PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Carruthers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Smith
vs
Carruthers

168 cm
18
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
18
141 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Inexperienced

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 New York, Jimmy Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jimmy Carruthers!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Seu Braga and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Carruthers counters with a good, hard body kick but Smith shrugs it off.
Smith moves out of range of the leg kick from Carruthers.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Carruthers misses with a head kick.
Smith tries to clinch there but Carruthers circles away.
Carruthers throws a wild body kick that Smith sees coming a mile off.

Smith drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith postures up in Carruthers's guard and throws a big left but Carruthers blocks it.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is looking to advance position but Carruthers has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Smith keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Carruthers wants to control the pace but Smith is squirming around nicely.
Carruthers might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Smith haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Carruthers tries to control but Smith wriggling away.
Smith regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Jimmy Carruthers has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Smith drives through and clinches with Carruthers against the cage.
Smith on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Smith works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carruthers being controlled here, momentarily.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Carruthers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith stands and throws Carruthers's legs to the side, diving into side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Carruthers can do anything to dispel that myth.
Smith is putting a hurting on Carruthers here, landing some big shots from side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Carruthers parries the strikes from Smith easily there. Smith is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Carruthers to escape.
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 throws an elbow but Carruthers slips to the side and avoids it well.
Carruthers takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Smith dominated that round.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Carruthers stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Carruthers wants it to stay on the feet.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith checks a leg kick.
Carruthers lands a leg kick that knocks Smith off balance momentarily.
Carruthers throws a push kick but Smith slaps the foot to one side.
Carruthers wants to land a leg kick but Smith is out of range.
Carruthers misses with a leg kick.
Carruthers attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Smith moves out of range as Carruthers throws a body kick.
Smith tries to clinch but Carruthers is having none of it.
Carruthers misses with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Carruthers - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Jimmy Carruthers is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith checks the leg kick.

Smith looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Carruthers!
Smith landing a few strikes.
A lull in the action here.
Carruthers dodges the ground and pound from Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith controls the position.
Smith throws a strike aimed at the side of Carruthers's head but Carruthers avoids it well.
Smith misses with the ground and pound.
Smith grinds an elbow into Carruthers's temple.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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 trying to control the action but Carruthers is working from the bottom.
The referee asks Smith politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Smith prefers to stall for the moment though.
Smith fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carruthers parries the strikes from Smith easily there. Smith is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Carruthers to escape.
Smith postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Smith misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Smith grinds an elbow into Carruthers's temple.
Carruthers seems a little lost for a moment, as Smith dominates the positioning.
Smith tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Smith trying to control the position but Carruthers is working away.
Smith scoring with punches from side control.
Smith in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Carruthers is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Carruthers is trying to get back to half guard.
Smith throws a strike aimed at the side of Carruthers's head but Carruthers avoids it well.
Smith postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Carruthers takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Smith landing a few strikes.
Smith in side control, throwing shots but Carruthers defends.
Smith postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith cracks Carruthers with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Carruthers parries the strikes from Smith easily there. Smith is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Carruthers to escape.
Smith throws an elbow but Carruthers slips to the side and avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Smith dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Carruthers tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Carruthers is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Smith is keeping busy.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Carruthers avoids the damage to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Carruthers fails to land.
Smith is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Carruthers gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Carruthers tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Smith avoids it.
Smith leaning against his opponent.
Smith drops down looking for an ankle pick but Carruthers pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to clinch but Carruthers moves out of range.
Carruthers lands a front kick.
Smith tries to land a leg kick but Carruthers saw it coming and moves away.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Carruthers throws a leg kick which misses Smith's front leg but catches the back leg as Smith tries to avoid it.
Smith looks to land a body kick but Carruthers moved away.
Carruthers pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Jimmy Carruthers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith closes the distance looking to clinch
and Carruthers counters with a leg kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Smith blocks the leg kick.
Carruthers goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Carruthers throws a leg kick that misses.
Smith darts in trying to clinch
and Carruthers counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Smith keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Carruthers circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Carruthers circles away.
Carruthers looks for the body kick but Smith saw that one coming.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Carruthers stalling against the cage.
Carruthers swings wildly with an uppercut but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to break free of the clinch but Carruthers has double underhooks.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Carruthers has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A head punch on the inside from Carruthers fails to land.
Carruthers tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Carruthers trying to control the position but instead, Smith has worked for underhooks and has pushed Carruthers into the cage.
Carruthers misses with an elbow over the top.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jimmy Carruthers.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28

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