PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Russell Forster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Forster

175 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Russell Forster!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Elvis Blanc and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Forster showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.
Forster scores with a kick to the body.
Forster keeps the fight on the outside.

Forster looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Smith!

Forster working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Smith is looking to improve his position but Forster isn't that keen on the idea.
Forster working the ground and pound effectively.
Smith is looking to get to half guard.
Smith tries to buck Forster off but Forster takes his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Forster is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Forster gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Forster gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Forster apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Smith misses with a takedown

and Forster counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Smith!

Forster is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Smith is surviving well by controlling Forster's body position as best he can.
Forster controlling the position easily from mount.
Forster can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Smith is looking to escape.
Forster controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is wriggling around trying to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Forster trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Forster won't let Smith get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Forster cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Smith is trying desperately to improve position.
Smith regains half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to stand up here but Forster is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Forster is controlling the pace.
Smith wants to get back to full guard.
Forster prevents Smith from standing back up.
Forster is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Forster stands up from half guard.

Smith clinches.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt

and Forster counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Smith's guard now.

Smith wriggles free and stands up.

Smith darts in and clinches Forster up against the cage.

Smith breaks the clinch.

Smith feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
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!
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Forster working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Smith wants to stand but Forster has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Forster is keeping the position for now.
Smith distracts Forster with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith pushes down on Forster's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Smith is nestled in close to Forster, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russell Forster dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Forster looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Forster pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Smith trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Forster passes into half guard.
Forster is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Forster pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Forster working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Smith wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Forster lands punches and elbows.
Forster is looking to control Smith but Smith is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Forster scores with punches from the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Forster connects with a big shot to the side of Smith's head.
Smith holding both Forster 's hands and preventing any damage.
Smith tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Smith is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Forster trying to control but Smith is having none of it.
Smith tries to hold on but Forster pushes him away.
Forster pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Smith is in a horrible position here. Forster smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Forster looking to control but Smith is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Smith squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Smith throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Forster has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smith can't escape the position.

Forster looking to secure an arm triangle but Smith defends it well.
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You get the feeling that Smith really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Forster looking to control but Smith is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Smith is looking to get to half guard.
Forster landing punches.
Smith working to try and regain half guard.
Smith bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Forster is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smith is controlling him.
Smith has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Forster is proving hard to escape from.
Smith thows a big elbow that misses.
Forster pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Forster looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Forster looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Forster managing to control the position.

Forster is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Smith trying to control but Forster is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russell Forster showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Forster has a takedown stuffed.
Smith takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt
and Forster counters with a solid body kick.

Forster scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Smith wants to control but Forster is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Smith is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Forster's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Forster's back!
Smith looking to soften up his opponent with punches.

Smith is looking for the choke from the back position but Forster is controlling his hands well.
Smith scores with punches and elbows.

Forster is rocked!
Smith punishes Forster with strikes from the back mount.
Forster is still in real trouble! Can Smith finish him?

Smith is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Forster has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Forster takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Forster is trapped and Smith is scoring with shots to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Forster defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Smith working for the choke.
Russell Forster has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith keeps control of the position as Forster tries to break free.
Forster seems to have recovered his senses.
Smith misses with a punch to the head.
Smith is punishing Forster with strikes - can he finish him?!
Forster grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Smith not allowing Forster to control his hands.
Smith is landing with strikes from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Forster hold on?!
Forster tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Forster tries to lock up and control but Smith gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Smith thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Smith wants to finish this one by submission but Forster is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Smith.
Forster sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith throws a strike but Forster avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Smith decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A chopping leg kick lands by Smith.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Forster.
Mike Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith throws a nice outside leg kick.
Smith misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Forster tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Forster tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Forster circles away.
Forster misses with a two punch combination.

Forster closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Forster lands in his opponent's guard.
Smith wants to stand but Forster is controlling the position.
Smith keeping full guard, as Forster tries to pass.

Smith pushes Forster off and scrambles back to his feet.
Smith has his takedown stuffed

and Forster counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Smith!

Forster is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Smith has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Forster controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Forster looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Smith can't escape the position.
Smith is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
A nice elbow there by Forster.
Mike Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Forster stands up from mount. Strange move.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith throws a right hand that Forster ducks under and follows up with a left that Forster also avoids with ease.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Smith has taken the fight to the clinch.
Forster is trying to break free.
Forster wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Smith works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Forster tries to stall but Smith uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mike Smith.
I think Forster has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Russell Forster!