PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rollo Smek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hal Gibson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gibson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Indestructible by Disturbed. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smek
vs
Gibson

190 cm
23
215 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

195 cm
20
210 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rollo Smek!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hal Gibson!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Steve Smith and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smek shoots in and bounces Gibson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Gibson wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gibson looking to control but Smek passes into half guard.
Smek knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gibson on the ground.
Gibson trying to control from the bottom.
Smek is taking a breather. Gibson 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.
Gibson is trying to maintain the position but Smek is very close to passing his half guard.
Smek controlling the pace.

Smek is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gibson is just riding it out for now. Smek eventually gives up the hold.
Smek prevents Gibson from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smek working over Gibson with some ground and pound. Gibson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Gibson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gibson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Smek decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gibson, up you get!

Smek scores a takedown into full mount!
Smek in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Smek connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smek prevents Gibson from getting the reversal.
Gibson wants to hold on but Smek pushes him away.
Gibson is in all sorts of trouble here.
Smek looking to control and managing it successfully.
Smek lands a heavy elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smek prevents Gibson from getting the reversal.
Gibson is bucking up trying to escape but Smek cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Smek controlling from mount.
Gibson tries to hold on but Smek postures up.
Smek controlling his opponent.
Gibson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gibson tries to lock up and control but Smek gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smek controlling his opponent.
Smek has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Gibson's face.
Gibson looks gassed!
Smek controlling from mount.
Gibson wants to control but Smek is having none of it.

Smek has control of Gibson's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Gibson regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Gibson is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rollo Smek dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gibson moves in looking to clinch but Smek pushes him off.
Gibson throws a right and a left that Smek avoids nicely.
Smek misses with a head kick.
Gibson has his takedown stuffed

and Smek counters with a combination of strikes to the head and body that crumple Gibson!

Gibson is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smek takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Gibson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gibson is breathing heavily.
Smek is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smek lands with some strikes.
Smek looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gibson is working to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Smek.
Rollo Smek overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smek takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Smek seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gibson for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smek landing punches.
Smek landing punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smek controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Rollo Smek just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Smek closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gibson to the mat! Gibson manages to get full guard.
Smek is in close to Gibson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Smek slips nicely into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Smek connects with a nice short shot to Gibson's temple.
Smek scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gibson tries to roll over but Smek keeps him under control.

Gibson looking for subs from the bottom but Smek mounts him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smek scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Smek landing strikes from the mount.
Smek avoids the attempt from Gibson to control.
Smek is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gibson can do to turn this around?
Smek controlling his opponent.
Gibson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smek content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rollo Smek dominated that second round.
That's time! Smek's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smek with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Gibson tries to clinch up but Smek circles away and keeps his distance.
Smek looks to land a combination but Gibson avoids it well.
Jab from Smek.
Nice combo by Smek! Oh, that's hurt him - Gibson falls to the canvas and Smek follows him into side control.
Gibson is still in real trouble! Can Smek finish him?

It looks like Hal Gibson has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gibson tries to improve position but can't.
Gibson seems a little lost for a moment, as Smek dominates the positioning.
Gibson seems to have recovered his senses.
Gibson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Smek decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smek wants to clinch.

Smek shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gibson's guard.

Smek gets to his feet - Gibson follows without any prompting.
Gibson blocks a head kick by Smek.

Smek has Gibson up against the cage in a clinch.

Smek works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Smek chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smek controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Gibson has his foot on Smek's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smek works his way back into a safe position though.
Smek connects with a couple of short punches.
Smek is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Smek working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gibson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smek can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smek is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Smek gets to his feet - Gibson follows without any prompting.

Smek closes the distance and clinches.

Gibson is fighting off a takedown attempt but Smek is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Gibson to the mat. Gibson regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Smek chips away with some ground and pound.

Gibson looking for a guillotine here but Smek defends easily.
Smek wants to get up but he can't break Gibson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smek 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.
Smek lands a couple of digs.

Gibson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smek is stalling in the full guard.
Smek has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smek has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rollo Smek clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Hal Gibson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Smek throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gibson misses with a takedown attempt

and Smek counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smek.
Smek controls from within his opponent's guard.
Smek advances position into side control!
Gibson is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Gibson is trying to work for a sweep but Smek has mounted him!
Smek controlling his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smek lands with some strikes.
Smek controlling his opponent.
Smek dominating with strikes here.
Gibson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gibson wants to hold on but Smek pushes him away.
Gibson is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smek controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smek scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Gibson?
Smek looking to control and managing it successfully.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Rollo Smek just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Smek shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Smek decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Smek throws a right and a left that Gibson avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smek lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gibson backs up against the cage.
A shot to de liver by Smek. Beautiful body shot.
Left hook, right uppercut from Smek.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Smek gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Smek breaks from the clinch.

Smek closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smek lands in his opponent's guard.

Gibson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Smek stands up from guard. Let's bang!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rollo Smek had his way with Hal Gibson in that round.
The cut man is working on Hal Gibson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Smek scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Smek misses with a low kick.
Gibson clinches but Smek breaks the clinch
and Smek counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Smek throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smek fails to land with a series of punches.
Gibson tries to move into range but Smek moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Gibson fails with the takedown

and Smek counters with a shoot takedown. Gibson fights it but they end up in guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smek lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Smek advances to half guard.
Smek sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Gibson looking for submissions off his back.

Gibson is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Smek pulls his head out easily.
Smek is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Smek works his foot free and advances to mount.
Smek dominating with strikes here.
Gibson is trying desperately to improve position.
Smek controlling his opponent.
Smek working Gibson over with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smek working the ground and pound effectively.
Smek content just to control the position here.
Smek postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Gibson looks a forlorn figure.
Rollo Smek is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gibson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hal Gibson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smek controlling the pace for now.
Gibson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Smek controlling the pace for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rollo Smek showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Smek has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 50:42
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 50:41
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 50:41

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rollo Smek!
Rollo Smek retains his light heavyweight title!