PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ioannis Eftaxias (ranked 5046 p4p, 485 weight class) and Scott Smith (ranked 5102 p4p, 490 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Eftaxias
vs
Smith

175 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Inexperienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ioannis Eftaxias!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Scott Smith!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Columbo Gatti and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Eftaxias fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.
Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Eftaxias seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Eftaxias tries a head kick but it misses.

Smith drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Eftaxias is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Eftaxias is being controlled here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eftaxias is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Smith has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Smith working away.
Eftaxias is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.
Smith trying to control the action but Eftaxias is working from the bottom.
Eftaxias knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smith on the ground.
Smith content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Eftaxias!
Eftaxias is wriggling around trying to escape.

Smith is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Eftaxias is surviving well by controlling Smith's body position as best he can.
Smith trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eftaxias tries to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
Eftaxias taking shots to the head.
Smith looking to control but Eftaxias is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Smith throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Eftaxias tries to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eftaxias is trying desperately to improve position.
Smith wants to control the pace but Eftaxias is squirming around nicely.
Eftaxias tries to reverse the position but Smith maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
It looks like Smith might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Smith in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Eftaxias tries to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
Eftaxias manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith trying to control the action but Eftaxias is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Eftaxias cracks a nice hook into Smith's ribs.

Smith gets a clinch.
Smith misses with a hook to the ribs.
Eftaxias jumps guard but Smith turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Smith decides to pull guard.
Smith looking to control.
Smith should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith seems keen to control Eftaxias's posture.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Scott Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Eftaxias keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Smith is fighting to break Eftaxias's control of his arms but Eftaxias is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Eftaxias working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Smith has passed into half guard!
Smith is taking a breather. Eftaxias says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Eftaxias is trying to get back to full guard.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Eftaxias's head.
Smith not doing much here.
Smith wants to stand but Eftaxias has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Eftaxias tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith seems to be working for a kimura but Eftaxias defends the submission attempt.
Smith wants to free his trapped foot but Eftaxias is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Eftaxias is staying active underneath Smith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Eftaxias shoots in and drives through. Smith sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Eftaxias.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ioannis Eftaxias. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Eftaxias shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Eftaxias feints a jab promting Smith to slip. Eftaxias then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Smith slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Eftaxias keeps the fight on the outside.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Eftaxias enables Smith to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Eftaxias manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Smith controlling from the top position.
Smith would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith lands with an overhand left.

Smith has closed the distance and engaged Eftaxias in a clinch.
Eftaxias jumps guard but Smith stands there with Eftaxias around his waist. Eftaxias gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Eftaxias is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Smith is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Eftaxias gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Smith lands a takedown into guard.
Eftaxias wants to get back to his feet but Smith passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Eftaxias is concentrating on defense, preventing Smith from advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith prevents Eftaxias from improving his position.
Smith is keen to just control but Eftaxias is a slippery customer.
Smith slips a nice elbow through Eftaxias's hands, connecting with Eftaxias's forehead.
Eftaxias is in trouble now - Smith has advanced to mount!
Smith wants to control the pace but Eftaxias is squirming around nicely.
Smith is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Smith content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Eftaxias is surviving well by controlling Smith's body position as best he can.
Smith landing strikes from the mount and Eftaxias is in trouble!
Smith working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Eftaxias is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Eftaxias is in a horrible position here. Smith smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Smith avoids the attempt from Eftaxias to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to control but Eftaxias is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Eftaxias defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Smith.
Eftaxias wants to control but Smith is having none of it.
Smith lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Smith looking to finish Eftaxias with some ground and pound. This is bad for Eftaxias!
Eftaxias is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith working the ground and pound effectively.
Smith controlling his opponent.
Eftaxias wants to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Smith is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Eftaxias is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Eftaxias flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Smith anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Eftaxias and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Smith slips an arm under Eftaxias chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Smith has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Smith is squeezing on Eftaxias like an anaconda would it's prey. Eftaxias fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Scott Smith!