PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dan Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ejay Shazad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by Sabaton- Metal machine. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Shazad

175 cm
29
162 lbs
9 - 7 - 1

162 cm
28
135 lbs
14 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Red Hand Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 1, fighting out of London, Dan Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ejay Shazad!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Vladimir Khabensky and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Shazad's half guard.
Smith tries to pass the half guard into mount. Shazad knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Shazad works his way to full guard. Good work.
Shazad keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Shazad tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith working some strikes from top position.
Smith lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Smith working some strikes from top position.
Smith postures up in Shazad's guard and throws a big left but Shazad blocks it.
Shazad is trying to keep Smith in close.

Smith drops back, looking for a kneebar! Shazad looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Shazad looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Shazad!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Shazad tries for a kimura but Smith is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shazad creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Smith sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith is trying to get back to half guard.
Smith sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Shazad wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Smith avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Shazad.

Shazad 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. Shazad eventually gives up the hold.

Smith looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shazad throwing shots but Smith is blocking nicely.
Smith wants to control but Shazad is keeping busy.
Smith moves into full guard.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Shazad avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shazad's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Shazad is keeping the position.
Shazad is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shazad's head.
Shazad looking to control but Smith passes into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Smith connects with a nice short shot to Shazad's temple.
Shazad is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shazad is staying active underneath Smith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Shazad gets back to full guard.
Shazad is controlling Smith's posture.
Smith content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith cracks Shazad with a solid left hand.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Smith is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Shazad is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Smith sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Shazad's guard.
Smith will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shazad trying to control but Smith postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Smith missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Smith lands with a punch from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Smith dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Smith misses with a hook. Shazad ducked under it nicely.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Shazad keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Smith.
Shazad wants to control but Smith postures up.
Smith trying to control the action but Shazad is working from the bottom.
Shazad is trying to improve his position.
Smith creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Shazad sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Shazad is trying to control Smith's posture but Smith avoids it.
Smith scoring with punches from side control.
The ground and pound from Smith seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Shazad is trying to control Smith's posture but Smith avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shazad tries to buck Smith off but Smith is having none of it.
Smith works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Shazad tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Smith wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Shazad sneaks back into half guard.
Shazad desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Smith is thwarting Shazad's attempts to control the position.
Smith wants to take a breather but Shazad is having none of it.
Dan Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shazad keeps working.
Smith missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shazad is looking to control Smith's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shazad avoid being mounted?

Smith wants to work for an arm triangle but Shazad is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Smith trying to control from half guard but Shazad is working away.
Shazad tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Well, if Smith is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Smith has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shazad is refusing to be controlled, as Smith sits in half guard.
Shazad trying to control but Smith postures up.
Shazad is positioning himself well to prevent Smith advancing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Smith closes the distance and clinches up with Shazad, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes Shazad against the cage but Shazad circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Shazad swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shazad tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Smith showed some decent athleticism there.
Smith is thwarting Shazad's attempts to control the position.
Smith scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Shazad is pressing down on Smith's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Shazad blocks nicely.
Shazad is trying to keep Smith in close.
Shazad preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith chips away with some ground and pound.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Shazad has wrist control.
Smith postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shazad working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Shazad avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smith postures up.
Shazad is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ejay Shazad has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Smith enables Shazad to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Smith manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Smith working for a triangle but Shazad defends it easily.
Shazad pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Smith dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Smith fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Shazad sprawls well initially but Smith persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Smith is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Shazad has managed to free his arm - good work.
Shazad is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Shazad wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
Smith trying to control the action but Shazad is working from the bottom.
Smith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Shazad is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nice strikes from Smith there.
Smith wants to free his trapped foot but Shazad is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shazad works his way to full guard. Good work.
Shazad keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Shazad is keeping the position.
Shazad keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Shazad preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shazad wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Shazad is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shazad looking for a sweep. Not yet Shazad, not yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smith throws a big elbow that misses.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
Smith scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Smith stays in close to Shazad's body and controls the position.
Ejay Shazad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shazad working a defensive guard here.
Smith wants to control from the top but Shazad keeps moving.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Shazad utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith postures up in Shazad's guard and throws a big left but Shazad blocks it.
Shazad trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Smith's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Shazad connects with a leg kick. Smith looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Shazad shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Shazad.

Smith fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Shazad sprawls well initially but Smith persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Shazad has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Smith is working away from the top position though.
Smith looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Shazad with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Shazad blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.
Smith seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Shazad does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is taking a breather. Shazad 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.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shazad wants to control but Smith is keeping busy.
Smith throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Shazad has his hands clasped together around Smith's back. He's all about the action.
Smith thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Smith tries to pass the half guard into mount. Shazad knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Shazad ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Dan Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shazad. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Smith, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Smith!
A very excited looking Dan Smith made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.