PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Dio (ranked 2613 p4p, 61 weight class) and Johnny Smith (ranked 2365 p4p, 57 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dio
vs
Smith

190 cm
29
245 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

192 cm
44
259 lbs
23 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Dio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johnny Smith!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Cecil Peabody and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Both fighters circling a little - Smith finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Dio jabs Smith right on the nose. Smith blinks but takes it well.
Smith with a poor takedown
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Dio wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Smith gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Dio counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A head kick misses from Smith.

A big head kick from Smith and Dio is sent sprawling to the canvas!

Dio is rocked!

It looks like John Dio has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dio has his hands on Smith's head, controlling the position.
Oh Dio is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smith scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dio wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Smith lands a couple of elbows.
Dio utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dio looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dio seems to have got his legs back now.
Smith throws a strike but Dio rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Dio connects with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dio in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dio.
Dio loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith is trying to control the position but Dio postures up.
Dio preventing the sweep.
Dio throwing strikes but missing.
Dio wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Dio throws a big elbow that misses.
Dio works over Smith with some ground and pound from guard.
Dio wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dio throws a big right hand that misses.
Dio slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dio postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dio's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Dio wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dio wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dio showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Smith is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Dio.
Dio fails to land with a series of punches.
Smith takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dio lands with an overhand left.

Dio darts in and clinches Smith up against the cage.
Dio wants a takedown.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smith.

Smith gets a trip takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Smith connects with a nice short shot to Dio's temple.
Dio slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.
Smith working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Dio can't keep his opponent in guard - Smith advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Dio keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dio is concentrating on defense, preventing Smith from advancing position.
Smith thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dio has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Dio avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smith.

Smith is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Smith connects with a nice short shot to Dio's temple.
Smith thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
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 John Dio will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on John Dio's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Dio wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Dio is looking to clinch.
Dio doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.

Dio feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Dio trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dio postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
Dio with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smith looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Dio puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Dio working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dio seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Dio looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Dio throwing shots but Smith is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dio keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Dio trying to control from half guard but Smith is working away.
Dio thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Smith's head.
Dio throws a strike but Smith avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
John Dio overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dio wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Dio wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.

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.
Smith is pulling down on Dio's head. It's preventing any offense from Dio, at least for the moment.
Dio missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Dio stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Dio moves into range and connects with a jab.
Smith tries to clinch up but Dio circles away and keeps his distance.
Dio feinted with a counter takedown.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Smith throws a shot from downtown. Dio moves away and avoids it.

Dio looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We've been hearing that Dio has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Dio postures up and lands a big shot to Smith's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dio wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Dio content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Dio haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Dio scoring with punches to the head and body.
Dio trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Dio loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four 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.
Dio pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Dio throws a strike but Smith rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Smith distracts Dio with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Dio is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Dio avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

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

Dio scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Smith to see if he's OK.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith is not content to let Dio control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Dio dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on John Dio's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A jab from Dio does it's job there.
Dio tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.

Dio moves into the clinch successfully.
Smith tries for a takedown. No joy.
Smith misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dio lands with a right to the head.
Smith has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Dio is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dio wants to break the clinch but can't.
Dio is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Smith looking for a takedown.
John Dio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dio working hard to break the clinch.
Dio tries to break free but Smith pushes him back against the cage.
Smith is looking to take this one to the mat.
Smith drops down looking for an ankle pick but Dio pulls his leg out and moves away.
John Dio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith throws an overhand right that lands on Dio's shoulder, as Dio tries to avoid the shot.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
It looked like Dio was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Dio with a jab.
Dio is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Dio sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dio slips a straight right by Smith.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dio lunges at Smith with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Smith's hand.
Smith throws a lazy head kick
and Dio counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Smith thinking.
Smith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dio tries to avoid it but Smith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dio to the ground. Dio escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Johnny Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dio has managed to clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Dio.
Smith stops a takedown attempt from Dio.
Smith throws a head punch that misses.
Smith tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dio wants to break free but Smith has control.
Dio tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
Dio softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dio prevents a takedown attempt there.
Dio is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Dio blocks a body shot from Smith.

Smith has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Dio regains guard immediately.
Dio is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dio has his hands on Smith's head, controlling the position.
Smith cracks Dio with a solid left hand.
Dio is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Dio looking to control.
Smith connects with a couple of short punches.
Dio utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith won't allow Dio to sweep him here.
Dio is working hard here to advance position.
Smith throws a big elbow that misses.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dio looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Smith has gone for a leg lock! Dio slips out almost immediately though and dives into Smith's guard.

Dio in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dio throws a big right hand that misses.
Dio works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Smith is defending against the submission attempts here by Dio.
Dio wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Dio showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Dio 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Dio!
John Dio seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.