PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between George Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jenean Garafallo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Garafallo

163 cm
26
140 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

152 cm
27
141 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Solid 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 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, George Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jenean Garafallo!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Steve Erwin and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Garafallo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Garafallo misses with a series of wild punches.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Garafallo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jenean Garafallo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Garafallo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Garafallo avoids the head kick by Smith.
Smith keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Garafallo takes a kick to the side of the head.

Garafallo rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Garafallo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Garafallo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith gets tackled into the cage by Garafallo. Garafallo maintains the clinch.

Garafallo turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garafallo lands a decent elbow from side control.
Smith tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Garafallo presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.
We've been hearing good reports from Smith's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Smith tries to hold on but Garafallo postures up.
Smith is wriggling around trying to escape.
Garafallo lands a nice shot to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Garafallo controlling his opponent.
Garafallo raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to escape the mount.
Smith is working hard here to advance position.
Garafallo controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garafallo is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Smith can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Garafallo looking to finish Smith with some ground and pound. This is bad for Smith!
Smith wants to control but Garafallo is having none of it.
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.
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!
Garafallo working Smith over with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garafallo controlling the position easily from mount.
Smith is trying desperately to improve position.
Garafallo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Smith regains half guard.
Smith tries to get to full guard but Garafallo has control of the leg.
Garafallo seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Garafallo working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garafallo content to control rather than advance.
Smith is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Garafallo jumps into side control!
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Garafallo tries for a kimura but Smith is defending well.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.
Garafallo is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Garafallo scoring with punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jenean Garafallo dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Garafallo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Smith defends it nicely.
Smith checks a leg kick nicely.
Smith was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Garafallo.
It looked like Smith was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Garafallo shoots in and bounces Smith off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Smith wants to sweep here but Garafallo controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garafallo seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garafallo trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Smith has his foot on Garafallo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Garafallo works his way back into a safe position though.
Garafallo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Garafallo wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

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

Garafallo drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.
Smith gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Garafallo.
Garafallo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Garafallo.
Garafallo taking a breather.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Garafallo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Garafallo tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith lands a jab to the nose.

Garafallo instigates a clinch.
Garafallo tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.
Smith prevents a takedown attempt there.
George Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jenean Garafallo.

Garafallo breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith throws a head kick that half lands.
Garafallo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A punch combination from Smith misses.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Garafallo's hands.

Garafallo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Smith's half guard.
Garafallo wants to free his trapped foot but Smith is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Garafallo wants to take a breather but Smith is having none of it.
Smith wants to improve his position but Garafallo is controlling well.
Smith regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Garafallo content to stall in guard here.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith controls Garafallo momentarily but Garafallo frees himself.
Garafallo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith wants to control but Garafallo postures up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Garafallo is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jenean Garafallo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Garafallo throws a low kick but it's checked well by Smith.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Garafallo tries to counter with a clinch but Smith shakes him off and moves away.
Smith darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Garafallo closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Smith's guard.
Garafallo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Smith had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Garafallo defends it easily.
Smith will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Garafallo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Garafallo lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Garafallo wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
Smith looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Garafallo puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Garafallo is trying to work for a kimura but Smith is defending well.
Smith is in trouble now - Garafallo has advanced to mount!
Smith is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garafallo tries to control but Smith wriggling away.
Garafallo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Smith tries to lock up and control but Garafallo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Smith is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Garafallo is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Smith tries to reverse the position but Garafallo maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garafallo landing shots from mount.
Jenean Garafallo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Garafallo looking to control and managing it successfully.
Garafallo postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Smith looks a forlorn figure.
Smith is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Garafallo breaks from Smith's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Smith takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to reverse the position but Garafallo maintains control.
Garafallo wants to control the pace but Smith is squirming around nicely.

Smith defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Garafallo.
Garafallo looking to control and managing it successfully.
Smith keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
George Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jenean Garafallo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Garafallo scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Smith?

And that's the end of the fight!
Jenean Garafallo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Garafallo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30

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