PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shylo Bateman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vincent Smith (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.

Bateman
vs
Smith

190 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 Los Angeles, Shylo Bateman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vincent Smith!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Smith has eaten all the pies!

Smith closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Bateman's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Smith wants to control from the top but Bateman keeps moving.
Bateman working a defensive guard here.
Bateman trying to control the position here.
Bateman has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Shylo Bateman has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into Bateman's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Bateman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Bateman from controlling successfully.
Smith is trying to control the position but Bateman postures up.
Bateman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bateman trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Bateman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bateman stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Bateman trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shylo Bateman has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Bateman closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Smith is not content to let Bateman control the position.
Bateman is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Smith is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Bateman tries to pass the half guard into mount. Smith knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Smith tries to kick Bateman off in order to stand up. Bateman Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bateman tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Bateman working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Bateman cracks Smith with a big elbow.
Smith tries to buck Bateman off but Bateman is having none of it.
Bateman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Smith is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Smith's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to bench press Bateman off him but Bateman keeps the position.
Bateman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bateman wants to stand but Smith is controlling his arm.
Smith tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Smith tries to improve his position but instead Bateman has taken his back!
Smith trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Shylo Bateman will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smith fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bateman, pushing him back against the cage.

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 Bateman uses from the top position.

Smith has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Bateman is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Smith.
Bateman has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Smith!
Bateman putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Bateman tries to control but Smith wriggling away.
Bateman is looking to take Smith's back but instead Smith gets back to half guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Smith.
Bateman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Smith trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bateman controlling from the top position.
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 is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bateman is controlling him.

Smith looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bateman controlling from the top position.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Shylo Bateman wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Smith misses with the combination.
Bateman tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Bateman tries to pull guard but Smith forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Bateman wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Smith working hard to break the clinch.

Smith manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bateman has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bateman jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Smith walks away with a smile on his face. Bateman gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Smith closes the distance and pushes Bateman back into the cage.
Bateman missing with knees to the body.
Bateman tries to pull guard but Smith forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shylo Bateman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bateman drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Smith gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bateman tries for a takedown but Smith manages to get underhooks.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bateman tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.

Smith manages to pull guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith is trying to control the position but Bateman postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Shylo Bateman will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith keeps the fight on the outside.

Bateman closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Smith keeps control of Bateman as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Bateman pulls Smith into guard.
Smith trying to control but Bateman is working from the bottom.

Bateman is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.
Smith trying to control but Bateman is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Vincent Smith.
Bateman misses with a takedown attempt
and Smith counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Smith fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Bateman to the ground. Smith is now in Bateman's guard.

Bateman is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smith advances position into side control!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Smith scoring with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Smith has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Bateman is not content to let Smith control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bateman is trying to maintain the position but Smith is very close to passing his half guard.

Smith is working for a submission of some sort.
Bateman trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Bateman moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bateman trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Vincent Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.

Bateman looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Smith slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Vincent Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shylo Bateman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Smith is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bateman has escaped the position, nice work there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vincent Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bateman 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Shylo Bateman!