PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Noir (ranked 680 p4p, 492 weight class) and Chad Smith (ranked 110 p4p, 11 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Noir
vs
Smith

184 cm
33
173
17 - 11 - 1

185 cm
27
178
17 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
Brooklyn Apothecary

Altitude Clothing
Voodoo Nutrition

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 17 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Noir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chad Smith!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Noir manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Smith pushes Noir up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith lands an elbow that stopped Noir in his tracks for a moment.

Noir pulls guard successfully.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Noir has his foot on Smith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smith works his way back into a safe position though.

Noir is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Noir looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Noir looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Noir working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Noir controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Noir working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.

Noir looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Smith passes into side control.

That's two 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.
Noir is trying to get back to half guard.
Noir is letting Smith control him for a moment.
Smith is continuing to stall.
Noir is not content to let Smith control the position.
Smith controls the position from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Noir is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Noir's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Noir gets back to half guard.

That's four 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 looking to stall here but Noir recovers full guard.

Noir has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Smith is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Noir.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Noir. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Noir is trying to get back to half guard.
Smith looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Noir is avoiding damage well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Noir gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Chad Smith will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nice defenses there by Smith.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Noir.

Noir is trying to trip Smith. He has hold of a leg but Smith is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Noir persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Noir controlling from the top position.
Noir preventing the sweep.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noir wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith is looking to sweep but instead, Noir has passed into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith works his way to full guard. Good work.
Noir trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Noir throwing strikes but missing.
Noir trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Noir content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Noir working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Smith's head.
Noir 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.
Noir with a flurry of punches that miss.
Noir looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Noir looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Smith puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Noir tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Noir wants to control but Smith is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noir is trying to control but Smith passes into side control!
Noir is looking to reverse the position.
Noir gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Noir wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.

Noir is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Smith pulls his head out easily.
Noir slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Noir working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.

Noir looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Noir has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Noir dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Noir fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Noir throws the left hand but Smith avoids the punch easily.
Noir uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Smith has time to react.

Smith gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Smith lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Noir backwards.
Noir is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.
Noir is trying to pull guard but Smith turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Smith misses with a hook to the ribs.
Noir tries to circle away but Smith has him pinned against the cage.
Smith has a couple of punches blocked by Noir.
Smith throws a punch but it's blocked by Noir.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Noir as Smith tries to tie him up.
Noir 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. Noir gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Noir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Noir uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Smith throws a body shot but no joy.
Noir was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Smith throws a lazy uppercut
and Noir counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith has managed to clinch.
Noir goes for a takedown attempt but Smith pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Noir uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Smith.
Noir jabs Smith to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Smith waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Noir.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Noir throws a looping overhand right but Smith ducks down to avoid it.
Noir ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Noir.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Noir manages to avoid it.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Noir circles away.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Noir scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Smith throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Noir dodges an elbow strike from Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Noir scores with a nice short uppercut.
Smith can't find room to land a body shot as Noir controls the action.
A left hand lands to the body for Smith.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith tries to work over Noir's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Noir is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Smith is defending well.
Noir lands a left hand.
Noir lands a left hand.

Noir gets control of Smith's arms and successfully pulls guard. Noir will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Noir is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Noir trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Noir lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noir working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Noir being controlled here momentarily.
Noir is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Noir wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Noir.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Noir sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Smith's guard.
Noir performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Smith felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Smith tries to roll over but Noir keeps him under control.
Noir keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

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 James Noir.
I think Noir 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Noir!
A victorious James Noir thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.