PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Blaze Bayley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smirnov has chosen Russian National Anthem as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Bayley
vs
Smirnov

175 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Blaze Bayley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikolai Smirnov!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bayley fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bayley wants to clinch up but Smirnov keeps it at a distance.
Blaze Bayley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Smirnov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Smirnov thows a huge punch but Bayley dodges it nicely.
Smirnov is tying to control. Bayley wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bayley wants to get back to his feet.
Bayley is looking to control Smirnov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bayley avoid being mounted?

Bayley kicks off Smirnov and gets to his feet.
Bayley wants to clinch.
Bayley is looking to clinch but Smirnov is avoiding it.
Some wild striking there from Bayley.
Bayley looks for a takedown but Smirnov sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bayley.
Bayley doesn't manage to clinch there - Smirnov circles away.

Smirnov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bayley looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Smirnov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Smirnov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Smirnov sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Bayley is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Smirnov throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Bayley works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

Bayley is defending against the submission attempts here by Smirnov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bayley tries to get to full guard but Smirnov has control of the leg.
Smirnov is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Bayley!
Bayley wants to hold on but Smirnov pushes him away.
Bayley blocking the ground and pound.
Smirnov looking to control but Bayley is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Smirnov is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bayley is looking to clinch.
Bayley throws a series of punches but Smirnov moves out of range.
Bayley tries a head kick but it misses.
Bayley looks for a takedown but Smirnov sprawls well.
Bayley is breathing heavily.

Smirnov scores with a takedown into Bayley's guard.
Smirnov content to stall in guard here.
Smirnov passes Bayley's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smirnov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Smirnov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov stops Bayley from getting back to his feet.
Smirnov lands with a punch from half guard.
Smirnov trying to control from half guard but Bayley is working away.
Smirnov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Smirnov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Smirnov is working for a kimura but Bayley is defending it quite comfortably.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bayley fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Smirnov dominated that 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.

Nice jab there from Bayley.

Smirnov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Poor strikes thrown by Smirnov there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Smirnov avoids the attempt from Bayley to control.
Smirnov cracks Bayley with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Bayley is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Smirnov trying to control but Bayley is having none of it.
Smirnov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bayley is looking to escape.
Bayley is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Smirnov wants to take Bayley's back here but Bayley is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Smirnov landing strikes from the mount.

Smirnov looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Smirnov is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Poor strikes thrown by Smirnov there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Bayley is looking to improve his position but Smirnov isn't that keen on the idea.
Bayley blocking the ground and pound.
Smirnov lands a nice shot to the head.

Smirnov working for a submission but Bayley is keeping him at bay.
Bayley really wants to buck Smirnov off and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Bayley looks a forlorn figure.
Bayley is in all sorts of trouble here.
Smirnov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bayley is looking to escape.
Bayley in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Bayley is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Smirnov trying to control but Bayley is having none of it.
Smirnov punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bayley slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Bayley is trying to stand.
Smirnov trying to mount his opponent but Bayley defends it.

Bayley kicks off Smirnov and gets to his feet.
Bayley looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bayley tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bayley fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smirnov manages to avoid it.

Smirnov scores with a takedown into Bayley's guard.
Bayley keeping full guard, as Smirnov tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Smirnov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Smirnov clinches with his opponent.
Smirnov lands a knee to the head.
Bayley is looking to break free of the clinch but Smirnov has double underhooks.
Bayley fails to pull guard.

Smirnov ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Smirnov no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Bayley trying to stand up but can't free himself from Smirnov's guard.
Smirnov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bayley!
Smirnov in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Smirnov looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Smirnov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bayley is looking to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov controlling from mount.

Bayley bucks Smirnov off and manages to get back to his feet!

Smirnov takes the fight into the clinch.
Bayley on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bayley avoiding damage as Smirnov throws knees to the body.
Bayley tries for a takedown but Smirnov manages to get underhooks.
Bayley is trying to break free.

Smirnov breaks the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Bayley.

Smirnov scores with a takedown into Bayley's guard.
Smirnov landing some decent shots from guard.
Bayley wants to sweep but no luck.

Smirnov stands up and waves to Bayley to follow him.
Smirnov shoots in for a double leg but Bayley sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Bayley.
Bayley shoots and misses

and Smirnov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smirnov.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blaze Bayley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bayley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smirnov is one step ahead there.
Smirnov prevents Bayley from getting back to his feet.
Blaze Bayley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Smirnov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Bayley throws a right and a left that Smirnov avoids nicely.

Smirnov drives through and clinches with Bayley against the cage.
Smirnov prevents Bayley from breaking the clinch.
Smirnov slows down the pace here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bayley is trying to break free.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Smirnov.
Bayley tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bayley tries to break the clinch but Smirnov is controlling the position.
Nice elbow from Smirnov.

Smirnov successfully pulls guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smirnov is on top in guard.
Smirnov wants to pass the guard but Bayley is keeping the position.
Bayley wants to get back to his feet but Smirnov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Bayley is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolai Smirnov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolai Smirnov!