PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Baker Smith (ranked 3277 p4p, 348 weight class) and Marcus Ribeiro (ranked 4514 p4p, 455 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Ribeiro

180 cm
25
170 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

164 cm
25
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Baker Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marcus Ribeiro!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Peter Branson and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ribeiro sprawls well. Ribeiro wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Ribeiro stuffs the takedown attempt from Smith. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Smith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ribeiro tries to avoid it but Smith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ribeiro to the ground. Ribeiro escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Baker Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ribeiro misses with a body punch
and Smith counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Ribeiro is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A slapping body kick lands there for Smith.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ribeiro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.

Smith dives in and scores a takedown into Ribeiro's guard.

Ribeiro had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to control but Ribeiro is working from the bottom.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ribeiro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Smith is fighting to break Ribeiro's control of his arms but Ribeiro is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Ribeiro throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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.
Ribeiro looking for a sweep. Not yet Ribeiro, not yet.
Ribeiro seems keen to control Smith's posture.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ribeiro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ribeiro trying to control the position.
Ribeiro looking for a sweep. Not yet Ribeiro, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ribeiro is looking for a triangle here but Smith uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ribeiro is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ribeiro can't do much from the bottom here.
Smith wants to control but Ribeiro is keeping him busy.
Smith misses with the ground and pound.
Smith looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's four 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 looking to control but instead Ribeiro has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Ribeiro 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!

Ribeiro is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Smith is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Marcus Ribeiro!
An out of breath Marcus Ribeiro thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.