PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Trevor Gamble (ranked 3262 p4p, 3289 weight class) and Ronny Smith (ranked 466 p4p, 467 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gamble
vs
Smith

190 cm
25
195
1 - 1 - 0

179 cm
25
195
1 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Trevor Gamble!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ronny Smith!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gamble is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, Gamble circles away and we're back to standing.

Gamble shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Smith is trying to defend but Gamble finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
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.
Gamble tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Gamble is looking to advance position but Smith won't allow it.
Smith trying to control but Gamble postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith wants to get back to full guard.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Gamble sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith has his hands clasped together around Gamble's back. He's all about the action.
Gamble with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Gamble prevents Smith from improving his position.
Gamble wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Gamble shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Gamble shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Gamble throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gamble wants to free his trapped foot but Smith is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Gamble seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Smith does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Gamble decides to return to a standing position.

Gamble fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Smith to the ground. Gamble is now in Smith's guard.
Gamble sitting in guard here, content to control.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith prevents Gamble from improving his position.
Gamble works his way to full guard. Good work.

Smith stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A combination from Gamble does no damage.
Smith shoots for a takedown but Gamble saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Trevor Gamble has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronny Smith.
Gamble rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Gamble walks into a stiff left hand from Smith.
Smith throws a one two combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gamble throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Gamble instigates a clinch.
Smith tries to pull guard but Gamble forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Gamble breaks the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gamble's waist but Gamble gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smith off to one side.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gamble shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
Smith just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromGamble.

Gamble moves into range and clinches up with Smith.
Gamble letting Smith take a breather here.
Gamble keeps control of Smith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Trevor Gamble dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gamble scores with a takedown into Smith's guard.
Gamble wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Gamble dives into side control.

Gamble tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gamble has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Smith!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gamble tries to control but Smith wriggling away.

Gamble working for a guillotine from mount but Smith is in no mood to give up.
Gamble unloads with some shots from mount but Smith bucks and avoids them well.
Smith tries to hold on but Gamble postures up.
Gamble misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gamble controlling the position easily from mount.

Gamble working for a submission but Smith is keeping him at bay.
Trevor Gamble overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gamble trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gamble is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?
Gamble misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Gamble prevents Smith from getting the reversal.
Gamble will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gamble looking to control but Smith is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith blocking the ground and pound.
Gamble controlling his opponent.
Gamble prevents Smith from getting the reversal.

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.
Gamble throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Gamble goes for an armbar but Smith turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Smith.
Gamble wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Gamble keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gamble is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Trevor Gamble dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith misses with a few strikes there.

Gamble drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.
Smith has Gamble pressed against the cage.
Smith has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gamble is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gamble fails to pull guard.
Gamble tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.
Smith has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Gamble after a bit of a struggle.
Smith gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gamble.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Trevor Gamble. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gamble breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gamble fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gamble, pushing him back against the cage.
Smith has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Gamble after a bit of a struggle.
Smith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gamble just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gamble is trying to drag Smith to the mat but Smith just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith throws a head kick that misses

and Gamble counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Gamble has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Smith regains guard immediately.
Gamble wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith kicks Gamble off and gets to his feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Smith enables Gamble to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Smith manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gamble forces his way into half guard.

Smith looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gamble with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.

Smith is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gamble pulls his head out easily.
Smith tries to roll over but Gamble keeps him under control.
Gamble missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Gamble sits in half guard.
Gamble controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Smith gets full guard.
Gamble with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gamble trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Smith throws a series of punches but Gamble avoids them all with ease.

Gamble closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Smith wants to control but Gamble is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ronny Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Trevor Gamble is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gamble trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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 Trevor Gamble.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gamble, 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Trevor Gamble!