PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paul Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Jaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Smith
vs
Jaa

183 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Decent knees
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Paul Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Jaa!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Roger Salmon and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jaa throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Smith was covering up waiting for the punch and Jaa finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Jaa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Jaa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jaa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tony Jaa has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Jaa moves out of range easily.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Jaa sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Smith motions for Jaa to come forward. Smith throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Jaa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Jaa closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Smith's guard.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith pulls Jaa in close to prevent any damage.
Jaa content to stall in guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Jaa's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Paul Smith has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Jaa lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Smith at a distance.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown but Jaa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smith's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Smith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jaa as he avoids it easily.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.

Jaa shoots in and gets a takedown into Smith's guard.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Smith working for a triangle but Jaa defends it easily.
Smith working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith is looking for a triangle but Jaa pushes his legs off easily.
Jaa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Jaa drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Smith manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Jaa has Smith in his guard.
Jaa keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Jaa dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by Jaa.
Jaa slaps away a takedown attempt from Smith, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Jaa takes the fight into the clinch.

Jaa gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Smith keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Smith trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jaa thows a huge punch but Smith dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jaa postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Smith to stand up.
Smith misses with a two punch combination.
Smith dives in for a single leg takedown but Jaa sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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

Jaa scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Smith tries to bench press Jaa off him but Jaa keeps the position.

Jaa decides to stand up, so the ref orders Smith to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jaa throws a series of punches but Smith avoids them all with ease.

Jaa changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Smith looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Smith is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Jaa has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.
Jaa tries to advance to mount but can't.

Jaa stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Jaa shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Smith is trying to defend but Jaa finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Jaa is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tony Jaa.
Jaa avoids a kick to the body.

Smith gets tackled into the cage by Jaa. Jaa maintains the clinch.

Jaa has hold of one of Smith's legs. Smith is fighting the takedown attempt but Jaa gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Smith escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Jaa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Jaa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith is trying to control the position but Jaa postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Jaa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Smith moves to clinch but Jaa breaks away

and Jaa counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Jaa stops Smith from getting back to his feet.
Jaa controlling the pace.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tony Jaa hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Jaa but Jaa pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Jaa shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Tony Jaa has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Jaa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith controls Jaa momentarily but Jaa frees himself.
Smith will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Jaa engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Smith manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jaa manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Jaa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Jaa can do anything to dispel that myth.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jaa is keeping the position for now.
Jaa doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Jaa doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Jaa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Jaa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Jaa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

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

Jaa shoots in and gets a takedown into Smith's guard.
Smith trying to control the position.
Jaa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tony Jaa.
Smith shoots for a takedown but Jaa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Smith closes the distance and clinches up with Jaa, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes Jaa against the cage but Jaa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith shoots for a takedown but Jaa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Smith dodges the punch combination from Jaa.
Smith shoots in but Jaa avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Paul Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jaa misses with a head kick.

Jaa has managed to clinch.

Jaa is trying to trip Smith. He has hold of a leg but Smith is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Jaa persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jaa slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Smith is looking for a triangle but Jaa pushes his legs off easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Jaa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Jaa 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight for Tony Jaa!
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight for Tony Jaa!
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight for Tony Jaa!

Tony Jaa wins by unanimous decision!