PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Emmett Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dean Pender (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Smith
vs
Pender

187 cm
19
214 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

200 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Emmett 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, Dean Pender!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Roger Salmon and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.

Pender pushes Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith looking for a takedown.
Pender stops a takedown attempt from Smith.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emmett Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Pender manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Smith is in close to Pender's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pender has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Smith has passed into side control.
Pender 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.
The ground and pound from Smith seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pender struggling a bit here.
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.
Pender tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pender wants to control but Smith postures up.
Pender might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Smith haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Smith tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Smith thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Pender tries to bench press Smith off him but Smith keeps the position.

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.
Pender keeps trying to improve his position.
An elbow from Smith crashes against the mat.
Pender defending against the ground and pound.
Pender tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smith thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Smith trying to control the position but Pender is working away.
Pender is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pender is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Smith asserts his dominance and retains side control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Pender closes the distance and pushes Smith back into the cage.
A short right from Pender.
Smith jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Pender walks away with a smile on his face. Smith gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Pender throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Smith wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Pender shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Smith is trying to defend but Pender finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Pender working Smith over with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pender is looking to advance position but Smith won't allow it.
Smith on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Pender looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Pender throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Pender stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Smith to get to his feet.

Pender instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pender shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Smith is trying to defend but Pender finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Pender seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Pender is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Smith sees it coming and defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pender lands strikes from half guard.
Pender content to control rather than advance.

Pender is looking for a kimura but Smith is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pender to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pender drops an elbow to the side of Smith's head.

Smith is rocked!
Smith might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Pender decides to return to a standing position.
Pender closes the distance but Smith moves to the side
and Smith counters with a three punch combo that has Pender backing up. Pender nods at Smith to acknowledge the strikes.

Pender closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Pender avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Pender successfully pulls guard.
Pender looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Smith wants to stand but Pender has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pender keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Pender is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Smith wants to control from the top but Pender keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith stops Pender from standing up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Pender moves into range and clinches up with Smith.
Smith goes for a takedown attempt but Pender pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Pender moves into the clinch successfully.
Pender blocks an elbow strike.

Pender decides to pull guard.
Pender trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Pender has his foot on Smith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smith works his way back into a safe position though.
Pender working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pender working a defensive guard but Smith passes into half guard.
Pender is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Smith has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Pender works to full guard.
Pender preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pender strikes from his own guard.
Pender tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Pender is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Pender showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Pender closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Pender lands in his opponent's guard.
Pender stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing Pender from standing up.
Dean Pender has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Pender from controlling successfully.
Pender pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith being controlled here, momentarily.

Smith is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Pender engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pender counters with a left to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two 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.

Pender closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Smith quickly recovers to half guard.
Oh Smith is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Pender has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Pender is working for a guillotine from mount but Smith frees his head quite easily.
Pender in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Pender lands a big shot to the head and Smith winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Dean Pender!