PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bubba Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stacy Powel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Smith
vs
Powel

190 cm
31
207 lbs
18 - 14 - 0

188 cm
28
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bubba Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stacy Powel!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Ivan Kurochkin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Powel.
Smith misses with a wild combination.
Powel looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Powel fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Smith clinches up with Powel and pushes him back against the cage.
Smith wants a takedown.
Powel is working for takedown but Smith is calmly controlling the position for now.
Bubba Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stacy Powel.

Smith gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Powel trying to control here.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Powel's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Powel's head.
Powel wants to control but Smith is keeping busy.
Smith prevents Powel from improving his position.
Smith lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powel is trying to get back to full guard.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Powel trying to hold on to Smith's head to control him but Smith postures up.
Powel punching from the bottom.
Smith scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Powel blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Powel wants to control but Smith is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Powel pushes Smith off looking to stand but Smith dives back in and keeps control.
Smith thows a huge punch but Powel dodges it nicely.
Smith not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Powel keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Powel really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Smith is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Powel sees it coming and defends easily.
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 sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Powel defending well though.
Smith lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Smith lands strikes from half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ground and pound from Smith.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Powel can do anything to dispel that myth.
Powel is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Smith slips a nice elbow through Powel's hands, connecting with Powel's forehead.
Powel trying to control from the bottom.

Smith is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powel wants to control but Smith is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Smith is pressing down on Powel's thigh, looking to free his foot. Powel is holding on for now.
Powel moves into full guard.
Powel trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Smith lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Smith has gone for a leg lock! Powel slips out almost immediately though and dives into Smith's guard.

Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Smith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Powel's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powel controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
Smith chips away with some ground and pound.
Powel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Powel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smith working some strikes from top position.
Smith postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Powel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Powel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smith lands a couple of digs.

Smith drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Smith seems to have locked his on tight now - Powel screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Smith, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Bubba Smith!