PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Anjos (ranked 5480 p4p, 630 weight class) and Tyler Smith (ranked 5782 p4p, 655 weight class). Thiago Anjos had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.1lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Tyler Smith acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Anjos
vs
Smith

179 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
26
180 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Urban Fighter

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thiago Anjos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tyler Smith !
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Jonathan Paton and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anjos tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Smith connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Anjos's hands.
Anjos tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
A swing and a miss from Anjos.
Anjos missing with a left hand there. Smith was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Anjos 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.
Anjos tries to clinch up.
Anjos tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Smith misses with a wild combination.
Anjos tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Smith gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Anjos.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Thiago Anjos has been cut.
Anjos looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Anjos fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Anjos back to the cage. Smith follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Anjos bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Anjos tries to clinch up
and Smith counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith avoids the body shot from Anjos.
Anjos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Anjos looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Anjos fails with an attempt to clinch.
Anjos tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Smith scores with a jab.
Anjos lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Anjos.
Anjos walks into a jab.
Anjos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Anjos tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A big right from Anjos misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Smith .
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Anjos throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Sloppy strikes from Anjos. Those never looked like landing.
Anjos throws an off balance right hand
and Smith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Anjos throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Smith cracks a nice hook into Anjos's ribs.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Anjos moves out of range easily.
Smith scores with a nice strike.
Smith lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Anjos slips a jab and a cross from Smith .
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A big right from Anjos misses.
Anjos takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Anjos misses with a hook. Smith ducked under it nicely.
Smith misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Smith ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Anjos avoids the body shot from Smith .
Anjos misses with a straight right.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
As Smith tries to get set, Anjos tries to push him back and clinch up but Smith manages to avoid the attempt.
Anjos tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from Anjos.
Smith drops his hands momentarily and Anjos takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
An inside leg kick from Smith misses.
Anjos is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smith .
The fight stays on the outside here - Anjos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Anjos tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anjos takes a swing at Smith 's ribcage but misses.
Anjos misses with the combination.
Smith is looking for the big counter here.
Anjos tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Anjos moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Smith misses with a double jab.
Anjos avoids the head kick by Smith .
This has been an exciting period of action!
Anjos misses with an uppercut
and Smith counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Anjos takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A combination from Smith does no damage.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Smith !
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Smith looks winded!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Anjos doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Anjos is looking to clinch.
Smith doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Smith fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Smith is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Anjos rather than just go for the knockout.
Anjos fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Smith dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thiago Anjos's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smith misses with a wild combination.
Anjos tries to clinch up.
As Anjos backs off Smith throws a huge counter combo but Anjos manages to avoid it all.
A nice combination there by Smith .
Anjos fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Anjos doesn't seem bothered though.
Anjos tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from Anjos.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Smith rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Anjos moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Anjos is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
A big left from Anjos misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anjos with a jab.
Smith throws a right and a left that Anjos avoids nicely.
Tyler Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Smith attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Anjos is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Smith .
Smith throws out a loose jab but Anjos uses good head movement to avoid it.
As Smith tries to get set, Anjos tries to push him back and clinch up but Smith manages to avoid the attempt.
Anjos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anjos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Anjos tries to clinch up.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Anjos.
Smith throws a counter combo.
Smith staying out of range there.
Smith is looking for the big counter here.

Anjos has taken the fight to the clinch.
Smith can't break the clinch.
Smith is trying to push Anjos away but Anjos has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Smith tries to break free but Anjos pushes him back against the cage.
Smith is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Anjos throws a punch but it's blocked by Smith .
Smith prevents a body shot from Anjos.
Smith blocking some punches.
Anjos misses with a punch to the body.
Smith looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anjos tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
Smith is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Smith blocking some punches.
Anjos goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Smith tries to break the clinch but Anjos is controlling the position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smith .
Smith has had enough of the clinch but Anjos keeps him there for the moment.
Smith is trying to push Anjos away but Anjos has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Anjos prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Anjos keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Smith 's efforts to push away.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Anjos.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Anjos as he connects with a hook.
Smith doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Smith pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Anjos back to the cage. Smith follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Anjos avoids the head kick by Smith .
Anjos tries to clinch up.
Anjos moves to clinch but Smith breaks away
and Smith counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Anjos thinking.
Anjos wants to clinch.
Anjos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Anjos misses with a straight right.
Anjos throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smith makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Anjos tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Smith feints a jab promting Anjos to slip. Smith then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Anjos slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Smith displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Anjos doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Smith lands a body shot.
Jab, jab by Anjos - just one landing.
Anjos tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Anjos 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.
A little jabbing left from Smith on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
The fighters circling - Anjos throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Smith takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Smith lands a nice looking body shot.
Smith moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Smith wants to land a leg kick but Anjos is out of range.
Anjos tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Anjos throws a big shot that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thiago Anjos's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Smith avoids the body shot from Anjos.
Smith throws a nice looking combination but Anjos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Anjos clobbers Smith with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Anjos moves out of range of the body kick from Smith .
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Anjos.
Anjos takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Smith throws out a powerful jab.
Smith lands a body shot.
Tyler Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Anjos wants to clinch.
Despite the aggression on Smith 's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anjos thuds a left hand into Smith 's body.
Anjos missing with a left hand there. Smith was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Anjos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anjos throws a sloppy body shot
and Smith counters with a right hand to the body.
Smith throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A big right from Anjos misses.
Smith ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Anjos throws a poor cross that misses
and Smith counters with a one-two to the body.
Anjos doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Anjos throws a series of punches but Smith avoids them all with ease.
Smith unleashes a big counter combination but Anjos bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Anjos tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Anjos is looking to clinch.
Anjos wants to clinch but Smith slips to the side
and Smith counters with a left to the body.
Anjos blocks the body kick.
Anjos blocks the body kick.
Anjos is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Thiago Anjos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a series of wild punches.
Smith misses with the combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Anjos misses with a looping right.
Anjos avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Anjos is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Smith .
Anjos lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Smith steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Anjos.
Smith avoids the body shot from Anjos.
Smith throws out a counter right but Anjos avoids it with no problem.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Anjos fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
Anjos throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anjos lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Smith at a distance.
Smith lands a head kick!
Anjos throws a jab when Smith was well out of range.
It seemed like Smith was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Anjos throws a shot from downtown. Smith moves away and avoids it.
Nice defenses there by Smith .
Anjos avoids the head kick by Smith .
Smith loads up on a big right hand but Anjos slips the punch.
Anjos misses with a straight left.
Anjos avoids a punch combination nicely.
Anjos seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Anjos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith misses with a double jab.
Anjos tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anjos throws a series of punches but Smith moves out of range.
Anjos throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As Anjos backs off Smith throws a huge counter combo but Anjos manages to avoid it all.
Anjos misses with a straight right.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.
Smith keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Anjos tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
A nice side step and Smith releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Anjos fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Smith lands with an uppercut that bounces Anjos off the cage and back into range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Anjos misses with a wild body shot.
Smith swings for the body but Anjos moves out of range.
Anjos scores with a hook to the body. Smith takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A slow jab from Anjos misses its intended target.
Anjos rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Smith tries to bum rush Anjos with a series of wild strikes but Anjos uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tyler Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smith winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyler Smith !
Tyler Smith thanked the fans post fight for their support.