PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Norris Flores (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Smirnoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vladimir Smirnoff will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Flores
vs
Smirnoff

198 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
235 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Norris Flores!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vladimir Smirnoff!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Dillan Fox and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Flores.
Smirnoff bucks up and tries to throw Flores off but instead Flores has got his back!
Smirnoff looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Flores biding his time, looking for the opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smirnoff is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flores scores with punches to the body.
Flores biding his time, controlling Smirnoff.
Flores has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

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.
Flores is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Flores gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Flores gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Flores apologises and we restart here on the feet.

Flores closes the distance and clinches.
Smirnoff creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Smirnoff wants to stall.
Flores is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Smirnoff gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Flores has Smirnoff pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Smirnoff manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Smirnoff tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Flores's elbow.

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

Flores has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Smirnoff is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flores is working for takedown but Smirnoff is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Norris Flores. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Flores pulls guard effortlessly.
Flores tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Flores has his feet on Smirnoff's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Flores tries to bum rush Smirnoff with a series of wild strikes but Smirnoff uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Flores moves into range and clinches up with Smirnoff.
Smirnoff has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Flores after a bit of a struggle.

Flores pulls Smirnoff into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flores seems keen to control Smirnoff's posture.
Flores bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smirnoff's guard.

Flores 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.
Flores throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Flores is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norris Flores dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Flores uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smirnoff.

Flores has managed to clinch.

Flores escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Flores misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A head kick misses from Flores.
Flores misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Smirnoff looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Flores fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smirnoff, pushing him back against the cage.
Smirnoff misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flores prevents a takedown attempt there.
Flores swings wildly with an uppercut but Smirnoff uses good head movement to avoid it.
Flores wants to break free but Smirnoff has control.
Smirnoff is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnoff prevents a body shot from Flores.

Flores successfully pulls guard.
Flores looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Flores working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smirnoff.

Flores working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smirnoff doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smirnoff manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Flores will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Flores has his hands on Smirnoff's head, controlling the position.
Flores could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flores bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smirnoff's guard.

Smirnoff being controlled here, momentarily.
Flores is looking to work some ground and pound but Smirnoff has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smirnoff is looking for a triangle but Flores pushes his legs off easily.
Norris Flores overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Flores 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.
Flores is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smirnoff can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

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

Flores moves into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smirnoff missing with knees to the body.
Flores wants to get back to striking at distance but Smirnoff won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norris Flores dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Flores scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
You can see the frustration on Smirnoff's face as Flores controls the position.
Flores seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Smirnoff for as long as he can get away with.
Smirnoff felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Flores.
Smirnoff on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A lull in the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flores in side control lands a decent elbow.
Smirnoff takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Flores lands a few punches from side control.
Smirnoff is being controlled here.
Smirnoff is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Flores misses with a takedown attempt - Smirnoff sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Norris Flores is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Flores swats away the attempt to clinch by Smirnoff.
Flores throws a head kick that misses.

Flores rushes Smirnoff and presses him up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Flores's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Smirnoff changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Flores fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Smirnoff gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Flores controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flores continues to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Vladimir Smirnoff has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Norris Flores is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smirnoff throws a knee to the head but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Norris Flores showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Flores has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Norris Flores!