PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bubba Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Naymov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Naymov has chosen Grot-Bratya po umolchaniyu as his entrance music. Bubba Smith has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Smith
vs
Naymov

190 cm
29
143 lbs
16 - 14 - 0

175 cm
26
140 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bubba Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Naymov!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Naymov misses with a takedown

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Naymov 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.
Naymov is looking to stand up but Smith isn't so interested in that idea.

Smith drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Smith jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Smith with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Smith postures up.
Smith lands a couple of elbows.
Smith landing some decent shots from guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Naymov blocks nicely.

Smith is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Naymov's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Naymov blocks nicely.
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.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Smith stands up from Naymov's guard - Smith perhaps looking for a knockout.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Naymov.
Naymov fails with the takedown

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Smith.
Naymov throws a punch but it's blocked by Smith.
Naymov taking a breather.
Naymov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Naymov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naymov stops a takedown attempt from Smith.
Naymov prevents a takedown attempt there.
Naymov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smith has him pressed against the cage.

Smith works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Naymov looking to control.
Smith will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Smith thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Naymov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
Smith is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
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 loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Naymov wants to get back to his feet but Smith is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Naymov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Naymov trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Naymov wants to stand up but Smith is controlling him.
Smith postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Smith works over Naymov with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith passes into half guard.
Smith scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ground and pound from Smith.
Smith looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Naymov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Naymov is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Naymov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Smith is working away from the top position though.
Naymov is still in real trouble! Can Smith finish him?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith working over Naymov with some ground and pound. Naymov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Smith is nestled in close to Naymov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Smith seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Smith uses his free foot to push down on Naymov's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Naymov.
Oooh a big shot lands for Smith! Naymov is out! The ref dives in to save him from more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Bubba Smith!