PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mitchell James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Mitchell James has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

James
vs
Smith

179 cm
25
158 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

166 cm
25
161 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Championship Clothing! (Laundry Available)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mitchell James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ricardo Smith!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Ryoma Takatsuka and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smith lands in his opponent's guard.
James will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

James working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.
Smith should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
James can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smith controls the pace.
Smith's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

James is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.
Smith is stalling in the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ricardo Smith.
Smith scores with a spinning back kick!
James misses with a left hand

and Smith moves into the clinch.

James jumps into guard, dragging Smith to the mat.
Smith sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Smith with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but James blocks nicely.
Smith works over James with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
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.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

James working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.

James escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Smith connects with a couple of short punches.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Smith working his ground and pound in the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smith controls the pace.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

James working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Smith is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Smith stands up over James, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

James escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Smith throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

James had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.
James is breathing heavily.

James is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Smith got a little sloppy there for a moment and James has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smith has managed to get both his arms back between James's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Smith dominated that round.
That's time! James's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

James ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Smith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smith slips a jab from James.
Smith throws a low kick but James moves out of range easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smith tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Smith gets a trip takedown into half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from James's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Smith not doing much here.

James looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Smith tries to pass the half guard into mount. James knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James wants to get back to full guard but Smith has mounted him!
Smith breaks from James's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Smith controlling from mount.
Smith fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Smith controlling the position easily from mount.
Smith raining down hammerfists from mount.
Smith controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns James that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Smith lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Ricardo Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James wants to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
Smith content just to control the position here.
Smith avoids the attempt from James to control.
Smith controlling the position easily from mount.
Smith landing strikes, looking to finish!
James is in a horrible position here. Smith smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
James is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Smith landing punches.
Smith lands a nice shot to the head.
Smith looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
James is in all sorts of trouble here.
Smith lands a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James tries to hold on but Smith postures up.
Smith controlling his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
James wants to control but Smith is having none of it.
Smith landing strikes from the mount and James is in trouble!
Smith connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Smith working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
James is wriggling around trying to escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
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.
Smith lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! James's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

James checks a leg kick.

Smith darts in and clinches James up against the cage.
Smith tries to work over James's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

James pulls guard successfully.
James being controlled here, momentarily.
Smith throws a big elbow that misses.

James 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.

James escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Smith postures up and lands a big shot to James's brow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Smith's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
Smith stays in close to James's body and controls the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

James working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mitchell James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

James is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.
Smith is stalling in the full guard.
Smith works over James with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith content to stall in guard here.

James looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith sitting in guard here, content to control.
Smith scoring with punches to the head and body.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
James working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.

Ricardo Smith has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Smith throws a body punch but James moves out of range.
Ricardo Smith is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith forces James back against the cage and clinches.
James throws a punch but it's blocked by Smith.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith misses with an uppercut. James saw that one coming.
James throws a hook to the side of Smith's head but Smith sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smith staying out of range there.
Smith slips a jab and a cross from James.
Ricardo Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James slips a straight right by Smith.

Smith takes the fight into the clinch.
Smith taking a breather.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James lands a shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Smith!
Ricardo Smith decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.