PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Scott Smith (ranked 1711 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryo Tanaka (ranked 791 p4p, 92 weight class). Scott Smith could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ryo Tanaka's chin.

Smith
vs
Tanaka

175 cm
26
160 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

170 cm
27
155 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Scott Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ryo Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Sandra Marshall and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith shoots for a takedown but Tanaka saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Good standup being displayed there by Tanaka as he connects with a hook.
Tanaka has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Smith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tanaka tries to avoid it but Smith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tanaka to the ground. Tanaka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Scott Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanaka misses with a hook.
Tanaka connects with a body shot that sends Smith's belly button to the back.
Tanaka moves into range and connects with a jab.

Smith is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Tanaka's half guard.
Tanaka wants to control but Smith is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Tanaka looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Tanaka looking for submissions off his back.

Smith is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Smith definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is trying to control. Tanaka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Smith works his way into side control.

Smith thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Smith is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tanaka has escaped the position, nice work there.
Tanaka struggling a bit here.

Smith working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Tanaka is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith tries to advance to mount but Tanaka denies him.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
You can see the frustration on Tanaka's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Smith is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
You can see the frustration on Tanaka's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Smith wants to control but Tanaka is keeping him busy.
Smith advances to mount.
Smith trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Smith is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Tanaka has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Tanaka!
Tanaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Tanaka thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tanaka defends it easily.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Tanaka from controlling successfully.

Smith has his foot on Tanaka's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tanaka works his way back into a safe position though.
Tanaka wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Tanaka postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Smith had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tanaka defends it easily.
Tanaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tanaka drops back looking for a leg! Smith is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Smith manages to kick Tanaka off! Tanaka jumps back into Smith's 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 Scott Smith will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Tanaka fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Tanaka connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Smith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tanaka tries to avoid it but Smith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tanaka to the ground. Tanaka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tanaka cracks Smith with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Tanaka changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt - Tanaka sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tanaka lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tanaka but Tanaka pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Scott Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ryo Tanaka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tanaka misses with a kick to the body.

Oh, that's a big right hand from Tanaka and Smith goes tumbling to the canvas! Tanaka follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.

Smith is rocked!

It looks like Scott Smith has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Smith looking for submissions off his back.
Oh Smith is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Tanaka is trying to work for a kimura but Smith is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tanaka is working for a submission of some sort.

Tanaka is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Smith seems to have got his legs back now.

Tanaka seems to be working for a kimura but Smith defends the submission attempt.
Smith is looking to control Tanaka's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smith avoid being mounted?
Smith regains full guard. Nicely done.

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Smith working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tanaka doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tanaka manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tanaka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to sweep here but Tanaka controlling him for the moment.
Tanaka wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Tanaka wants to get up but he can't break Smith's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Tanaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Scott Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tanaka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tanaka trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Tanaka wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
Tanaka wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Tanaka drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tanaka jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Tanaka drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Smith manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Tanaka has Smith in his guard.

Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Tanaka working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.
Smith wants to control from the top but Tanaka keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.
Smith trying to control but Tanaka is working from the bottom.
Tanaka is pulling down on Smith's head to control his posture.
Tanaka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smith showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Tanaka trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryo Tanaka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Scott Smith's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Tanaka gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A right hand to the body from Tanaka.
Tanaka's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Smith jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Tanaka walks away with a smile on his face. Smith gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tanaka lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Smith darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith is thwarting Tanaka's attempts to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanaka is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Smith is trying to control. Tanaka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Smith wants to work for an arm triangle but Tanaka is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith seems to be working for a kimura but Tanaka defends the submission attempt.

Smith looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Well, if Smith is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Tanaka keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Tanaka is defending well.
Well,Smith is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?

That's two 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.

Tanaka looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Tanaka controlling the position for now.
Smith trying to mount his opponent but Tanaka defends it.

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

Smith is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Tanaka wants to control but Smith is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka 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!
I really don't envy Smith right now.

Tanaka working for a choke but Smith is defending well.
Smith breaks Tanaka's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Tanaka is trying to keep Smith in close.

Smith drops back looking for a leg! Tanaka is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tanaka manages to kick Smith off! Smith jumps back into Tanaka's guard.
Tanaka keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
Tanaka is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith trying to control but Tanaka is working from the bottom.

Smith got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tanaka has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smith has managed to get both his arms back between Tanaka's legs - danger averted.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Scott Smith.
I think Smith 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 Peter Branson scores the fight for Ryo Tanaka!
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight for Ryo Tanaka!
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight for Ryo Tanaka!

Ryo Tanaka wins by unanimous decision!
Ryo Tanaka seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.