PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jenean Garafallo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Garafallo
vs
Smith

152 cm
25
141 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

163 cm
24
140 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jenean Garafallo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, George Smith!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Damien Edna and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Garafallo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Garafallo throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith misses with a few strikes there.
Smith scores with a three punch combo!
Garafallo steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Smith. That one must have hurt.
Garafallo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Garafallo definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
A good leg kick by Smith.
Garafallo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Smith lands a right hook to the body.
Garafallo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Garafallo instigates a clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Smith.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garafallo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smith.

Garafallo gets a trip takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Smith is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is trying to control but can't.
Garafallo works his way into full mount!
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Smith taking shots to the head.
Smith is looking to improve his position but Garafallo isn't that keen on the idea.
Garafallo breaks from Smith's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Garafallo moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Smith has worked his arm free - good work by Smith!
Smith sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Smith tries to roll over but Garafallo keeps him under control.
Garafallo working Smith over with strikes.
Garafallo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Smith looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Smith looks winded!
Garafallo seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to improve his position but Garafallo is controlling well.
Smith is looking to control Garafallo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smith avoid being mounted?
Garafallo working the head and body with strikes.
Smith has a hand on Garafallo's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Garafallo takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Garafallo controlling the position easily from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garafallo postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Smith looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garafallo looking to control and managing it successfully.

Garafallo goes for an armbar but Smith turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Smith.

Garafallo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Garafallo holds on and takes a little breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jenean Garafallo dominated that round.
That's time! Garafallo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smith wants to clinch but Garafallo slips to the side

and Garafallo counters with a shoot takedown. Smith fights it but they end up in guard.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Garafallo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smith is on top in guard.

Smith throws an elbow that misses. Garafallo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Smith's guard. Nice move by Garafallo!

Garafallo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Garafallo connects with a couple of short punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garafallo lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Smith wants to sweep here but Garafallo controlling him for the moment.

Smith working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Garafallo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Garafallo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Smith is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Garafallo from controlling successfully.
Garafallo's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Garafallo stands up over Smith, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Garafallo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Garafallo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Garafallo is one step ahead there.

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.
Garafallo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Garafallo with a nice head shot there.
Garafallo sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Smith has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Garafallo is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Smith.
Garafallo trying to control the position but Smith is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Garafallo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smith has escaped the position, nice work there.
Jenean Garafallo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith is trying to escape the position but Garafallo is controlling the position.

Garafallo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Garafallo lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith gets back to half guard.
Smith has hold of Garafallo's hands but Garafallo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Smith manages to get to full guard.
Garafallo postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Garafallo advances to half guard.
Smith trying to control here.

Garafallo is working for a kimura but Smith is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jenean Garafallo dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Garafallo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Smith blocks a head kick by Garafallo.
Smith tries to clinch up.

Garafallo manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Smith on his heels. He'll look to pass Smith's guard now, I'm sure.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Garafallo is looking to control Smith's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Garafallo avoid being mounted?
Smith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garafallo is staying active underneath Smith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Garafallo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Garafallo's head.
Garafallo wants to control but Smith is keeping busy.

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

That's two 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 punishes Garafallo's body with a nice straight punch.
Smith checks a leg kick.
Smith throws a nice looking combination but Garafallo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Garafallo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?

Smith darts in and clinches Garafallo up against the cage.
Garafallo misses with a knee strike.
Garafallo tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Smith gets through Garafallo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Garafallo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Garafallo drives through with a takedown into guard.
Garafallo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Smith is looking for a triangle here but Garafallo uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garafallo lands some shots froms side control.
Garafallo 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 struggling a bit here.
Garafallo scores with a couple of short elbows.
Smith is looking for a sweep.
Garafallo staying calm.
Garafallo landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garafallo scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Smith to see if he's OK.

Garafallo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Garafallo wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Garafallo in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Garafallo working the body and head with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith tries to buck Garafallo off but Garafallo is having none of it.
Garafallo working away.
George Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jenean Garafallo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Garafallo taking a breather here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jenean Garafallo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Garafallo, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jenean Garafallo!