PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bartlette James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James comes to the cage accompanied by radioactive. Steven Smith is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

James
vs
Smith

188 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
25
197 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bartlette James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Steven Smith!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Nard Betker and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Smith or perhaps it was just good defense by James which made him look bad.
Smith tries to clinch there but James circles away.

James shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Smith napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Smith parries the strikes from James easily there. James is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Smith to escape.
Smith is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, James asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Smith manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James throwing shots but Smith is blocking nicely.
Smith throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
James is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
James is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith gets back to full guard.
James wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst James is controlling him.
James stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Smith is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Smith has his foot on James's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. James works his way back into a safe position though.
Smith looking to control.

Smith working for a triangle but James defends it easily.
Smith wants to sweep here but James controlling him for the moment.

Smith manages to escape and get back to his feet.

James closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith manages to work his way to half guard, despite James's best efforts.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.
James seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Smith does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
James missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
James trying to control from half guard but Smith is working away.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
James is looking to advance position but Smith won't allow it.
Smith slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith has James pulled in close to control his posture.

Smith kicks James off and gets to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith lands with a cross.
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!
James fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
James tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Steven Smith will probably get the nod.
That's time! James's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

James closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Smith breaks the clinch.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from James.
Smith tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith tries to clinch but James moves away

and James counters with a nice double leg into side control. Smith won't be happy with that.
James tries to advance to mount but can't.
Smith is trying to get back to half guard.
James looking to control but instead Smith has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

Smith makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's one minute gone in the round.
James throws a low kick but Smith avoids it.
James shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Smith defends it nicely.
Smith tries to clinch there but James circles away.
James changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smith tries to avoid it but James manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smith to the ground. Smith escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
James throws out a leg kick but Smith moves out of range and James only half commits.

Smith forces James back against the cage and clinches.

Smith pulls guard.
James throwing strikes but missing.
Smith keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James tries to stand but Smith is controlling from the bottom.
James postures up.

Smith wriggles free and stands up.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.

James closes the distance and clinches.
James blocks a body shot from Smith.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Smith.
James can't break the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bartlette James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith displaying some good clinch control by pressing James up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith pulls guard successfully.
James being controlled here momentarily.
James pushes down on Smith's leg and manages to get into half guard.
James knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smith on the ground.
James is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Smith has one foot on James's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Steven Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
James looks for a takedown but Smith sprawls well.

James has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
Smith landing knees to the head.
Smith tried to land a shot to the body but connects with James's elbow.
Smith tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Smith pulls guard effortlessly.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith keeping full guard, as James tries to pass.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Smith manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Steven Smith will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Smith scores with a head kick.
James misses with a series of wild punches.
Smith buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Smith is looking to clinch but James is avoiding it.

Smith rushes James and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Smith jumps into guard, dragging James to the mat.

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
James looking to pass the guard.
Smith manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. James manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on James, up you get!
Smith tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Smith closes this distance looking for a takedown but James circles away.

Smith has closed the distance and engaged James in a clinch.
Smith misses with a knee strike.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bartlette James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but James sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.

James takes the fight into the clinch.
James wants to break free but Smith has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
James is trying to pull guard but Smith turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but James avoids the damage to the body.

Smith manages to pull guard.
James controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.
James throws a strike but Smith rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
James looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

James is working an open guard so Smith takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Smith throws a right hand that James ducks under and follows up with a left that James also avoids with ease.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
James has a takedown stuffed.
James displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.
Bartlette James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Smith.
James fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by James.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith takes one to the side of the head.

James feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Smith keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
James wants to stand and escape but instead Smith has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
James wants to sweep but no luck.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Bartlette James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steven Smith is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

James isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Smith stacks James on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Smith!

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Smith 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30

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