the cage. Nate gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nate throws a combination. Smith tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Nate displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.
Nate misses with a double jab

and Smith counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smith.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith prevents Nate from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nate has his feet on Smith's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Nate.
Nate looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Nate tries to break the clinch but Smith is controlling the position.
Nate wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Nate tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Smith has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Nate uses from the top position.
Nate advances to half guard.
Nate wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Smith tries to roll over but Nate keeps him under control.

Nate is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Nate seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nate prevents Smith from standing back up.

Nate is looking for a kimura but Smith is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nate to get the leverage.
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 tries to roll over but Nate keeps him under control.
Smith is not content to let Nate control the position.
Smith punching from the bottom.
Nate controlling the action here.
Nate blocks the strikes from Smith.

Smith looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nate tries to pass the half guard into mount. Smith knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Nate seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Nate is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Smith is just riding it out for now. Nate eventually gives up the hold.
Smith desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Nate is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Smith manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nate wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Nate is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Nate not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Nate throws a head punch that misses.
Nate is trying to break the clinch but Smith is controlling him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Nate breaks the clinch.
Smith closes the distance and clinches up with Nate, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes Nate against the cage but Nate circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Liam Nate is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith moves out of range as Nate strikes.
Nate throws a poor cross that misses
and Smith counters with a left to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Liam Nate will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nate scores with a nice head shot.
Smith dodges the punch combination from Nate.
Liam Nate seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
The fighters circling - Nate throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nate throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
Smith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Nate manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nate throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Smith lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Nate shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Smith eats them both and turns towards Nate to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Some wild striking there from Nate.
No joy there for Nate, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith moves into the clinch.
Smith dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Nate is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Nate throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nate misses with a hook. Smith ducked under it nicely.
Smith shoots for a takedown but Nate saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Smith fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Smith has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Smith breaks the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.
Joe Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith shoots for a takedown but Nate saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nate avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smith walks into a stiff left hand from Nate.
Nate throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Nate lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Nate.
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!
Nate throws a shot from downtown. Smith moves away and avoids it.
Nate throws a hook to the side of Smith's head but Smith sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nate throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
Smith fails with the takedown.
Nate throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Smith counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nate throws a nice looking combination but Smith bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Nate circles away.
Smith uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nate.
No joy there for Nate, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Liam Nate seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Smith misses with a two punch combination.
Nate falls off balance throwing a combination

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Smith.

Nate breaks from the clinch.
Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nate looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Smith shoots in but Nate avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A right-left combo lands from Nate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smith dodges the punch combination from Nate.
Nate is breathing heavily.
Nate waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith.
Nate throws an overhand right that lands on Smith's shoulder, as Smith tries to avoid the shot.

Smith rushes Nate and presses him up against the cage.
Nate tries to break the clinch but Smith is controlling the position.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Nate throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nate throws a big shot that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nate.
Smith moves away from the strike by Nate.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam Nate showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Smith tries to clinch there but Nate circles away.
Smith connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nate scores with the left hand. Smith knows he should have avoided that one.
Smith uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nate.
Nate swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Nate sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Smith moves out of range of the strikes.
Smith shoots in and drives through. Nate sprawls well.

Smith has Nate up against the cage in a clinch.
Nate is trying to break free.
Nate prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Nate misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nate loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Nate blocks the body kick.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Smith tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nate has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nate is trying to force a seperation but Smith has the dominant position.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Nate is keeping busy.
Nate has had enough of the clinch but Smith keeps him there for the moment.
Nate struggles to land a body shot inside as Smith controls his hands.
Smith works on Nate's body with a couple of short punches.
Nate working hard to break the clinch.

Smith manages to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nate would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Nate showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Liam Nate has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Joe Smith wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Nate swinging wildly here.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Nate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown but Nate manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smith's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nate swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nate throws a right hand that misses
and Smith counters with a series of strikes. Nate will be more careful next time no doubt.
Nate keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Smith's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Nate connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Smith scrambles back to his feet.
Smith throws a series of punches but Nate avoids them all with ease.
Smith closes the distance and clinches up with Nate, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes Nate against the cage but Nate circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A slow jab from Nate misses its intended target.
Nate stuffs the takedown attempt from Smith. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Nate throws a one two combo.
Nate throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nate throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nate slaps away a takedown attempt from Smith, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Smith moves away from the strike by Nate.
Nate lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.
Nate throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Nate throws a right and a left that Smith avoids nicely.

Smith fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nate sprawls well initially but Smith persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Smith prevents Nate from standing back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Smith stands up and beckons Nate to join him on the feet.
Joe Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith wants to clinch up but Nate keeps it at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nate has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Liam Nate!
Liam Nate decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.