PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ernest Hemingway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Birk Smygare (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hemingway
vs
Smygare

178 cm
23
170 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

181 cm
22
178 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

MMA Pro Gear

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Ernest Hemingway!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Birk Smygare!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Ackerman and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hemingway tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smygare paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smygare is looking to clinch but Hemingway is avoiding it.

Hemingway takes the fight into the clinch.
Hemingway tries to break the clinch but Smygare is controlling the position.
Hemingway is pressed up against the cage. Smygare has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hemingway down to the mat. Hemingway avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Birk Smygare seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smygare throws a head kick that misses.

Smygare closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hemingway to the mat! Hemingway manages to get full guard.

Hemingway looking for a guillotine here but Smygare defends easily.
Hemingway looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Hemingway is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Hemingway is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smygare trying to control but Hemingway is working from the bottom.
Smygare is in close to Hemingway's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Hemingway working for a triangle but Smygare defends it easily.
Smygare trying to control the position from guard on top but Hemingway is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smygare postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smygare is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Smygare is in close to Hemingway's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Smygare wants to control from the top but Hemingway keeps moving.

Hemingway looking for a guillotine here but Smygare defends easily.

Hemingway has his foot on Smygare's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smygare works his way back into a safe position though.
Hemingway is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smygare controls from within his opponent's guard.

Hemingway looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Smygare is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Smygare trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hemingway's guard.
Smygare lands a couple of digs.
Hemingway keeping moving, preventing Smygare from controlling successfully.
Smygare scoring with punches to the head and body.

Smygare is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smygare wants to get up but he can't break Hemingway's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Smygare with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Hemingway has his foot on Smygare's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smygare works his way back into a safe position though.
Smygare wants to control from the top but Hemingway keeps moving.
Smygare looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Smygare wants to get up but he can't break Hemingway's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Smygare scoring with punches to the head and body.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hemingway is on top in guard.
Hemingway looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smygare wants to stand up but Hemingway is controlling him.

Smygare is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Hemingway drops back looking for a leg! Smygare is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Smygare manages to kick Hemingway off! Hemingway jumps back into Smygare's guard.

Hemingway postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Smygare is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hemingway, into his guard.

Hemingway is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernest Hemingway dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Smygare is looking to clinch but Hemingway is avoiding it.
Smygare shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smygare connects with a right hand. Hemingway shakes it off.
Hemingway closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smygare circles away.
Smygare fails in his attempt to clinch.

Smygare closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hemingway to the mat! Hemingway manages to get full guard.

Hemingway working for a triangle but Smygare defends it easily.
Smygare with a nice head shot there.

Hemingway is working an open guard so Smygare takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hemingway ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smygare shoots and misses

and Hemingway moves into the clinch.

Smygare pulls guard successfully.
Smygare wants to sweep here but Hemingway controlling him for the moment.
Smygare is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hemingway slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Birk Smygare has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hemingway tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Smygare manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smygare lands with a punch from half guard.
Smygare is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Hemingway!
Hemingway is trying desperately to improve position.
Smygare working Hemingway over with strikes here.
Hemingway taking shots to the head.
Hemingway is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Smygare takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Smygare is working for a guillotine from mount but Hemingway frees his head quite easily.
Smygare lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smygare in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Hemingway tries to reverse the position but Smygare maintains control.
Smygare controlling the position easily from mount.

Smygare has control of Hemingway's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Hemingway regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Hemingway working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smygare trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Smygare has control of Hemingway's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Hemingway regains control of the situation pretty easily.
BOOM! Smygare connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Hemingway is working to get back to half guard.
Smygare is landing with some decent strikes but Hemingway is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Hemingway tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Smygare lands a big shot there that rocks Hemingway but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Smygare dominating with strikes here.
Hemingway sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Birk Smygare showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hemingway blocks a head kick by Smygare.
Hemingway gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Smygare counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smygare.
Smygare wanted to stand there but Hemingway had control of the position.

Smygare is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Hemingway working for a triangle but Smygare defends it easily.

Hemingway looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smygare trying to control but Hemingway is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smygare chips away with some ground and pound.
Smygare scoring with some ground and pound.

Smygare avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Smygare thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Smygare must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smygare is looking to stand up but Hemingway won't let him.
Smygare postures up and lands a big shot to Hemingway's brow.

Hemingway is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Hemingway throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smygare landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hemingway has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smygare can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smygare stands up over Hemingway, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Smygare keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hemingway's head.

Hemingway has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smygare can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smygare trying to control the position from guard on top but Hemingway is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hemingway tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smygare stands up over Hemingway, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Smygare chips away with some ground and pound.

Hemingway working for a triangle but Smygare defends it easily.
Smygare works over Hemingway with some ground and pound from guard.
Smygare postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Smygare stands up from Hemingway's guard - Smygare perhaps looking for a knockout.
Hemingway misses with a takedown

and Smygare counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Smygare is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hemingway defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smygare thows a huge punch but Hemingway dodges it nicely.
Smygare prevents Hemingway from improving his position.
Smygare keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Hemingway is looking to improve his position.
Smygare is nestled in close to Hemingway, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Smygare drops an elbow to the side of Hemingway's head.
Hemingway has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Smygare is working away from the top position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Smygare throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hemingway's waist but Hemingway gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smygare off to one side.
Smygare tries to bum rush Hemingway with a series of wild strikes but Hemingway uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

And that's the end of the fight!
Birk Smygare comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smygare has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 William Gold scores the fight for Birk Smygare!
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for Birk Smygare!
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight for Birk Smygare!

Birk Smygare wins by unanimous decision!