PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Golovin (ranked 4843 p4p, 3112 weight class) and Jabari Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 390 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Golovin might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Godflesh Deadhead . We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Golovin
vs
Smith

178 cm
20
160
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergey Golovin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jabari Smith!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksandr Martynov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Golovin throws a push kick but Smith slaps the foot to one side.
Smith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Golovin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Smith fails with the takedown.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Golovin slaps away a takedown attempt from Smith, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Golovin looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.

Golovin clinches with his opponent.
Smith tries to throw a body punch but Golovin avoids it by throwing Smith back against the cage.

Golovin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith throws a nice inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Golovin to the mat! Golovin manages to get full guard.
Golovin trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Golovin is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Smith presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Golovin is pressed up against the cage. Smith has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Golovin down to the mat. Golovin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sergey Golovin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jabari Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Golovin throws a head kick that misses.

Golovin clinches.
Golovin is trying to pull guard but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Golovin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No luck for Golovin with that takedown attempt.

Smith clinches with his opponent.
Golovin drops down looking for an ankle pick but Smith pulls his leg out and moves away.
Smith connects with a solid leg kick.
Smith tries to clinch up
and Golovin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith drives through with a takedown into guard.

Golovin has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Smith has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Golovin is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Smith to keep the fight standing.
Golovin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Smith gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Golovin avoids the damage to the body.
Golovin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Golovin manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Golovin holds on and takes a little breather.
Golovin wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.

Smith gets to his feet - Golovin follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Smith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Golovin holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Smith stops a takedown attempt from Golovin.
Golovin is breathing heavily.
Golovin jumps guard but Smith stands there with Golovin around his waist. Golovin gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Golovin tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.
Golovin is trying to pull guard but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Golovin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Smith avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Golovin dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Golovin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Golovin has Smith pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Golovin pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Smith tumbling to the mat - Golovin dives into Smith's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Smith manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a knee to the body.
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 breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Golovin goes for a double leg but Smith avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Smith continues to drive forward.
Golovin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Golovin fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Smith landing knees to the body.
Smith dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Golovin tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jabari Smith will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Smith.

Smith tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Smith has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Jabari Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Golovin is looking for a sweep.
Smith trying to control the action but Golovin is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Golovin tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Smith stands up and beckons Golovin to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Smith.
Smith with a nice calf kick.
Golovin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smith tries to avoid it but Golovin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smith to the ground. Smith escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Golovin shows good takedown defense.

Golovin drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith is looking for a sweep.
Smith tries to escape but Golovin is in control.
Golovin controls the position.
Smith regains half guard there - taking advantage of Golovin's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Golovin is stalling here. Smith is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Golovin seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Smith has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Smith controlling the position from side mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Smith is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Golovin is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Golovin wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Golovin tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Smith trying to control the position but Golovin is working away.
Golovin stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Golovin is trying to get back to half guard.
Golovin manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Smith with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Golovin trying to control here.

That's four 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.

Smith stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Smith slips a jab from Golovin.
Smith throws a nice outside leg kick.

Smith tries to keep at a distance but Golovin has taken the fight into the clinch.

Smith breaks the clinch.
Jabari Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith scores with a spinning back kick!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Some wild striking there from Golovin.
Sergey Golovin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jabari Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Golovin moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Golovin throws a leg kick but Smith sees it coming and moves out of range.
Smith thinks about the counter body kick.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Golovin avoids the body shot from Smith.
Golovin drops down looking for a counter takedown but Smith sprawls and moves away.
Smith shoots and misses

and Golovin counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Golovin.
Golovin gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Smith.

Golovin successfully pulls guard.
Golovin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith stops Golovin from standing up.
Golovin controlling Smith's posture.
Smith trying to control but Golovin is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Golovin manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Golovin goes for a takedown attempt but Smith pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Golovin lands with a shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Golovin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Sergey Golovin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jabari Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Smith. That's going to slow Golovin down.
Golovin swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Smith closes the distance and clinches up with Golovin, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes Golovin against the cage but Golovin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Golovin dives in and grabs Smith's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes down on Golovin's head and hops out.
Golovin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smith sprawls well. Smith wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Golovin gets slowly back to his feet.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Smith.
Smith connects with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Golovin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Smith defends it nicely.

Golovin drives through with a takedown into guard.
Golovin stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.

Smith pushes Golovin off and scrambles back to his feet.
Smith keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Golovin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.

Smith clinches up with Golovin and pushes him back against the cage.
Golovin being controlled against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Smith lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Smith wants to clinch up but Golovin keeps it at a distance.
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!

Golovin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Smith was covering up waiting for the punch and Golovin finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Smith can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Golovin controls the pace.
Golovin landing some decent shots from guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jabari Smith.
Well Smith has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jabari Smith!