PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dan Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sundrarakul Rama (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.

Smith
vs
Rama

175 cm
20
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent knees
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dan Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sundrarakul Rama!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Radbod Blank and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

Smith closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smith lands in his opponent's guard.
Smith trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rama's guard.
Rama keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Smith is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rama is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rama has escaped and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Smith throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rama escapes and throws Smith's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Rama working away.
Smith being controlled for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith pushes Rama away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rama gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Rama just content to control the position.
Smith tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rama wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rama remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Smith is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Sundrarakul Rama has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Rama is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Rama gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Smith wants to control from the top but Rama keeps moving.
Smith is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rama is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rama has Smith pulled in close to control his posture.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rama clinches up against the cage.
Smith takes a knee right on the jaw!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Smith dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

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

It looks like Dan Smith has been cut.
Rama connects with a nasty looking knee right to Smith's face.
Rama with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Smith takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rama misses with a knee strike.
Rama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smith blocks it with crossed arms.
A knee to the head by Rama.

Smith gets control of Rama's arms and successfully pulls guard. Smith will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smith throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Rama seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rama wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
Smith looking to control.
Rama is stalling in the full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Sundrarakul Rama hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Rama forces Smith back against the cage and clinches.
Rama connects with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rama with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A frustrated look appears on Smith's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rama lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rama with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rama scores with a knee to the head.
Rama with a knee to the head.
Rama misses with a knee strike.
Rama with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rama with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Smith tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rama avoids it.
Smith is looking to control Rama's arms but Rama gets an underhook and turns him. Now Smith has his back to the cage.
Rama with a knee to the head.

Smith pulls Rama into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rama is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to control the position but Rama postures up.

Dan Smith has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into Rama's guard.
Rama really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Rama gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rama slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Sundrarakul Rama has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rama looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rama has taken the fight to the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sundrarakul Rama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dan Smith's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rama is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rama is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Smith scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rama keeps working.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rama can do anything to dispel that myth.
Smith throws an elbow but Rama slips to the side and avoids it well.
Rama is pushing Smith's head away, looking to escape. Smith manages to hold on to the position though.
Rama tries to bench press Smith off him but Smith keeps the position.
Rama sneaks back into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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 Rama's temple.
Rama gets full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rama holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Rama gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rama connects with a knee to the head.

Smith pulls guard successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith controls Rama momentarily but Rama frees himself.
Rama sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Rama moves into range and clinches up with Smith.
Rama connects with a nasty looking knee right to Smith's face.
Rama scores with a knee to the head.
Rama lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A knee to the head by Rama.
Rama lands a big knee to the head and Smith goes down! Rama pounces and finishes the fight with strikes! He jumps to his feet and celebrates with the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sundrarakul Rama!