PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Josh Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Stalin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joseph Stalin has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Josh Smith's chin.

Smith
vs
Stalin

155 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

181 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Josh Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joseph Stalin!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stalin lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Stalin.

Smith breaks from the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stalin scores a nice knee to the body.
Stalin dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Smith is looking for a takedown.
Stalin creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Smith's defenses.

It looks like Josh Smith has been cut.
Smith takes an elbow to the forehead.
Stalin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Smith as Stalin tries to tie him up.
Stalin looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Smith is trying to pull guard but Stalin turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Stalin just leaning against Smith, taking a breather.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stalin misses with an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalin is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Stalin lands an elbow inside that Smith shrugs off.
Stalin holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Stalin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Smith in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Stalin trying to land knees to the body.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Stalin scores a nice knee to the body.
Nice elbow from Stalin.
Smith looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Knees to the body from Stalin.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Smith as Stalin tries to tie him up.
Stalin lands an elbow just above Smith 's eye.
Smith working hard to break the clinch.
Smith has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Stalin after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Stalin gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stalin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Smith moves into the clinch.
Smith on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stalin lands an elbow inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stalin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Smith avoids it.
Smith takes an elbow to the temple.

Smith jumps guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Smith looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Stalin is looking to stand up but Smith won't let him.
Stalin throws an elbow that misses. Smith uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Stalin's guard. Nice move by Smith!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stalin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stalin keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Stalin 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.

That's four 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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Stalin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smith is controlling him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Stalin clinches up with Smith and pushes him back against the cage.
Stalin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Smith avoids it.
Smith really is a fat lump.
Stalin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Smith in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Stalin.
Stalin looks winded!
Stalin tries to stall but Smith uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Smith on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smith has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stalin is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Smith breaks from the clinch.

Stalin clinches with his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Stalin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Josh Smith's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Smith fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stalin avoids it really well and circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Smith breaks from the clinch.

Stalin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smith, pushing him back against the cage.

Smith jumps into guard, dragging Stalin to the mat.

Stalin wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Smith's closed guard. He's half up but Smith has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Smith pivots and extends the arm, Stalin falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Smith! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Josh Smith!