PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gareth Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Baeumer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Baeumer

225 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
21
210 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Gareth Smith!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Baeumer!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Sam Margolis and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baeumer tries to clinch up.
Smith misses with a wild combination.
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 bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Baeumer will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Baeumer tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
The crowd cheers as Smith lands an impressive looking overhand right. Baeumer doesn't seem phased though.

Baeumer scores a takedown into full mount!
Baeumer thowing shots but they're missing.
Baeumer tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Smith is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baeumer looking to control and managing it successfully.
Baeumer unloading with bombs!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baeumer trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Smith is trying to stand.
Baeumer trying to control but Smith is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baeumer looking to control and managing it successfully.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smith is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Baeumer thowing shots but they're missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Baeumer tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Baeumer unloading with bombs!
Baeumer lands a heavy elbow.
Baeumer wants to control the pace but Smith is squirming around nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baeumer content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Baeumer fails to land the takedown.

Baeumer drives through with a takedown into guard.

Despite being in the dominant position, Paul Baeumer just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Baeumer shoots in but no luck this time.
Smith lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Baeumer shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gareth Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Baeumer.
Baeumer avoids the head kick by Smith.
Smith scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Baeumer looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Baeumer persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith misses with the combination.
Smith throws out a leg kick but Baeumer moves out of range and Smith only half commits.
Gareth Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baeumer gets a takedown into half guard.
Smith on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smith tries to get out of the position.
Baeumer is breathing heavily.
Smith won't allow Baeumer to pass to mount.
Smith is trying to stand up here but Baeumer is controlling him well.
Baeumer is just content to waste time from the top position. Smith takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baeumer won't allow Smith to get back to his feet.
Smith will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Baeumer advances position into side control!
Smith is pushing Baeumer's head away, looking to escape. Baeumer manages to hold on to the position though.
Baeumer advances nicely into full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baeumer punishing his opponent with strikes.
Baeumer trying to control but Smith is having none of it.
Baeumer sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
You get the feeling that Smith really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Baeumer trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Smith knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Baeumer on the ground.
Baeumer controlling his opponent.
Baeumer unloads with some shots from mount but Smith bucks and avoids them well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Baeumer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Baeumer scores with a takedown into Smith's guard.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Baeumer from controlling successfully.
Baeumer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Baeumer wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baeumer prevents Smith from getting back to his feet.
Baeumer looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Baeumer advances position into side control!
Baeumer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Baeumer wants to control for a moment but Smith uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Baeumer trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Paul Baeumer just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Baeumer fails with a takedown attempt.
Baeumer looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Smith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Baeumer.
Baeumer doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Baeumer blocks a head kick by Smith.
Smith throws out a leg kick but Baeumer moves out of range and Smith only half commits.
Left hook, right uppercut from Smith.
Nice uppercut lands for Smith. That snapped Baeumer's head back.
Baeumer fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gareth Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Baeumer.
Smith throws a combination. Baeumer tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Smith is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Gareth Smith did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Baeumer takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Baeumer tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Smith tries to bum rush Baeumer with a series of wild strikes but Baeumer uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Baeumer falls off balance throwing a combination
and Smith counters with a left and a right that stings Baeumer.
Paul Baeumer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Baeumer falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Smith to counter with a crisp jab.
Baeumer has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Smith finds it's way round the side to connect with Baeumer's head.
Baeumer has a takedown stuffed.
Baeumer is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Smith lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Smith throws a combination. Baeumer tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Smith.
Smith works over Baeumer's head and body with a nice combination.
Smith misses with the combination.
Smith lands a nice shot that snaps Baeumer's head back.
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Smith lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Baeumer backs up against the cage.
Smith lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Smith.
Smith scores with a nice right hand.
Smith's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Smith duly obliges.
Gareth Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Baeumer tries to clinch up
and Smith counters with a three punch combo that has Baeumer backing up. Baeumer nods at Smith to acknowledge the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baeumer avoids the head kick by Smith.
Smith thuds his shin into the meat of Baeumer's side.
Smith lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Baeumer tries to clinch
and Smith counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Baeumer with a poor takedown
and Smith counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gareth Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Baeumer.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Smith stalks Baeumer and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Baeumer's face. Baeumer staggers backwards, shaken.
Smith tries to bum rush Baeumer with a series of wild strikes but Baeumer uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Smith as Baeumer shoots in.
Gareth Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Smith lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Smith is working the combinations to good effect here.
A nice combination there by Smith.
Baeumer walks forward, straight into a front kick from Smith.
Baeumer avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smith thows a body kick. Baeumer tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Smith throws a nice looking combination but Baeumer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Smith scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Smith uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Baeumer closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baeumer is pushing Smith up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Baeumer prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Smith tries to break the clinch but Baeumer is controlling the position.
Smith blocking some punches.
Baeumer is trying to drag Smith to the mat but Smith just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Baeumer shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
Smith sizes up Baeumer with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gareth Smith had his way with Paul Baeumer in that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Smith throws a right and a left that both miss.
Baeumer looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Baeumer tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily
and Smith connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Baeumer on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Smith looks to land a combination. Baeumer sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Smith lands a two punch combo.
Baeumer tries to clinch up
and Smith counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Baeumer fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gareth Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Baeumer.
Baeumer is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Smith moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Baeumer blocks a head kick by Smith.
Baeumer dodges the punch combination from Smith.
Smith throws a right and a left that Baeumer avoids nicely.
Smith swinging wilding here.
Baeumer shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Smith counters with a one-two to the body.
Smith's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Smith duly obliges.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Smith!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands with a straight right. Baeumer didn't see that one coming.
Baeumer fails with the takedown.
Smith lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Smith.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Baeumer shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed Baeumer's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Smith looks to land a combination. Baeumer sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Baeumer has a takedown stuffed.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt
and Smith counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Baeumer is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Baeumer.
Baeumer taking a breather here.
Let's hope that Baeumer 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 four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Baeumer drags him back down.
Baeumer content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Baeumer prevents Smith from escaping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gareth Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Glass scores the fight 48:47
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 48:46
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gareth Smith!
Gareth Smith is the new light heavyweight champion!