PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ethan Tanner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zachary Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tanner
vs
Smith

190 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Hellbent, 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ethan Tanner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zachary Smith!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Cecil Peabody and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanner lands a nice shot to the body.
Tanner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tanner swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tanner throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tanner throws a good cross that connects.
Tanner connects with a nice looking jab.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tanner comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Tanner connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tanner throws a hook but Smith avoids it easily.
Tanner swinging wilding here.
Tanner misses with the combination.
Tanner scores with a sloppy right hand. Smith should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tanner's calf.
Smith uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tanner.
Smith looks to throw the jab but Tanner is out of range.
A punch lands to the side of Smith 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith wants to pass to mount but Tanner is defending the position.
Smith throwing shots but Tanner is blocking nicely.
Smith thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Smith seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tanner does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tanner is trying to stand.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Smith in particular looking to stall.
Tanner is trying to stand up here but Smith is controlling him well.
Tanner is breathing heavily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tanner changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Smith with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Tanner to score with a decent uppercut.
Smith blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Smith drives through and clinches with Tanner against the cage.
Tanner wants to break free but Smith has control.
Smith looking to slow down the pace here.
Smith looking for a takedown.
Smith manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tanner works over Smith's head and body with a nice combination.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith pressing his opponent against the cage.
Tanner wants to break free but Smith has control.
Smith keeps control of Tanner as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Tanner is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.
Smith misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Smith misses with a hook from the clinch.
Smith misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tanner wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Tanner throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Smith dodges the punch combination from Tanner.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Tanner dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tanner missing with a left hand there. Smith was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
No joy there for Tanner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tanner misses with a few strikes there.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smith is looking to control Tanner's arms but Tanner gets an underhook and turns him. Now Smith has his back to the cage.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Tanner avoids the damage to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tanner throws a series of punches but Smith moves out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.
Smith looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Smith scores with a takedown into Tanner's guard.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tanner's guard.
Smith passes to side control.
Tanner is not content to let Smith control the position.

Smith wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tanner, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Tanner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tanner is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to advance to mount but Tanner denies him.

Smith thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Tanner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Tanner kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
The fighters circle momentarily. Tanner darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Tanner throws a nice looking combination but Smith bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tanner throws a combination. Smith tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Tanner throws a big shot that misses.
Smith closes the distance and clinches up with Tanner, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes Tanner against the cage but Tanner circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tanner throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Smith sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zachary 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. This is the final round!

Smith keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tanner.
Smith tries for a takedown but Tanner sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Smith tries to clinch but Tanner is having none of it.
Ethan Tanner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tanner throws a looping overhand right but Smith ducks down to avoid it.
A leg kick checked by Tanner.
Tanner misses with a looping right.
Ethan Tanner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Smith closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smith lands in his opponent's guard.
Smith wants to control from the top but Tanner keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.
Tanner knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smith on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tanner is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Smith passes into half guard.
Smith trying to control the action but Tanner is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Smith is looking for a kimura but Tanner is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Smith to get the leverage.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Tanner tries to kick Smith off but Smith keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Smith is trying to control the action in half guard but Tanner is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Smith is working for a submission of some sort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith stops Tanner from getting back to his feet.
Smith works his way into side control.
You can see the frustration on Tanner's face as Smith controls the position.

Smith has hold of Tanner's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Tanner tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Smith cranks the arm and Tanner screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Tanner, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Zachary Smith!