PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ben Smith (ranked 1992 p4p, 206 weight class) and Satoru Yoshioka (ranked 1630 p4p, 177 weight class). Smith comes to the ring accompanied by Bleached - Hard to Kill. Ben Smith could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Satoru Yoshioka's chin.

Smith
vs
Yoshioka

170 cm
25
150 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Paradigm

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ben Smith!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Satoru Yoshioka!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Santiago Holmes and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Smith lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Smith breaks from the clinch.

Smith has managed to clinch.
Smith working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short right from Smith on the inside.
Yoshioka's coach down at Island Sparring was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Yoshioka's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Yoshioka fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Smith lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Yoshioka is looking to control Smith's arms but Smith gets an underhook and turns him. Now Yoshioka has his back to the ropes.
Smith is trying to stall.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Smith throws a series of punches but Yoshioka moves out of range.
Yoshioka changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Smith has managed to clinch.
Smith scores with a shoulder strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice left hand lands by Smith.
Yoshioka is looking to control Smith's arms but Smith gets an underhook and turns him. Now Yoshioka has his back to the ropes.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Smith drives through and clinches with Yoshioka against the ropes.

Smith breaks the clinch.
Smith misses with an uppercut. Yoshioka saw that one coming.
Yoshioka wants to counter the offense by Smith and move into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshioka slips under a jab from Smith.
Smith is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Smith bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Yoshioka's head.

Smith instigates a clinch.
Smith scores with a shot to the side of Yoshioka's head.
Yoshioka wants to stall.
Smith is trying to maintain a safe position but Yoshioka gets an underhook and turns Smith into the ropes.
Smith swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The referee calls for Smith to work.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Smith throws a jab when Yoshioka was well out of range.
Yoshioka steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Smith.

Yoshioka closes the distance and clinches.
Smith lands with a left to the head.
Yoshioka jumps guard but Smith stands there with Yoshioka around his waist. Yoshioka gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Yoshioka stalling in the clinch but Smith improves position.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Yoshioka is trying to pull guard but Smith has him pressed against the ropes.
Ben Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Satoru Yoshioka.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yoshioka is looking to control Smith's arms but Smith gets an underhook and turns him. Now Yoshioka has his back to the ropes.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Smith as Yoshioka tries to tie him up.
Smith scores with a shot to the side of Yoshioka's head.
Smith blocks the elbow strike.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Yoshioka 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 takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Smith seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Ben Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Yoshioka takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

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

Ben Smith dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Yoshioka gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Smith looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Smith throws a looping overhand right but Yoshioka ducks down to avoid it.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yoshioka manages to avoid it.
A left lands for Smith.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Yoshioka.
Ben Smith has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Smith clinches up with Yoshioka and pushes him back against the ropes.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith misses the jab.
Yoshioka is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Smith throws a body shot but no joy.
Yoshioka drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Smith defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Yoshioka taking a breather.
Yoshioka tries to pull guard but Smith holds him up against the ropes and eventually Yoshioka drops back down to his feet.
Smith working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Ben Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Smith scores with a decent looking hook.

Smith has Yoshioka up against the ropes in a clinch.
Yoshioka swings wildly with an uppercut but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Smith scores with a nice hook to the head.
Yoshioka taking a breather.
Yoshioka wants to stall.
Smith working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Yoshioka jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Smith walks away with a smile on his face. Yoshioka gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A big right from Smith misses.
Nice uppercut lands for Smith. That snapped Yoshioka's head back.

Smith clinches up against the ropes.

Yoshioka successfully pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Yoshioka working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.
Smith 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.
Yoshioka is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.

Yoshioka pushes a forearm under Smith's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Smith is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Satoru Yoshioka!
Satoru Yoshioka is the new featherweight champion!
Satoru Yoshioka decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.