PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Antony Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elvis Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Diaz

159 cm
25
162 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Antony Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Elvis Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Josh West and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Diaz.
As Diaz looks to move away, Smith throws a big counter combo bu Diaz just gets out of the way.

Smith gets tackled into the cage by Diaz. Diaz maintains the clinch.

Smith jumps guard.
Diaz wants to stand and escape but instead Smith has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Diaz tries to strike from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Smith is fighting to break Diaz's control of his arms but Diaz is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Diaz wants to control but Smith passes easily into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is thwarting Diaz's attempts to control the position.
Diaz wants to sweep but Smith has passed to side control!
Smith could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Smith connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Diaz some visible discomfort.
Diaz tries to control but Smith manages to take his back.
Diaz tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is punishing Diaz with some ground and pound.
Diaz is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Diaz covering up well under a series of strikes from Smith.
Smith lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Smith.
Diaz looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Diaz is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Smith is staying active.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to stick to Diaz's back but Diaz is turning into Smith. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Smith's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Diaz.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
Smith striking off his back but it's not causing Diaz any problems.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Diaz is one step ahead there.
Smith is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Diaz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Diaz preventing the sweep.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Smith really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. Diaz tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Diaz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antony Smith dominated that round.
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 defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Diaz.
Nice sprawl there from Smith as Diaz shoots in.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Despite the aggression on Diaz's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense.
It looked like Smith was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Antony Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elvis Diaz.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Diaz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Smith throws a series of punches but Diaz avoids them all with ease.
Diaz slaps away a takedown attempt from Smith, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz fails with the takedown.
Diaz misses with a takedown

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch.
Diaz is breathing heavily.
Diaz jumps guard but Smith stands there with Diaz around his waist. Diaz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Smith prevents Diaz from breaking the clinch.
Smith struggles to land a body shot inside as Diaz controls his hands.
Smith tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Smith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Diaz just stands there and leans against the cage.
Smith is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Diaz can do to turn this around?
Smith doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Diaz looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Smith is looking to break free of the clinch but Diaz has double underhooks.
Smith is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Diaz to keep the fight standing.
Diaz is looking to control Smith's arms but Smith gets an underhook and turns him. Now Diaz has his back to the cage.
Smith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Diaz just stands there and leans against the cage.

Smith successfully pulls guard.
Diaz trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Diaz is fighting to break Smith's control of his arms but Smith is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
Smith looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith has his hands on Diaz's head, controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Smith throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Diaz.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Diaz moves out of range easily.

That's four 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 circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Diaz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
As Diaz looks to move away, Smith throws a big counter combo bu Diaz just gets out of the way.
Smith throws a head kick but Diaz moves out of range.
A nice combination there by Smith.

Diaz moves into the clinch.
Smith tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Smith is trying to pull guard but Diaz has him pressed against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Diaz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Diaz lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
No joy there for Diaz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antony Smith dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Smith slaps away a takedown attempt from Diaz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Diaz shoots for a takedown but Smith saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Diaz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Diaz moves into range and connects with a jab.
Antony Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Smith drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Smith landing some decent shots from guard.
Antony Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
Diaz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Diaz working a defensive guard here.
Smith with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Diaz is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice takedown defense from Smith. No joy for Diaz on that attempt.
Antony Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elvis Diaz.
Diaz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sloppy strikes from Smith. Those never looked like landing.
Diaz misses with a wild combination.
Diaz tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Diaz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.
Smith appears to be looking for a big counter.
Smith rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Diaz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Diaz lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt - Smith sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Smith throws a head kick that Diaz semi-blocks.
Diaz misses with a takedown
and Smith counters with a three punch combo that has Diaz backing up. Diaz nods at Smith to acknowledge the strikes.
Diaz blocks a head kick by Smith.
Diaz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.

Smith closes the distance and pushes Diaz back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Diaz is defending well for now.
Smith tries to pull guard but Diaz won't allow it.
Smith fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Smith is looking for a takedown.
Diaz scores with a knee to the head.

Smith has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Diaz uses from the top position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Diaz's guard.

Diaz looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Smith passes into half guard.

Diaz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Smith pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antony Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Smith has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antony Smith!