PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rauta Kansleri (ranked 277 p4p, 40 weight class) and Joe Smith (ranked 290 p4p, 43 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Kansleri might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to U.D.O. - Heart of Gold. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Kansleri
vs
Smith

192 cm
33
193 lbs
28 - 13 - 0

183 cm
27
194 lbs
16 - 7 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

UnderGround Clothing Co.
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rauta Kansleri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Smith!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kansleri misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kansleri throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Smith unleashes a big counter combination but Kansleri bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Kansleri wants to land a leg kick but Smith is out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kansleri, as that shot connected.
Smith has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Kansleri staying out of range there.
Kansleri throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kansleri throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kansleri takes one to the chin there.
Kansleri takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Smith takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kansleri avoids the body shot from Smith.
Kansleri just misses with a punch to the body.
Kansleri turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rauta Kansleri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kansleri just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith ducks right into an uppercut from Kansleri.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith blocks the body kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Smith.
Smith wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kansleri keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kansleri throws a low kick but it's checked well by Smith.
Kansleri takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kansleri pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Smith looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A clash of legs there as Smith blocks the low kick.
Kansleri fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Smith has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kansleri takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kansleri connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kansleri gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Smith jabs Kansleri to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Some wild striking there from Kansleri.
Kansleri keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kansleri appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Kansleri misses with a lunging right hand
and Smith counters with a right hand to the body.
Kansleri fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
Smith throws a chopping leg kick but Kansleri manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Kansleri misses with an attempted mid kick.
Smith tests Kansleri's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kansleri fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Smith checks it well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kansleri connects with a good right hand that stumbles Smith. Smith circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kansleri swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith looks to land a right hand but Kansleri moved out of range.
Kansleri swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A jab from Kansleri misses.
Smith looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Smith throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kansleri stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kansleri takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Smith throws a nice inside leg kick.
A jab from Smith does it's job there.
Kansleri throws a body shot but no joy.
Kansleri misses the shot to the body.
Kansleri avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kansleri throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kansleri gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kansleri takes a swing at Smith's ribcage but misses.
Kansleri avoids the body shot from Smith.
As Smith backs away, Kansleri returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Kansleri throws a hook to the side of Smith's head but Smith sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A swing and a miss from Smith.
Kansleri ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Smith displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kansleri throws out the jab.
Smith scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kansleri works the jab nicely.
Smith uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kansleri.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Smith.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Good standup being displayed there by Kansleri as he connects with a hook.
Kansleri throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kansleri throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Smith cracks a nice hook into Kansleri's ribs.
Kansleri misses with an uppercut.
Kansleri looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
Smith let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
A low kick from Kansleri misses
letting Smith counter with a right hand.
Kansleri thows a left - swing and a miss!
Good work by Smith as he checks the leg kick.
Kansleri throws a leg kick but Smith moved away.
Smith feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kansleri's calf.
Kansleri's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Smith connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kansleri scrambles back to his feet.
Smith misses with a straight right.
A jab from Kansleri finds it's way through Smith's defenses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith connects with an inside leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Smith.
Kansleri blocks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith blocks a leg kick.
Kansleri bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kansleri avoids a kick to the body.
Kansleri throws a hook to the side of Smith's head but Smith sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smith on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kansleri uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kansleri.
Smith misses with a double jab.
Kansleri fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Smith has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kansleri scores with a nice head shot.
Kansleri fakes the leg kick and cracks Smith in the body.
Smith lands a slapping body shot.
Kansleri throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Smith counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kansleri 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.
It seemed like Smith was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Smith is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Kansleri had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith digs a good hook to Kansleri's body.
Smith throws a low kick but Kansleri moves out of range easily.
Kansleri throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Kansleri thows a body kick. Smith tries to catch it but that hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joe Smith will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A good leg kick by Kansleri.
Smith avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Smith tries a quick counter leg kick but Kansleri is wise to it.
Kansleri misses the shot to the body.
Kansleri on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
The fighters circling - Kansleri throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Smith takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Smith checks a leg kick.
Smith throws a jab but it's blocked by Kansleri.
Kansleri misses with an uppercut. Smith saw that one coming.
Kansleri backing away here, and Smith unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Smith slips under a jab.
A big right from Kansleri misses.
Kansleri moves out of range as Smith strikes.
Smith thuds his right hand into Kansleri's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kansleri, right into the meat.
Smith swings for the body but Kansleri moves out of range.
A left lands for Smith.
Kansleri throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kansleri finds it's way round the side to connect with Smith's head.
Smith scores with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body kick from Smith.
Smith misses with a hook. Kansleri ducked under it nicely.
Smith lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Jab from Kansleri.
Kansleri misses the jab.
Kansleri throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Smith counters with a stiff right hand.
Kansleri throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kansleri misses with a leg kick
and Smith makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Kansleri really felt that one!
Kansleri throws an off balance right hand
and Smith counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kansleri takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kansleri misses with a hook.
Smith bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kansleri checks a leg kick nicely.
Kansleri lands a front kick.
A punch lands to the side of Kansleri 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kansleri takes one to the side of the head.
Smith digs a good hook to Kansleri's body.
Smith is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Joe Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Smith connects with a right hand. Kansleri shakes it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Smith tenderised Kansleri's leg. Kansleri is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kansleri misses with a hook. Smith ducked under it nicely.
Smith looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Smith throws a big shot that misses.
A little feinted left hand from Kansleri on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kansleri takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kansleri throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Smith.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Kansleri lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Smith's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kansleri jabs at Smith's body.
Kansleri delivers a nice body kick.
That kick from Smith tenderised Kansleri's leg. Kansleri is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kansleri pivots, looking for a leg kick but Smith is out of range and Kansleri settles back down.
Kansleri walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Smith checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Smith missing with a left hand there. Kansleri was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kansleri moves out of range of the strikes.
A bone on bone clash there as Kansleri blocks the leg kick.
Kansleri throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Smith lands a glancing blow to the side of Kansleri's head.
Nice body punch from Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kansleri ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Smith lands with a hook. Kansleri tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Smith throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kansleri sees it coming and avoids it easily.
An inside leg kick lands from Smith.
Kansleri looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Smith blocks a head kick by Kansleri.
Kansleri ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Kansleri tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Smith is able to avoid easily.
A little jabbing left from Smith on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Smith lands a nice shot to the body.
Smith lands with a cross.
Kansleri takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Smith connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kansleri throws the kick towards the body but Smith avoids it.
Kansleri throws a head kick that misses.
Smith swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Smith pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A swing and a miss from Kansleri.
Kansleri throws a series of punches but Smith moves out of range.
Kansleri throws a leg kick but Smith sees it coming and moves out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kansleri takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a shot to the body.
Smith checks a leg kick.
Kansleri ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Kansleri fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Smith.
Kansleri lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kansleri misses with a hook.
Kansleri pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Smith connects with an inside leg kick.
Smith moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Smith connects with the punch.
Smith throws a leg kick but Kansleri sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kansleri throws a shot from downtown. Smith moves away and avoids it.
Kansleri walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kansleri takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kansleri throws out a powerful jab.
Smith lands a slapping body shot.
Kansleri throws a leg kick but Smith moved away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kansleri scores with a shot to the body.
Kansleri tries to score with a low kick but Smith moves his leg out of the way.
Smith fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kansleri on the side of the head.
Kansleri looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Smith unleashes a big counter combination but Kansleri bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Smith has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Kansleri.
Kansleri displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Smith throws out the jab.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Kansleri is just out of range.
Smith turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Smith fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kansleri looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
Smith feints a counter leg kick.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Kansleri.
Smith only half commits to the counter leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kansleri throws a wild body kick that Smith sees coming a mile off.
Kansleri connects with a leg kick. Smith looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Smith misses with an uppercut. Kansleri saw that one coming.
A little feinted left hand from Kansleri on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
An inside leg kick from Kansleri misses.
Kansleri lands a slapping body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kansleri doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kansleri doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Smith clinches with his opponent.
Kansleri has a couple of punches blocked by Smith.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smith.
Smith tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kansleri's elbow.
Smith is leaning against Kansleri and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kansleri wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
I was talking to Kansleri's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Smith blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smith.
Kansleri working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kansleri.
Smith is leaning against Kansleri and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kansleri misses with a punch on the inside.
Kansleri scores with a shot to the side of Smith's head.
Smith tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Smith tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rauta Kansleri has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kansleri tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Kansleri ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kansleri no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Kansleri working a defensive guard here.
Smith controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kansleri is trying to keep Smith in close.
Smith is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Smith is fighting to break Kansleri's control of his arms but Kansleri is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kansleri working a defensive guard here.
Kansleri pulls Smith in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Smith lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Smith slips under a jab.
Kansleri stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Smith.
Smith takes one to the chin there.
Kansleri fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kansleri throws the left hand but Smith avoids the punch easily.
Smith connects with the punch.
Kansleri swings widly with a right hand
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.
Smith lands with a straight right. Kansleri didn't see that one coming.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kansleri tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kansleri throws a head kick that misses.
Kansleri throws a predictable looking body shot
and Smith counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith throws a leg kick which misses Kansleri's front leg but catches the back leg as Kansleri tries to avoid it.
A low kick from Kansleri misses
and Smith connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kansleri throws a leg kick but Smith checks it.
Kansleri on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kansleri takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Smith with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kansleri jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Smith bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kansleri has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Smith.
Smith connects with a body shot that sends Kansleri's belly button to the back.
Kansleri misses with a body kick.
A little jabbing left from Smith on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kansleri lands a leg kick that knocks Smith off balance momentarily.
Smith catches Kansleri with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A big right from Kansleri misses.
Smith avoids the body shot from Kansleri.
Kansleri is looking to land body kicks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smith winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Smith!
An out of breath and clearly excited Joe Smith thanked IniTech Nutrition for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).