PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Maximo Contino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys - Southern Flavor kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! John Smith has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Contino
vs
Smith

186 cm
25
192 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

169 cm
28
180 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Fast

Milwaukee's Best 160
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Maximo Contino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Smith!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Robert Twigg and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Contino fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.
Contino throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
Contino shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.
Contino shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maximo Contino. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith stays in close to Contino's body and controls the position.
Smith lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Smith 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.

Contino had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.
Smith postures up and lands a big shot to Contino's brow.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Contino is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Contino wants to control but Smith is keeping busy.
Smith controlling the pace.
Smith takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Smith looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Contino with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Smith controlling the action here.
Smith drops an elbow to the side of Contino's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Contino has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Smith is working away from the top position though.
Smith content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Smith prevents Contino from improving his position.
Smith content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith prevents Contino from improving his position.
Smith stalling.

OK we're going to have a standup here. John Smith hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Smith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Contino's waist but Contino gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smith off to one side.
Contino 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.
Contino wants to get back to striking at distance but Smith won't allow it.

Contino pulls guard successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith stays in close to Contino's body and controls the position.

Contino is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Contino's head.

Contino looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
Contino is breathing heavily.
Contino wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Smith working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Contino can't keep his opponent in guard - Smith advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Smith tries to pass the half guard into mount. Contino knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Smith controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Contino taking some punishment here, with Smith in his half guard.
Smith controlling the action here.
Smith lands with a punch from half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Smith looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Contino tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Smith is controlling the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Contino is looking to control Smith's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Contino avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Smith dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smith looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Smith works his way into full mount!
Smith content just to control the position here.
John Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Contino is working to get back to half guard.
Smith controlling from the full mount.
Contino tries to hold on but Smith postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands a heavy elbow.
Smith looking to control and managing it successfully.
Smith postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Contino looks a forlorn figure.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Smith cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Smith content just to control the position here.
Contino is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Smith tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Contino tries to lock up and control but Smith gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Smith controlling the pace for now.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. John Smith wasn't active enough on the ground.
Smith slaps away a takedown attempt from Contino, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Contino slaps away a takedown attempt from Smith, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into Contino's guard.

Contino throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smith engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Let's hope that Smith has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by John Smith.

Contino gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Smith connects with a couple of short punches.

Contino has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Contino is looking to sweep but instead, Smith has passed into half guard.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Smith is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Contino is looking to escape.
Smith has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Smith lands a big elbow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Contino is bucking up trying to escape but Smith cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Smith tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. And we move into the final round!

Contino thows a body shot but no joy.
Contino fails in his attempt to clinch.

Smith scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Smith moves into full mount!
Smith lands a big shot there that rocks Contino but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Smith with shots to the head and body - Contino looks very uncomfortable down there.

Contino is rocked!
Smith takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Oh Contino is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Contino seems to have got his legs back now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith with shots to the head and body - Contino looks very uncomfortable down there.
Contino slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Contino tries to roll over but Smith keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is taking a breather. Contino says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Contino wants to control but Smith is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Smith seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Contino looks like he's trying to stand up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

John Smith has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Smith drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Smith sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Smith pushing down on Contino's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Contino is in trouble now - Smith has advanced to mount!
Contino is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Contino tries to lock up and control but Smith gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Smith controlling his opponent.
Smith's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Contino tries to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
Smith controlling from mount.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Contino tries to hold on but Smith postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Contino really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Smith takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Smith shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Contino manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Contino is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.
Smith content to stall in guard here.
Smith distracts Contino with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Smith controlling from the top position.
Smith cracks Contino with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith content to stall in guard here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith works over Contino with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith content to stall in guard here.
Smith works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Well, if Smith is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Contino has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Maximo Contino has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Contino is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Smith pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smith winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Smith!
John Smith spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.