PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between DJ Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sterling Contreras (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sterling Contreras has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Smith
vs
Contreras

167 cm
20
142 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

158 cm
21
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, DJ Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sterling Contreras!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Chris Downing and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Contreras defends well and Smith ends up having to push Contreras into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Contreras shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Smith's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Contreras pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Contreras is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
It looks like Contreras might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith looking for a guillotine here but Contreras defends easily.
Contreras controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Contreras looking to pass the guard.
Contreras 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.
Contreras looking to pass the guard.
Contreras advances position into side control!
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.

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.
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Contreras is staying tight to Smith's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Contreras is putting a hurting on Smith here, landing some big shots from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith wants to control but Contreras postures up.
Contreras is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Smith's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Smith tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Contreras wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Contreras controlling the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Contreras cracks Smith with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Contreras moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Contreras's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Contreras is continuing to stall.
Smith is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Contreras is controlling him well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sterling Contreras dominated that 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.

Contreras clinches with his opponent.
A short left from Smith.
Smith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Contreras just stands there and leans against the cage.
Smith can't find room to land a body shot as Contreras controls the action.

Smith pulls guard successfully.
Smith being controlled here, momentarily.
Let's hope that Contreras 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Contreras throws an elbow that misses. Smith uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Contreras's guard. Nice move by Smith!

Contreras looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Contreras looking for subs off his back but Smith has passed one foot through into half guard.
Smith tries to pass the half guard into mount. Contreras knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Contreras manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Smith is looking for a triangle but Contreras pushes his legs off easily.
Contreras not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Smith is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Contreras is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Contreras must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.

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

Contreras feints and as Smith raises his hands in defense, Contreras changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Contreras tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Contreras passes Smith's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Contreras is pressing down on Smith's thigh, looking to free his foot. Smith is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Contreras seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Contreras uses his free foot to push down on Smith's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Smith.
Contreras controlling from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sterling Contreras showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by Contreras.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Contreras shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Contreras defends well and Smith ends up having to push Contreras into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for DJ Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Contreras moves into range and clinches up with Smith.
Smith is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Contreras to keep the fight standing.

Contreras gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Contreras 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Contreras.
Contreras has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Contreras tries to pass the half guard into mount. Smith knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Contreras sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Sterling Contreras has got the better of the ground game so far.
Contreras prevents Smith from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Contreras looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Contreras is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Still in half guard, Contreras seems content to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith throws a series of punches but Contreras avoids them all with ease.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Contreras.
Contreras tries a head kick but it misses.
Contreras looks for the body kick but Smith saw that one coming.
Smith swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Contreras shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Smith manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Contreras stands up over Smith, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Contreras slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Contreras looking to pass the guard.
Smith being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Contreras passes Smith's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Contreras with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Contreras prevents Smith from improving his position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Contreras in particular looking to stall.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sterling Contreras comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Contreras 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sterling Contreras!