PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Scar Ambe (ranked 1403 p4p, 165 weight class) and James Smith (ranked 793 p4p, 102 weight class). Ambe kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Gunna - The World is Yours. Scar Ambe had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Ambe
vs
Smith

177 cm
27
160 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

176 cm
27
164 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
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 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Scar Ambe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, James Smith!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Santiago Holmes and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ambe gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ambe lands with a right to the head.
Ambe is struggling to control the position.
A left hand lands to the body for Ambe.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ambe takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Ambe avoiding damage as Smith throws knees to the body.
Ambe stalling in the clinch.
Ambe gets underhooks to prevent Smith's takedown attempt.
Ambe is stalling here.
Ambe throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Smith letting Ambe take a breather here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ambe avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ambe tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
Ambe is pressed up against the cage. Smith has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ambe down to the mat. Ambe avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Scar Ambe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Smith.
Smith has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ambe as he avoids it easily.

Ambe gets a clinch.
Nice body punch from Ambe - that landed with a thud.
A right hand to the body from Ambe.
Smith misses with the head strike.

Ambe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ambe clinches.
Smith is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ambe is defending well.
Ambe lands a right hand.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Ambe lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Ambe wants to take a breather but Smith is having none of it.
Ambe sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Smith defending well though.
Ambe is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith wants to control but Ambe is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ambe working some strikes from top position.
Smith trying to control the position.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith seems keen to control Ambe's posture.
Smith has momentary wrist control but Ambe slips an elbow through the middle.
Ambe working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Smith's head.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Ambe from controlling successfully.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Temp Spar Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

Smith looking for a guillotine here but Ambe defends easily.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ambe slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ambe wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ambe is one step ahead there.
Smith is trying to control the position but Ambe postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ambe scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Ambe forces Smith back against the cage and clinches.
Ambe content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ambe pushes Smith back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Smith missing with knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ambe as Smith tries to tie him up.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ambe.
Smith is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ambe is defending well.
Ambe effectively controlling the action here.
Ambe will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Smith up against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Ambe as the two fighters clinch.
Smith wants a takedown.
Ambe lands a shoulder strike.
Smith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A short body shot lands from Ambe as the two fighters clinch.

Ambe breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scar Ambe dominated that round.
That's time! Ambe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ambe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ambe wants it to stay on the feet.
Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Ambe closes the distance and pushes Smith back into the cage.
Smith trying to control the position but instead, Ambe has worked for underhooks and has pushed Smith into the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Ambe has Smith pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Ambe pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Smith tumbling to the mat - Ambe dives into Smith's guard.
Ambe has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Smith is trying to keep Ambe in close.
Ambe has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ambe wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Ambe keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Smith's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ambe throws a big right hand that misses.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Smith holds on and takes a little breather.
Ambe wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith looking to control.
Ambe wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith wants to sweep here but Ambe controlling him for the moment.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Ambe from controlling successfully.
Ambe lands a couple of digs.
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.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ambe trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Ambe works over Smith with some ground and pound from guard.
Ambe content to stall in guard here.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Ambe from controlling successfully.
Ambe's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ambe won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Ambe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ambe makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Smith trying to control the position.
Ambe is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Smith lands a couple of digs.
Ambe manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.

Ambe throwing strikes but missing.
Ambe trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ambe looking for a sweep. Not yet Ambe, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ambe working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ambe's head.
Ambe keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith is working Ambe over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Smith chips away with some ground and pound.
Ambe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.

Ambe looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ambe is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.
Scar Ambe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ambe is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scar Ambe dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith takes one on the button.

Ambe clinches with his opponent.
Smith changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ambe fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Ambe has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
Ambe lands a nice uppercut.
Scar Ambe has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A short body shot lands from Ambe as the two fighters clinch.

Ambe gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Smith is not content to let Ambe control the position.
Nice strikes from Ambe there.
Ambe throwing shots but Smith is blocking nicely.
Ambe lands strikes from half guard.
Smith is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ambe's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ambe's back!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith controlling well, preventing Ambe from escaping the position.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands punches and elbows.
Smith lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Smith.
Ambe tries to roll but Smith sticks to his back.
Ambe manages to reverse the position and now he's in Smith's guard. Nice work there by Ambe.
Smith wants to hit a switch here but Ambe passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Smith there!
Ambe is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?
Ambe with a couple of short strikes.
Smith is in all sorts of trouble here.
Ambe tries to control but Smith wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith working to try and regain half guard.
Ambe working Smith over with strikes here.
Scar Ambe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ambe looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Ambe lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Smith is squirming around, avoiding Ambe's attempts to control the action.
Smith tries to hold on but Ambe postures up.
Ambe tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ambe raining down shots from the mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ambe content just to control the position here.
The referee warns Smith that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Ambe landing punches.
Ambe trying to control but Smith is having none of it.
Ambe landing strikes from the mount.
Smith is squirming around, avoiding Ambe's attempts to control the action.
Smith is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ambe postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Smith looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith can't escape the position.
Smith 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.
Ambe not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Smith manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
Ambe's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ambe working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ambe controlling from the top position.
Smith keeping full guard, as Ambe tries to pass.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scar Ambe showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ambe 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scar Ambe!
Scar Ambe decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.