PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between James Smith (ranked 791 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tan Zan (ranked 464 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Zan

176 cm
27
164 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

172 cm
27
164 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, James Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tan Zan!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, David Hoff and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Smith lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Smith looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Zan is looking to improve his position.
Smith definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Smith passes into side control, despite Zan's attempt to control the position.
Smith throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith working the head and body with strikes.
Smith working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Zan is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.
Zan is trying to control Smith's posture but Smith avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zan takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Smith controls the position.
Zan tries to buck Smith off but Smith is having none of it.
Zan struggling a bit here.
Smith working the head and body with strikes.
Zan struggling a bit here.
Zan takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Smith trying to control the action but Zan is working from the bottom.
Smith is putting a hurting on Zan here, landing some big shots from side control.
Smith has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zan tries to buck Smith off but Smith is having none of it.
Smith in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Zan taking a bit of punishment here - Smith scoring with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zan is trying to improve his position.
Smith cracks Zan with a big elbow.
Zan wants to control but Smith postures up.
Smith grinds an elbow into Zan's temple.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Zan can't do much from the bottom here.
Zan on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Smith cracks Zan with a big right hand but Zan just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Smith tries for a kimura but Zan is defending well.
Check out the look on Smith's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zan looks to move to half guard but instead Smith has passed into mount! Damn!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Smith cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Zan taking shots to the head.
Zan is in a horrible position here. Smith smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Smith cracks Zan with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Smith in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Smith landing shots from mount.

Zan is rocked!
Zan can't escape the position.
Smith with the ground and pound from mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zan can do anything to dispel that myth.
A nice elbow there by Smith.
Zan is still in real trouble! Can Smith finish him?
Smith has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Zan's face.
Zan tries to hold on but Smith postures up.
Zan seems to have recovered his senses.
Smith trying to control but Zan is having none of it.
Zan working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Smith dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Smith with a poor takedown
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
Zan lands a nice looking body shot.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt
letting Zan counter with a right hand.

It looks like James Smith has been cut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zan circles away.
Zan works Smith's body with a nice hook.
James Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith has his takedown stuffed
letting Zan counter with a right hand.
Smith takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Zan stuns Smith with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Smith doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith misses with a takedown attempt
and Zan counters with a left to the body.
Smith gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Zan.
Nice uppercut there from Zan.
Zan works Smith's body with a nice hook.
Zan sizes up Smith with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zan as he avoids it easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Zan! But no joy.
Smith takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Smith is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zan can do to turn this around?
Zan fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Smith on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zan scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Smith doesn't seem bothered though.
A jab from Zan does it's job there.
Zan slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Smith gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Zan listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Zan lands a nice hook to Smith's body. Smith takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Zan lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Zan lands a jab to Smith's midsection.
Smith is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zan connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Tan Zan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice shot lands for Zan.
Smith takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Smith doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Smith shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zan pinned against the cage. Zan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zan throws out a counter right but Smith avoids it with no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
Zan now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Smith on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.
Zan throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Zan jabs at Smith's body.
Zan thuds a left hand into Smith's body.
Zan connects with a body shot.
Smith dives in for a single leg takedown but Zan sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Zan let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
A jab from Zan finds it's way through Smith's defenses.
Zan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Zan scores with the left hand. Smith knows he should have avoided that one.
Zan thuds a left hand into Smith's body.
James Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries for a takedown but Zan circles away easily
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tan Zan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zan works the jab nicely.
Zan thuds a left hand into Smith's body.
Zan changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Smith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Zan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Smith fails with the takedown
and Zan counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Zan connects with a good right hand that stumbles Smith. Smith circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Smith with a lazy takedown attempt
and Zan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zan lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Smith at a distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zan scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheers as Zan lands an impressive looking overhand right. Smith doesn't seem phased though.
Zan with a hook.
Zan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Zan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Smith takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Smith on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Zan works Smith's body with a nice hook.
Smith fails with the takedown
and Zan counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Zan lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Smith fails with the takedown.
A left lands for Zan.
Zan lands with an uppercut that bounces Smith off the cage and back into range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zan lands a jab to the nose.
Smith fails with the takedown
and Zan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Smith is rocked!
Zan lands the left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tan Zan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on James Smith's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Smith has a takedown stuffed.
Zan is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Smith with a body shot.

Zan gets caught napping as Smith dives in and scores a takedown. Zan manages to retain guard.
Smith is working Zan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Zan has Smith pulled in close to control his posture.
Smith prevents Zan from getting back to his feet.
Smith stands up over Zan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Smith landing with the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zan's head.
Smith lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Zan is adopting a defensive guard.
Smith advances position into side control!
Smith works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Smith in the domination position with Zan hanging on.
Smith works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Zan tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zan taking a bit of punishment here - Smith scoring with strikes.
Zan is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.
Smith creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Smith in side control lands a decent elbow.
Smith looks up at the clock and then as Zan takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Smith smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Zan can't do much from the bottom here.
James Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith working the ground and pound.
Smith remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Zan can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Zan is trying to control Smith's posture but Smith avoids it.
Smith scoring with punches from side control.
Tan Zan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zan on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Smith is putting a hurting on Zan here, landing some big shots from side control.
Zan tries to bench press Smith off him but Smith keeps the position.
Smith grinds an elbow into Zan's temple.
Smith tries to advance to mount but Zan denies him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith working the ground and pound.
Smith lands a nice forearm strike.
Zan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Smith working the ground and pound.
Smith in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Smith cracks Zan with a big right hand but Zan just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Smith lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Zan is trying to improve his position.
Zan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith working the head with strikes.
Smith working the ground and pound from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight for Tan Zan!
Judge David Hoff scores the fight for Tan Zan!
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Tan Zan!

Tan Zan wins by unanimous decision!
Tan Zan decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.