PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rolland Vance (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith has chosen The Man - Aloe Blacc as his entrance music. Randy Smith will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Vance
vs
Smith

158 cm
19
151 lbs
1 - 6 - 1

178 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 1, fighting out of London, Rolland Vance!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Randy Smith!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Sam Margolis and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Vance misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vance paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Smith drives through with a takedown into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Vance trying to control the position.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Vance is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith passes Vance's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Smith lands with a punch from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is looking to pass Vance's guard but actually Vance recovers to full guard.
Smith is pushing down on Vance's leg trying to pass to half guard. Vance is fighting to maintain full guard but Smith has managed to sneak the leg through.
Vance tries to kick Smith off but Smith keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Smith missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Smith decides to return to a standing position.

Smith looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vance moves into full guard.
Vance trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vance keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Vance controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smith stands up from Vance's guard - Smith perhaps looking for a knockout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith throws a push kick but Vance slaps the foot to one side.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vance is pressed up against the cage. Smith has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Vance down to the mat. Vance avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vance swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Vance.
Vance shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smith pinned against the cage. Smith gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Vance doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Smith lands a high kick!
Smith shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Vance sprawls well. Vance wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Rolland Vance has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Smith.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Vance shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Smith gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vance swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vance might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Vance manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by Vance.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vance avoids a punch combination nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy 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.

Vance fails to land the takedown.
Rolland Vance is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vance swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Vance displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.
Smith stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Smith wants it to stay on the feet.
Vance shoots in for a double leg but Smith sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rolland Vance. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smith rushes Vance and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Smith goes for a takedown attempt but Vance pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Smith throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Vance counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Vance could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Vance tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vance shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smith pinned against the cage. Smith gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith stuffs the takedown attempt from Vance. Vance gets slowly back to his feet.
Sloppy strikes from Smith. Those never looked like landing.
Vance wants to clinch.
Vance goes for a double leg but Smith avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Smith continues to drive forward.
Smith goes for a takedown in the clinch but Vance prevents it.
Vance tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith thuds a left hand into Vance's body.
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vance is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, Vance circles away and we're back to standing.
Vance is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Vance on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Vance stuffs the takedown attempt from Smith. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Vance leaves Smith with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vance fails with a takedown attempt.

Vance instigates a clinch.
Vance wants to break the clinch but can't.
Smith drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Vance gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Vance gets underhooks to prevent Smith's takedown attempt.
Smith jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Vance walks away with a smile on his face. Smith gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Vance shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vance goes for a double leg but Smith avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Smith continues to drive forward.
Vance has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Smith avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith tries to clinch but Vance is having none of it.
Vance looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Vance persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Smith looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith working Vance over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smith swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Vance counters by clinching up.
Smith presses Vance against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Smith is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Vance is defending well.
Vance tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smith's elbow.
Smith tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Vance smiles and moves away.
Smith throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Vance tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith dives in for a single leg takedown but Vance sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rolland Vance has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Smith.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Smith no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Vance trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Vance has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Smith is proving hard to escape from.
Vance won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Vance trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Vance with a flurry of punches that miss.

Vance stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Smith throws a head kick but Vance moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vance shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
Vance tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vance tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Smith defends well and Vance ends up having to push Smith into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Smith drops down looking for an ankle pick but Vance pulls his leg out and moves away.
Vance misses with a two punch combination.
Vance throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Vance. No joy for Smith on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Randy Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vance shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Vance pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith is looking to clinch.

Vance instigates a clinch.
Vance wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Smith is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Vance to keep the fight standing.
Vance tries to pull guard but Smith holds him up against the cage and eventually Vance drops back down to his feet.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vance slaps away a takedown attempt from Smith, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Vance shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Smith defends it nicely.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Smith crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Vance - the referee stops the clock and Smith gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Vance. Smith manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith slaps away a takedown attempt from Vance, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Smith looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Vance!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rolland Vance.
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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randy Smith!
After winning the bout, Randy Smith thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.