PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cortland Cartwright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cartwright comes to the cage accompanied by St. Anger. Smith comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Therion - Sitra Ahra kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cartwright
vs
Smith

173 cm
34
204 lbs
21 - 11 - 0

185 cm
27
215 lbs
10 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

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 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Cortland Cartwright!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mike Smith!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith looks to land a combination but Cartwright avoids it well.
Cartwright appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A nice combination there by Smith.
Cartwright avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smith throws a body shot but no joy.
Smith misses with a hook.
Smith tries to bum rush Cartwright with a series of wild strikes but Cartwright uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cartwright appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cartwright takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Smith enables Cartwright to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Smith manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartwright with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Cartwright postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Cartwright is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Smith is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Smith has escaped and now he's on top!

Cartwright is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Cartwright 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 passes easily into side control. Nice work.
You can see the frustration on Cartwright's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cartwright is not content to let Smith control the position.
Cartwright tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Smith wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Cartwright's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cartwright is looking for a sweep.
Smith happy to just control the position for now.
Cartwright might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cartwright is trying to control Smith's posture but Smith avoids it.
Cartwright is trying to get back to half guard.
Smith is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Cartwright's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Smith in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Cartwright tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Smith wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Smith slows the pace down.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Cartwright is looking for a sweep.
Cartwright is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cartwright throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith throws a right and a left that both miss.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Smith enables Cartwright to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Smith manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Smith pushes Cartwright off and scrambles back to his feet.
Smith plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Cartwright feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Smith manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Smith breaks the clinch.
Smith looks to land a right hand but Cartwright moved out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Smith dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cartwright closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Cartwright sits in half guard.
Smith is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cartwright's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cartwright's back!
Smith is looking to control Cartwright but Cartwright is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Cartwright tries to roll but Smith sticks to his back.
Smith controls the action.
Smith has the hooks in. Cartwright is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mike Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartwright covering up well and avoiding damage.
Cartwright trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Cartwright is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
You can see the frustration on Cartwright's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Cartwright trying to control the hands but Smith won't let him.
Smith biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright is in bad spot here.
Smith has good solid back control here.
Smith avoiding Cartwright 's attempts to control his hands.
Good control from Smith.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Smith's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Cartwright tries to escape but Smith has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Smith avoiding Cartwright 's attempts to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright is really stuck here.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cartwright breaks Smith's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Cartwright trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cartwright throws a big right hand that misses.
Cartwright missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cartwright looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Cartwright is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cartwright looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Smith has picked Cartwright up and slammed him! Cartwright can't keep hold of the triangle and Smith manages to pass to side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright is trying to improve his position.
Cartwright can't do much from the bottom here.
Cartwright regains half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cartwright looking for submissions off his back.
Smith is thwarting Cartwright's attempts to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cartwright blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Smith throws a leg kick but Cartwright sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cartwright changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Cartwright moves out of range of the strikes.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cartwright circles away quickly and effectively.
Cartwright feinted with a counter takedown.
Smith looks to land a right hand but Cartwright moved out of range.
Cartwright appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Smith throws a push kick but Cartwright slaps the foot to one side.
Smith scores with a head kick. Cartwright tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Mike Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith thumps Cartwright with a low kick.
Cartwright shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartwright closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Smith takes a swing at Cartwright's ribcage but misses.
Smith chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Cartwright swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cartwright slips a jab and a cross from Smith.
Cortland Cartwright is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Cartwright attempts a counter takedown but Smith avoids it well and moves away.
A big left from Smith misses.
Cartwright changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Cartwright moves out of range easily.
Cartwright changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smith misses with a leg kick.
Smith plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cartwright.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cartwright.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cartwright moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cartwright attempts a counter takedown but Smith avoids it well and moves away.
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cartwright feinted with a counter takedown.
Smith throws a lazy head kick

and Cartwright counters with a nice double leg into side control. Smith won't be happy with that.
Cortland Cartwright has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Cartwright swings around for an armbar but Smith sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Cartwright's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cartwright looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Cartwright is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.

Cartwright throws his legs up looking for a submission but Smith uses it to pass to side control.
Cartwright tries to buck Smith off but Smith is having none of it.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cartwright is looking for a sweep.
Cartwright manages to get back to half guard.
Mike Smith is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cartwright flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Cartwright is trying to maintain the position but Smith is very close to passing his half guard.

Cartwright is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Smith pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith controlling the pace.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Smith 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Smith!
Mike Smith took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Mohito Fightwear for their support in the buildup to the fight.
In defeat, Cortland Cartwright stepped up to the mic, saying 'My opponent was a worthy adversary. I will get better and come again.'.