PBP Commentary

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

Smith
vs
Dias

205 cm
27
210 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

193 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antony Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Dias!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Matheus Silva and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dias rushes Smith and presses him up against the cage.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Dias has him pressed against the cage.

Dias breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dias.
Smith misses with a hook to the body

and Dias holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Smith tries to break free but Dias pushes him back against the cage.
Smith really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Dias has Smith pressed against the cage, preventing Smith from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Dias breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fighters circle momentarily. Smith darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Dias moves into the clinch.
Smith stops a takedown attempt from Dias.
Antony Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Dias.
Smith tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dias's elbow.
Smith looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Dias can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dias pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Dias gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Dias has Smith pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Smith manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Smith is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Smith tries to break free but Dias pushes him back against the cage.
Smith is looking to break free of the clinch but Dias has double underhooks.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Dias is controlling him.

Dias manages to break the clinch.
Dias fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Smith throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smith connects with a good right hand that stumbles Dias. Dias circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Smith moves out of range as Dias throws a body kick.
Dias tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Smith manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dias doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Dias shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dias instigates a clinch.
Smith is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Dias is pushing Smith up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Dias pulls Smith into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Dias trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Smith slips nicely into half guard.
Smith wants to pass to mount but Dias is defending the position.
Dias tries to kick Smith off but Smith keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Dias looks winded!
Smith seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dias does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dias throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dias's head.
Smith prevents Dias from improving his position.
Dias blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.
Smith uses his free foot to push down on Dias's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Dias.
Smith trying to control but Dias is having none of it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Dias can do anything to dispel that myth.
Smith thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dias is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Smith thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Smith will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Smith throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Dias because Smith loaded up on that one.
Smith sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dias is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Smith looking to control but Dias is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antony Smith dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Smith shoots in for a takedown but Dias shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith stuns Dias with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Dias showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.
Dias fails with the takedown.
Smith lands a right hook to the body.
Dias slips a jab from Smith.
Smith lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Dias has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
Dias keeps control of Smith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Dias won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dias breaks the clinch.
Dias throws a front kick aimed at Smith's knee but Smith avoids it well.
Dias will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Dias throws a lazy uppercut
and Smith counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Smith connects with a nice looking jab.
Jose Dias seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Dias at a distance.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Dias.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Smith!
Dias tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily
and Smith counters with a big right hand! Oh Dias is in trouble here! Smith follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Antony Smith!