PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Madison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tony Smith has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Madison
vs
Smith

210 cm
18
275 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

225 cm
23
250 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Madison!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tony Smith!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Jeff Smith and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Madison tries to avoid it but Smith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Madison to the ground. Madison escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Smith scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Madison is trying to improve his position.
Smith is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Smith wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Madison, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Madison tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Madison is looking for a sweep.
Smith controls the position from side control.
Madison wants to control but Smith postures up.
Smith working the body and head with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Madison is looking for a sweep.
Smith wants to stand but Madison is controlling his arm.
Madison is being controlled here.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Madison. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Madison takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Smith is trying to move to mount but Madison reverses beautifully and ends up in Smith's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to stand up but Madison is controlling him.
Madison is fighting to break Smith's control of his arms but Smith is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Madison is pushing down on Smith's leg trying to pass to half guard. Smith is fighting to maintain full guard but Madison has managed to sneak the leg through.
Smith is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Smith punching from the bottom.
Madison tries to pass the half guard into mount. Smith knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Madison is thwarting Smith's attempts to control the 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.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Madison in particular looking to stall.
Smith wants to control but Madison is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Madison passes to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Madison is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Smith knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Smith prevents Madison from improving position.

Madison is trying to get an arm triangle but Smith is defending well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Madison has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Smith tries to reverse the position but Madison maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Smith dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Madison is defended easily by Smith.

Smith instigates a clinch.
Madison has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Smith. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Madison misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Smith stops a takedown attempt from Madison.
Madison is trying to pull guard but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Madison. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Smith shoots in and drives through. Madison sprawls well.
Smith throws a half hearted mid kick.
Madison tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
James Madison is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown but Madison manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smith's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Smith is trying hard to land a takedown here. Madison sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Madison fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.
Madison shoots for a takedown but Smith saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Madison tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Smith counters with a two punch combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Smith clinches up against the cage.
Smith lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith breaks the clinch.

Madison gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Madison is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Madison not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tony Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.

Madison has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smith not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Madison tries to strike from the bottom.
Smith stands and throws Madison's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Madison trying to control but Smith flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

Smith is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Madison is defending well though. Smith let's go of the attempt for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Madison is trying to break free.
Madison grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.

Smith has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Smith controls the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Smith working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Smith tries to land a front kick but Madison steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Smith attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Smith showed some decent athleticism there.
Smith content to control rather than advance.
Smith trying to mount his opponent but Madison defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Madison wants to get back to full guard but Smith has passed into side control.
Smith in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Madison is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Madison is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.
Madison regains half guard.
Madison might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Madison looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Madison works his way to full guard. Good work.
James Madison has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smith looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Madison had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Madison has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smith content to stall in guard here.
Tony Smith is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Let's hope that Smith has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tony Smith.
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 Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30

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