PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stan Ross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ross has chosen Killing in the Name of (Remix) as his entrance music. Steve Smith had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 207.6lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Stan Ross will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Smith
vs
Ross

150 cm
24
220 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

186 cm
22
205 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Steve Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Stan Ross!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Andrew Berry and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ross shoots for a takedown but Smith saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ross fails in his attempt to clinch.

Ross shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Smith is looking for a sweep. Ross is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Smith is working hard here to advance position.
Ross perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Smith is doing well to control the position and prevent Ross from advancing to side control.
Smith tries to roll over but Ross keeps him under control.

Ross is trying to work for a kimura but Smith is defending well.
Smith controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to roll over but Ross keeps him under control.
Ross is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Smith tries to roll over but Ross keeps him under control.
Ross slows the pace down in half guard.
Smith wants to control but Ross passes into side.
Smith is looking for a sweep.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.
Smith tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ross wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two 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 manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ross's best efforts.
Ross trying to pass the guard but Smith defending well.
Smith tries to roll over but Ross keeps him under control.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Ross is tying to control. Smith wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ross swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Smith needs to keep his hands up - Ross had a free shot at his head there.
Ross stalks Smith and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Smith's face. Smith staggers backwards, shaken.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ross.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ross wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.

Ross stands up.
Horrible takedown by Ross or perhaps it was just good defense by Smith which made him look bad.
Ross shoots in but Smith avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Steve Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stan Ross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Smith has his takedown stuffed
and Ross counters with a straight right hand.
Ross is looking to slow Smith down with leg kicks.
Ross misses with a takedown

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

Stan Ross dominated that round.
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.

Ross thows a body kick. Smith tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Ross throws a nice outside leg kick.

Smith closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smith lands in his opponent's guard.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.
Ross wants to get back to his feet but Smith is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ross is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Smith won't allow Ross to sweep him here.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ross looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ross pushes Smith off and gets back to his feet.
Ross moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Ross connects with a crisp jab.
Ross shoots and misses

and Smith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ross trying to control the position.
Ross utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ross swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Ross pushes Smith off and gets back to his feet.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Ross tries to reverse the position but Smith maintains control.
Smith punishing his opponent with strikes.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Smith looking to finish Ross with some ground and pound. This is bad for Ross!
Smith thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross is looking to improve his position but Smith isn't that keen on the idea.
Ross wants to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
Ross in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Smith unloads with some shots from mount but Ross bucks and avoids them well.
Ross is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Smith.
Smith scoring with strikes but Ross is staying in there.
Ross really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ross is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith looking to finish Ross with some ground and pound. This is bad for Ross!
Ross tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Smith lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Ross hang on?
Smith landing strikes from the mount and Ross is in trouble!
Ross is wriggling around trying to escape.
Smith breaks from Ross's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Smith controlling from the full mount.
Smith lands a nice shot to the head.
Ross tries to lock up and control but Smith gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Smith looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Ross is trying to escape the mount.
Smith controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Smith dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Smith has his takedown stuffed
and Ross counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ross tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Ross lands with a nice body punch.
Ross tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Smith decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ross's guard.
Ross is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ross is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Smith trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross drops an elbow to the side of Smith's head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith trying to hold on to Ross's head to control him but Ross postures up.
Ross is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Ross wants to stand but Smith has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Smith has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Smith tries to roll over but Ross keeps him under control.
Smith is trying to control but can't.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ross connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ross tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily

and Smith counters with a single leg into guard. Ross didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ross not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ross seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Smith makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Smith makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Ross is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ross utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ross shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown. Ross fights it but they end up in guard.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
Ross is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Ross is looking to stand up but Smith isn't so interested in that idea.
Ross trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Smith prevents Ross from getting back to his feet.
Ross keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith prevents Ross from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Ross is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ross closes the distance and clinches.
Ross tries to stall but Smith uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ross tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Steve Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stan Ross.
Smith goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ross prevents it.
Ross gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Smith.
Ross has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Smith avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ross prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ross is working for takedown but Smith is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ross gets underhooks to prevent Smith's takedown attempt.
Smith gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ross.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28

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