PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Luuk Smijts (ranked 5050 p4p, 435 weight class) and Shamil Gasanov (ranked 9484 p4p, 597 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smijts
vs
Gasanov

173 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

160 cm
18
145 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Pit Bull Development

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Luuk Smijts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shamil Gasanov!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Radbod Blank and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gasanov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smijts.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Smijts enables Gasanov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Smijts manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Gasanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Smijts is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smijts wants to improve his position but instead Gasanov has moved into half guard.
Gasanov is looking to take a break and control but Smijts is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Smijts manages to escape and get back to his feet!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smijts dives in and grabs Gasanov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gasanov pushes down on Smijts's head and hops out.
Gasanov lets loose with a powerful body kick. Smijts will feel that in the morning.

Smijts takes the fight into the clinch.
Gasanov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smijts has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smijts is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gasanov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luuk Smijts. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gasanov tries to land a knee to the head but Smijts blocks with his arms.

Smijts manages to break the clinch.
Gasanov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Gasanov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Smijts defends well and Gasanov ends up having to push Smijts into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Gasanov has a takedown stuffed.
Smijts fails with a takedown attempt.

Smijts clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smijts breaks the clinch.
Gasanov throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Smijts finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Gasanov circles away from the clinch attempt.
A nice inside leg kick there by Smijts. That's going to slow Gasanov down.
Gasanov stuffs the takedown.
Gasanov is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Smijts shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gasanov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Gasanov is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gasanov is trying to trip Smijts. He has hold of a leg but Smijts is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Gasanov persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gasanov cracks Smijts with a nice body shot.
Smijts is working for takedown but Gasanov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Smijts has had enough of the clinch but Gasanov keeps him there for the moment.
Smijts fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Gasanov works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Gasanov won't allow Smijts to sweep him here.

Gasanov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Smijts looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Smijts looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Smijts!

Smijts wants to control but Gasanov is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gasanov is looking to regain half guard here but Smijts keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Gasanov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gasanov is looking to reverse the position.
Gasanov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Gasanov is refusing to be controlled, as Smijts sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Luuk Smijts will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Smijts looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gasanov is fending him off so far but Smijts persists. Nope, Gasanov circles away and we're back to standing.
Gasanov fails to land with a series of punches.
Smijts pushes Gasanov away with a front kick.

Gasanov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Gasanov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smijts tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Gasanov presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smijts wants to hold on but Gasanov pushes him away.
Smijts is squirming around, avoiding Gasanov's attempts to control the action.
Gasanov is landing with some decent strikes but Smijts is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Gasanov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smijts is wriggling around trying to escape.
Smijts is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gasanov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Smijts wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Gasanov scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Gasanov is not going to allow Smijts to sit and survive in this position.

Gasanov tightening his grip on Smijts, looking for the choke.

Gasanov looking for the choke but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smijts grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.

Gasanov tightening his grip on Smijts, looking for the choke.
Shamil Gasanov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gasanov controlling well, preventing Smijts from escaping the position.
Our spies down at at The Bear's Den ($300) inform us that Gasanov has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gasanov not allowing Smijts to control his hands.
Gasanov lands a shot to the head.
Smijts is keeping busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gasanov slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shamil Gasanov 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!

Gasanov misses with a takedown attempt - Smijts sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gasanov fails with a takedown attempt.
Smijts displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gasanov.
Luuk Smijts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shamil Gasanov.
Smijts has a takedown stuffed.

Gasanov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smijts regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Gasanov.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smijts looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gasanov stands up over Smijts, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Smijts can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gasanov controls the pace.
Gasanov won't allow Smijts to sweep him here.
Smijts wants to get back to his feet but Gasanov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Smijts manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gasanov manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smijts throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gasanov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gasanov should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Smijts stopping the sweep attempt from Gasanov.
Smijts trying to control but Gasanov is working from the bottom.
Smijts postures up.
Gasanov might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Smijts haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Gasanov pulls Smijts in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gasanov keeping moving, preventing Smijts from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gasanov throws a body kick that misses.
Gasanov fails with a takedown attempt.
Smijts appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Gasanov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Smijts's half guard.

Smijts has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Gasanov is on him like a limpet, forcing Smijts back against the cage.
Gasanov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gasanov tries to break free but Smijts pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smijts drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Gasanov gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smijts managing to control the position.
Gasanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Smijts is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smijts lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luuk Smijts showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smijts has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luuk Smijts!