PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Buse Mann (ranked 1773 p4p, 196 weight class) and Aaron Smith (ranked 2966 p4p, 270 weight class). Mann comes into the arena with For Heavy Metal we will die! blaring out of the sound system. Smith has chosen Lonely Train by Black Stone Cherry as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Mann
vs
Smith

198 cm
26
234 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

195 cm
27
280 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Buse Mann!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aaron Smith!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Radbod Blank and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A thudding body kick lands there by Smith!
Smith throws an overhand right that lands on Mann's shoulder, as Mann tries to avoid the shot.
Mann is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Smith swings widly with a right hand
and Mann connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A clash of legs there as Mann blocks the low kick.
Smith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mann tries to avoid it but Smith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mann to the ground. Mann escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Mann gets caught flat footed, as Smith shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Smith wants to control from the top but Mann keeps moving.
Mann is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Smith looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mann keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Mann is retaining full guard.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Mann is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith forces his way into half guard.
Smith is looking to stall here but Mann recovers full guard.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Smith controlling from the top position.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Mann is keeping the position.
Smith is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Mann can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smith controls the pace.
Mann wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Mann takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith moves to clinch but Mann breaks away
and Mann counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Aaron Smith has been cut.
Smith misses with an uppercut. Mann saw that one coming.
Smith shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Good leg kick by Mann there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith throws an off balance right hand
and Mann counters with a left to the body.
Mann ducks right into an uppercut from Smith.
Mann scores with a push kick.
Mann slips a jab from Smith.
It appears Mann was looking to counter with a kick there.
Mann lands a jab to the head.
Smith on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Mann throws a hook but Smith blocks it.
Smith dives in for a single leg takedown but Mann sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mann tries to avoid it but Smith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mann to the ground. Mann escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Buse Mann has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Smith.
A solid leg kick lands there for Mann.
Mann misses with a straight left.
Mann moves out of range of the strikes.
Aaron Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice cross by Mann.
Smith misses with a double jab.
Mann lands a nice looking body shot.
Mann smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mann but Mann pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smith misses with a right hand
and Mann counters with a nice body kick.
Smith takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Buse Mann is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Mann lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Smith has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Smith and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Smith feints a counter leg kick.
Mann uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Smith.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buse Mann dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aaron Smith's cut.
That's time! Mann's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Mann counters with a left to the body.
Smith has his takedown stuffed

and Mann counters with a crisp right hand that drops Smith! Mann lets Smith back up to his feet, looking for a finish!

Smith is rocked!
Crunch! Mann slams his shin into Smith's torso.
Mann ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Smith shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mann pinned against the cage. Mann gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Buse Mann has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Smith.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Oooooh!!! Mann has knocked Smith down with a huge combo! Mann steps away and waves a wobbly Smith back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Smith is still on wobbly legs! Can Mann finish him?
Mann misses with an attempted mid kick.
Smith seems to have recovered his senses.
Mann takes one to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Mann swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mann turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Mann.
Mann went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Smith throws a lazy right hand but Mann sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Smith walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Mann checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mann's waist but Mann gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smith off to one side.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mann enables Smith to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mann manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Mann pulls Smith in to control the position.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mann knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smith on the ground.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Mann is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mann is controlling Smith's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control but Mann is working from the bottom.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Mann gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Mann here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smith is on top in guard.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mann keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Mann has Smith pulled in close to control his posture.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mann is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mann is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mann slips a jab from Smith.
Mann avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smith throws a hook but Mann blocks it.
Mann fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
Smith throws a right hand that Mann ducks under and follows up with a left that Mann also avoids with ease.

Mann gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Smith to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Smith throws a strike but Mann rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buse Mann dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Aaron Smith's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Smith showed some decent athleticism there.
Smith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Smith wants to take a breather but Mann is having none of it.
Ground and pound from Smith.
Aaron Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Smith misses with a head shot. Mann uses the momentum to regain guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mann is adopting a defensive guard.
Mann looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith stands and throws Mann's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Smith controlling the position.
Smith in side control lands a decent elbow.

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.
Smith is trying to ground and pound but Mann uses the momentary lack of control by Smith to regain half guard.
Smith is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Mann!
Smith throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Smith content just to control the position here.

Smith jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Mann is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Mann and Smith has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Mann tries to improve position but can't.
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.
Smith tries to advance to mount but can't.
Smith lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Mann down.
Smith working away.
Smith wants to control but Mann is keeping him busy.
Mann prevents Smith from moving into mount.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mann keeps working.
Mann is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.
Smith trying to control the action but Mann is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smith working the ground and pound.
Mann prevents Smith from improving position.
Smith advances nicely into full mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith looking to ground and pound but Mann is blocking nicely.
Mann is desperately trying to improve his position but Smith has a good base and remains in mount.
Aaron Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith scores with a couple of good head shots there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aaron Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mann 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Buse Mann!
Buse Mann decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
Aaron Smith was interviewed post fight and said 'No one likes seeing their opponent's hand raised, but that just means that they were the better man today. My team at 3Band MMA and I will break down this match and make the proper changes for my next camp.'.