PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Xin Zhao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arenas Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Zhao
vs
Smith

199 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
23
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Xin Zhao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Arenas Smith!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Smith.

Smith working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Smith tries to advance to mount but can't.
Zhao can't do much from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith controlling the position.

Smith tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Smith has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith takes a little break here. Zhao wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Smith decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Smith instigates a clinch.
Zhao is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Smith is defending well.
Zhao tries to pull guard but Smith forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Smith lands a takedown into guard.
Zhao really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhao is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Zhao will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Smith advances position into side control!
You can see the frustration on Zhao's face as Smith controls the position.
Zhao tries to buck Smith off but Smith is having none of it.
Zhao struggling a bit here.

Smith is trying to get an arm triangle but Zhao is defending well.
Zhao tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhao tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Zhao tries to improve position but can't.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Smith stands up and beckons Zhao to his feet.
Smith tries for a takedown but Zhao circles away easily

and Zhao counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Smith tries a body shot but Zhao blocks it.
Zhao jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Smith walks away with a smile on his face. Zhao gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xin Zhao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Zhao circles away.
Zhao shoots in for a double leg but Smith sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smith shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zhao pinned against the cage. Zhao gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhao lands a high kick!
Smith connects with a good right hand that stumbles Zhao. Zhao circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Zhao takes the fight into the clinch.
Zhao gets underhooks to prevent Smith's takedown attempt.

Smith ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Smith no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zhao is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith has his hands on Zhao's head, controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arenas Smith dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smith closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Zhao quickly recovers to half guard.

Zhao manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Smith keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Smith wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zhao has him pressed against the cage.
Smith tries a body shot but Zhao blocks it.

Zhao manages to break the clinch.
Xin Zhao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Zhao moves out of range easily.

Zhao instigates a clinch.
Zhao tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.
Zhao goes for a takedown in the clinch but Smith prevents it.
Zhao is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Smith to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xin Zhao. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zhao's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zhao swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Smith is looking to chop away at Zhao's legs.
Zhao tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zhao closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. Zhao pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Smith tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zhao swivels and escapes.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Smith has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Smith!
Smith is breathing heavily.
Zhao lands with a slapping head kick.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Zhao sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zhao goes for a double leg but Smith avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Smith continues to drive forward.
Zhao shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense.
Zhao shoots for a takedown but Smith saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Smith manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Zhao on his heels. He'll look to pass Zhao's guard now, I'm sure.
Zhao keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

Zhao 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Zhao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Smith decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zhao as he avoids it easily.
Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zhao with a hook.
Zhao tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zhao somewhat.
Smith tries for a takedown but Zhao sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Zhao rushes Smith and presses him up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zhao.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Xin Zhao will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into Zhao's guard.
Smith is standing up over Zhao. Zhao looks to escape but Smith dives into side control.

Smith wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zhao, who protects the arm well.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Zhao is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhao bucks up and tries to throw Smith off but instead Smith has got his back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhao tries to roll but Smith sticks to his back.
Smith is trying to stick to Zhao's back but Zhao 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 Zhao.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zhao throws a strike but Smith rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Zhao wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Zhao working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Smith postures up.
Smith controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Zhao trying to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Smith decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Zhao bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Zhao.
A telegraphed right hand from Zhao misses the target.
Smith tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Smith throws a head kick but Zhao moves out of range.

Zhao has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
Zhao is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Zhao breaks from the clinch.
Smith misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zhao misses with a takedown attempt - Smith sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zhao moves out of range of the body kick from Smith.
Smith lands a front kick.

Zhao takes the fight into the clinch.
Zhao is stalling here.
Smith looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Smith pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith tries a knee to the head but Zhao blocks it.
Zhao tries to pull guard but Smith holds him up against the cage and eventually Zhao drops back down to his feet.
Xin Zhao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Arenas Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Smith pulls guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arenas Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight for Arenas Smith!
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Arenas Smith!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Arenas Smith!

Arenas Smith wins by unanimous decision!