PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ernest Hemingway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Birk Smygare (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hemingway
vs
Smygare

178 cm
23
170 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

181 cm
21
178 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ernest Hemingway!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Birk Smygare!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Chris Edwards and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hemingway tries to clinch but Smygare is having none of it.
Smygare changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Smygare stuffs the takedown attempt from Hemingway. Hemingway gets slowly back to his feet.
Smygare misses with a wild combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smygare looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smygare looks to clinch

and Hemingway counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Smygare keeping moving, preventing Hemingway from controlling successfully.

Smygare has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hemingway can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hemingway is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Smygare looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hemingway is one step ahead there.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hemingway advances position into side control!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Hemingway is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smygare is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Hemingway swings around for an armbar but Smygare sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Hemingway's guard.

Hemingway looking for a guillotine here but Smygare defends easily.

Hemingway is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hemingway is breathing heavily.

Hemingway has his foot on Smygare's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smygare works his way back into a safe position though.
Smygare keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hemingway's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smygare trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smygare has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hemingway is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smygare controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Smygare tries to free his leg and advance position but Hemingway is retaining full guard.
Hemingway looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smygare is one step ahead there.

Smygare drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Smygare jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hemingway wants to sweep but no luck.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Smygare tries to clinch but Hemingway moves away

and Hemingway counters with a shoot takedown. Smygare fights it but they end up in guard.
Hemingway pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smygare is keeping the position for now.
Smygare bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hemingway's guard.
Smygare wanted to stand there but Hemingway had control of the position.
Smygare trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smygare works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Smygare stalling.
Smygare seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hemingway is staying active underneath Smygare, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Smygare is looking for a kimura here.

Hemingway actively working from the bottom here.
Smygare prevents Hemingway from improving his position.

Smygare stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smygare looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Smygare looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Hemingway!

Smygare looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Smygare wants to take Hemingway's back but he can't do it this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smygare lands a heavy elbow.

Smygare get's back to his feet.

Smygare rushes Hemingway and presses him up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Birk Smygare will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Smygare looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hemingway is fending him off so far but Smygare persists. Nope, Hemingway circles away and we're back to standing.
Birk Smygare seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hemingway shoots and misses
and Smygare counters with a good low kick that Hemingway was not able to check.
Hemingway pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hemingway keeps the fight on the outside.
Smygare throws a series of punches but Hemingway avoids them all with ease.
Smygare lands with a kick to the temple. Hemingway shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Smygare shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Smygare was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Smygare looking to control and managing it successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hemingway keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hemingway is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smygare controlling the position easily from mount.
Hemingway can't escape the position.

Smygare stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Smygare tries a head kick but it misses.
Smygare plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Smygare changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hemingway tries to avoid it but Smygare manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hemingway to the ground. Hemingway escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Smygare gets caught flat footed, as Hemingway shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Hemingway drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hemingway jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Smygare looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hemingway is one step ahead there.
Hemingway trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smygare lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hemingway!

Smygare get's back to his feet.
Good shot there by Smygare.

Smygare 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.

Hemingway is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Hemingway has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smygare can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Hemingway is looking for a triangle but Smygare pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smygare passes Hemingway's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Smygare is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Hemingway has managed to free his arm - good work.

Hemingway is defending against the submission attempts here by Smygare.
Smygare wants to get back to his feet.

Hemingway looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Smygare is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Smygare is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Hemingway has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hemingway moves into full guard.
Hemingway looking to control.
Hemingway is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Smygare is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Smygare actively working from the bottom here.

Hemingway is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Smygare doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hemingway.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Birk Smygare showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Smygare misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smygare feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hemingway's calf.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Smygare, right into the meat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hemingway fails with the takedown

and Smygare counters with a shoot takedown. Hemingway fights it but they end up in guard.
Smygare pushes down on Hemingway's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Hemingway looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hemingway taking some punishment here, with Smygare in his half guard.
Smygare is trying to control the action in half guard but Hemingway is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hemingway wants to control but Smygare is keeping busy.

Hemingway looking for submissions off his back.
Smygare seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Smygare trying to control from half guard but Hemingway is working away.

Smygare seems to be working for a kimura but Hemingway defends the submission attempt.
Hemingway is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Smygare's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Smygare's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smygare trying to control the position but Hemingway manages to sink in the hooks.
Smygare tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Smygare is wriggling around trying to escape.

Hemingway working for a submission but Smygare is keeping him at bay.
Smygare tries to hold on but Hemingway postures up.
Hemingway forces the positional change into back control.

Hemingway working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Hemingway looking for the choke from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smygare is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Hemingway not allowing Smygare to control his hands.

Smygare defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Hemingway's arms.
Hemingway wants to control but Smygare is keeping busy.

Smygare is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Hemingway gets his way!
Hemingway doesn't have the hooks in and Smygare manages to turn into his guard.

Smygare stands and steps away. Hemingway gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Smygare goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Some wild striking there from Smygare.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smygare tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smygare misses with a head kick.

Hemingway shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Hemingway was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hemingway has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Smygare's face.
Smygare really wants to buck Hemingway off and get back to his feet.
Smygare really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Hemingway is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Smygare is surviving well by controlling Hemingway's body position as best he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smygare tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ernest Hemingway.
Well Smygare 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 Donald Grub scores the fight for Birk Smygare!
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight for Birk Smygare!
Judge William Gold scores the fight for Birk Smygare!

Birk Smygare wins by unanimous decision!