PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Damerae Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Spike Reaper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Smith
vs
Reaper

190 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Damerae Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Spike Reaper!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Santiago Holmes and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Smith. Reaper shrugs it off though.
Reaper looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Reaper keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Smith wants to clinch up but Reaper keeps it at a distance.
Smith sets himself, and Reaper steps forward looking for the clinch! Smith avoids it this time.
Reaper stuffs the takedown attempt from Smith. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.

Reaper clinches up against the cage.

Smith gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Smith seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Smith seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Reaper does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith throwing shots but Reaper is blocking nicely.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Reaper keeps working.
Smith looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the action but Reaper is working from the bottom.
Smith looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Smith prevents Reaper from improving his position.
Smith performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Reaper is looking to improve his position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Smith lands a jab to Reaper's midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith throws a nice head kick!
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damerae Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith wants to clinch up but Reaper keeps it at a distance.

Smith gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Smith tries to break free but Reaper pushes him back against the cage.
Smith goes for a takedown attempt but Reaper pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Smith tries to clinch there but Reaper circles away.
A nice inside leg kick there by Reaper. That's going to slow Smith down.
Reaper shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith darts in looking for a takedown but Reaper gets double underhooks and turns Smith into the cage.

Reaper forces Smith back against the cage and clinches.
Reaper is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Smith to keep the fight standing.
Reaper is trying to pull guard but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Reaper looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith connects with a nice looking jab.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Smith wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reaper scores with a head kick.
Nice sprawl there from Reaper as Smith shoots in.
Reaper tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Reaper manages to circle out of the way.
Smith dives in and grabs Reaper's left leg, looking for a takedown. Reaper pushes down on Smith's head and hops out.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Reaper swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Reaper tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Smith closes the distance looking to clinch

and Reaper counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Spike Reaper will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Smith wants to clinch up but Reaper keeps it at a distance.

Smith closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Reaper's guard.
Reaper can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smith controls the pace.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Reaper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Reaper is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Smith is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith being controlled here momentarily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reaper is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Smith stays in close to Reaper's body and controls the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Reaper manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Reaper works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Reaper being controlled here momentarily.
Reaper stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Reaper passes Smith's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Reaper performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Spike Reaper has got the better of the ground game so far.
Reaper trying to pass the guard but Smith defending well.
Smith trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reaper lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Reaper seems to be looking for submissions.
Reaper with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.
Reaper is taking a breather. Smith says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Smith is trying to control but can't.
Reaper keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Reaper has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Reaper pushes him off.
Reaper tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Reaper shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Reaper closes the distance and clinches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A left hand lands to the body for Reaper.

Reaper pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Reaper wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Spike Reaper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Reaper stuffs the takedown.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Reaper.

Reaper drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.
Smith wants to take the fight to the mat but Reaper manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damerae Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reaper wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reaper wants a takedown.
Smith looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Smith turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Smith manages to end up in side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Reaper is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to control but Reaper is keeping him busy.
Reaper can't do much from the bottom here.
Reaper is looking to reverse the position.
Smith working the head and body with strikes.
Smith working away.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Reaper struggling a bit here.
Reaper is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Reaper wants to get back to his feet but Smith drags him back down.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Reaper takes one on the button.
Smith looks to land a left hand but Reaper moved out of range nicely.
And Reaper tries to counter it with a takedown but Smith pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Some wild striking there from Reaper.
Smith seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Smith darts in trying to clinch
and Reaper counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Smith shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Reaper pinned against the cage. Reaper gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Reaper counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Smith!
Reaper avoids the strikes from the bottom by Smith.
Reaper cracks Smith with a big right hand but Smith just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Reaper working the head and body with strikes.
Reaper is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Reaper wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Reaper working away.
Smith taking a bit of punishment here - Reaper scoring with strikes.

Reaper decides to stand back up.
Smith fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Reaper avoids it really well and circles away.
Reaper closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. Reaper pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith tries for a takedown but Reaper sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Spike Reaper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Reaper 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Spike Reaper!
After winning the bout, Spike Reaper thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.