PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Smith (ranked 6037 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Martinez (ranked 6048 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Smith
vs
Martinez

177 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Alexander Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Xavier Martinez!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Santiago Holmes and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith rushes Martinez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Martinez throws an elbow but it misses.
Martinez jumps guard but Smith stands there with Martinez around his waist. Martinez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Martinez gets control of Smith's arms and successfully pulls guard. Martinez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith controls from within his opponent's guard.
Martinez working a defensive guard here.
Martinez wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Smith passes Martinez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Smith in particular looking to stall.
Martinez trying to control but Smith postures up.
Still in half guard, Smith seems content to control.
Martinez wants to control but Smith is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

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

Smith closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Martinez wants to control but Smith postures up.

Smith decides to stand back up. Smith steps back and let's Martinez get back to his feet.
Martinez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
Martinez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Alexander Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xavier Martinez.
Martinez shoots in looking for a takedown. Smith tries to sprawl out of it but Martinez 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.
Martinez just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromSmith.
Martinez on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith pushes Martinez away with a front kick.
Martinez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smith sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith appears to be looking for a big counter.
Martinez looks winded!
Smith works the jab nicely.
Smith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Martinez.
Martinez throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.

Smith looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Smith is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smith is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith seems to be looking for submissions.
Martinez is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Smith trying to pass the guard but Martinez defending well.
Nice strikes from Smith there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Smith stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Martinez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Smith holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Smith lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Smith wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Martinez, who protects the arm well.
Martinez prevents Smith from moving into mount.
Smith scores with punches from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martinez is not content to let Smith control the position.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez is looking to reverse the position.

Smith decides to stand back up.

Smith shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Martinez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Martinez keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Martinez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith trying to control but Martinez is working from the bottom.
Smith content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez is trying to keep Smith in close.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith 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.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Smith looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Smith would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith passes Martinez's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Martinez is refusing to be controlled, as Smith sits in half guard.
Martinez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Smith's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Smith's back!
Smith trying to control the position but Martinez manages to sink in the hooks.
A lull in the action here.

Martinez has got his arm under Smith's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Smith has spun round into Martinez's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Martinez is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Martinez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Martinez is keeping the position for now.
Smith chips away with some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Martinez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Martinez is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Smith dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Smith shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Smith wants to free his trapped foot but Martinez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Smith controlling the action here.
Martinez wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez is in trouble now - Smith has advanced to mount!
Smith lands a nice shot to the head.
Smith looking to control and managing it successfully.
Martinez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Smith controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith with shots to the head and body - Martinez looks very uncomfortable down there.
Smith with a couple of short strikes.
Smith lands a heavy elbow.
Smith in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Martinez is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Smith lands a big elbow.
Smith pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez tries to lock up and control but Smith gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Smith wants to take his opponent's back but Martinez doesn't allow it.
Smith controlling his opponent.

Smith looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Smith landing strikes from the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith controlling his opponent.
Alexander Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith with good strikes from the mount here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Martinez is looking to get to half guard.
Xavier Martinez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alexander Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Martinez swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Smith 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 30:26
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:26
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27

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