PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Reynaldo Spence (ranked 6541 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Smith (ranked 4872 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Spence
vs
Smith

178 cm
21
278 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Good low kicks
Heavy handed

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Reynaldo Spence!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sam Smith!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Micheangelo Fripello and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Spence shows good takedown defense.
Smith lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Reynaldo Spence has been cut.

Smith drives through and clinches with Spence against the cage.
Spence fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Spence jumps guard and drags Smith to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Smith sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Spence trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Spence 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith trying to stand up but can't free himself from Spence's guard.
Spence looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Spence throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spence is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Smith wants to get back to full guard.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Spence. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Spence is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Spence could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Spence is working away from the top position though.

Spence decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Smith fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Spence, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to pull guard but Spence forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Smith looking to slow down the pace here.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Smith keeps control of Spence as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Spence pulls Smith into guard.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Spence looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Spence is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spence looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Spence throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Spence is keeping the position.
Spence might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Spence tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Spence trying to strike off his back.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Spence's head.

Spence is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.

Spence has his feet on Smith's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Smith looks winded!
Smith misses with a few strikes there.
Spence tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Smith manages to circle out of the way.
Spence shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries for a takedown but Spence circles away easily
letting Spence counter with a right hand.
Reynaldo Spence has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Smith.
A punch combination from Smith misses.
Spence throws a quick counter head kick but Smith was just out of range.
Spence shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smith pinned against the cage. Smith gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Smith is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Spence leaves Smith with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Spence is looking to counter punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Reynaldo Spence will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Reynaldo Spence's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Spence moves into the clinch.
Spence misses with some punches.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith throws a good cross that connects.
Spence showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith clinches.

Spence ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Spence no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spence has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Smith off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Spence tries to break the clinch but Smith is controlling the position.

Spence jumps guard and drags Smith to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Spence trying to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smith thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Spence thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Spence bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spence landing with the ground and pound.
Spence is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Spence defends well.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Spence controls the pace.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Spence's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Spence drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Spence jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spence seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Spence pushing down on Smith's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Spence stands up and beckons Smith to join him on the feet.
Spence slips a straight right by Smith.

Spence scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Spence is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?

Spence stands up.
Sam Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying hard to land a takedown here. Spence sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Spence is looking to counter with head kicks.

Spence has Smith up against the cage in a clinch.

Spence gets control of Smith's arms and successfully pulls guard. Spence will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Spence throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Spence is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Spence.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Spence not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Spence is on top in guard.

Spence decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reynaldo Spence dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Reynaldo Spence's cut.
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 throws a predictable looking body shot
and Spence counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Smith scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Spence tries to clinch
and Smith counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Spence closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. Spence pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Smith wants to counter with a clinch but Spence pushes him away.

Smith rushes Spence and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Spence successfully pulls guard.
Smith passes Spence's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Smith wants to control but Spence is keeping him busy.
Spence striking from the bottom.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Spence throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Spence gets full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Spence is on top in guard.

Smith is working an open guard so Spence takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Sam Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Spence defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smith.
Spence misses with a head kick.

Spence clinches up with Smith and pushes him back against the cage.
Spence tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spence jumps guard but Smith stands there with Spence around his waist. Spence gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reynaldo Spence. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Spence drags the fight down to the ground.
Smith won't allow Spence to sweep him here.

Spence is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Smith is working for takedown but Spence is calmly controlling the position for now.

Spence jumps guard and drags Smith to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Spence manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.

Spence decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Smith, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Spence. Those never looked like landing.

Spence drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Spence is in close to Smith's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Spence is in close to Smith's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Spence seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Spence scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spence sitting in guard here, content to control.
Spence chips away with some ground and pound.
Spence postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Spence decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Smith, up you get!

Spence looking to score a takedown here. Smith is defending well but Spence drives through and ends up in Smith's guard.
Spence works over Smith with some ground and pound from guard.
Sam Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Reynaldo Spence is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Spence controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reynaldo Spence showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Spence, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reynaldo Spence!