PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Stan Marsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Marsh
vs
Smith

218 cm
18
161 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

183 cm
23
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stan Marsh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Steve Smith !
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marsh tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Smith manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Smith misses with a looping right.
Marsh shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
Smith is trying to counter with his kicks.

Smith shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Smith seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ground and pound from Smith .

Smith is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Marsh has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Marsh is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith is nestled in close to Marsh, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Marsh really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Marsh is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Marsh is looking to improve his position.
Marsh blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smith not doing much here.
Marsh wants to get back to his feet.
Smith performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Let's hope that Smith has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Marsh did well to prevent Smith getting side control.
Smith is taking a breather. Marsh says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Marsh won't allow Smith to pass to mount.
Marsh avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smith .

Smith stands up out of the half guard.

Smith forces Marsh back against the cage and clinches.
Marsh is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Smith to keep the fight standing.

Smith gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Marsh 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith keeps control of Marsh as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Smith breaks the clinch.
Marsh fails with the takedown
and Smith cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stan Marsh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marsh shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
Marsh fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Steve Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marsh is breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Smith showed some decent athleticism there.
Marsh pushes Smith off but Smith dives into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Smith dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Smith shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Marsh is trying to defend but Smith finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Marsh kicks off Smith and gets to his feet.

Smith looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smith seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Marsh does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Smith prevents Marsh from standing back up.
Smith is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Marsh!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith controlling from mount.
Smith landing shots from mount.

Marsh is rocked!
Smith controlling his opponent.
Oh Marsh is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Smith .
Marsh seems to have got his legs back now.
Marsh is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith controlling from mount.
Marsh really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Smith get's back to his feet.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Marsh.

Smith lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Marsh pushes Smith off and gets back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Marsh tries to sprawl but Smith drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Marsh looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Smith slips a nice elbow through Marsh's hands, connecting with Marsh's forehead.
Steve Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.

Smith decides to stand and escape the position.

Smith drives through with a takedown into guard.
Marsh is looking to stand back up but Smith counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Marsh.

Ground and pound from Smith .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Smith lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Smith seems to be looking for submissions.
Smith controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Smith scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Smith controlling the action here.
Smith is continuing to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith escapes and gets back to his feet.
Marsh shoots in looking for a takedown. Smith tries to sprawl out of it but Marsh keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Smith manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Marsh fails with the takedown

and Smith holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Marsh 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 Stan Marsh. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smith has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Marsh uses from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Marsh can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smith punching to the body, from the bottom.

Smith working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Marsh doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Marsh manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Marsh slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Marsh has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Marsh gets to his feet - Smith follows without any prompting.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Smith unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Smith 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Smith closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Marsh to the mat! Marsh manages to get full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marsh tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Marsh being controlled here, momentarily.
Smith connects with a couple of short punches.
Marsh will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Marsh thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Marsh is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Smith presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Smith 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Smith closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smith lands in his opponent's guard.

Marsh scrambles and gets back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stan Marsh showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Smith 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Smith !