PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jake Smith (ranked 1678 p4p, 5713 weight class) and Bruno Gehard (ranked 224 p4p, 516 weight class). Gehard has chosen Scooter - Nessaja as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Smith
vs
Gehard

176 cm
23
155
8 - 4 - 0

184 cm
24
165
5 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Goblin Fight Wear
HARDCORE Threads

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jake Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bruno Gehard!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Nard Betker and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Smith misses its intended target.
Gehard slips a straight right by Smith.
Gehard turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Smith tries to bum rush Gehard with a series of wild strikes but Gehard uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Gehard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've been told by Smith's head coaches at Outlier Martial Arts that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Gehard throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
Smith was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gehard was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Gehard is just out of range.
Smith throws a series of punches but Gehard avoids them all with ease.
Gehard connects with a good right hand that stumbles Smith. Smith circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Smith pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A swing and a miss from Smith.
Gehard lands a two punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Gehard takes the fight into the clinch.
Gehard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Smith lands a nice uppercut.
Gehard lands with a light punch inside.
Smith avoids the elbow strike from Gehard, against the cage.

Gehard is fighting off a takedown attempt but Smith is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Gehard to the mat. Gehard regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Smith wants to control from the top but Gehard keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gehard wants to sweep but no luck.

Gehard 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.
Gehard wants to stand and escape but Smith is having none of it.

Smith drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Smith jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gehard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Gehard had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.
Smith is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Smith is fighting to break Gehard's control of his arms but Gehard is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Gehard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Gehard 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.
Smith is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Smith stands up over Gehard, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Gehard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smith postures up in Gehard's guard and throws a big left but Gehard blocks it.

Gehard looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smith works over Gehard with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith trying to control but Gehard is working from the bottom.

Gehard working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gehard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Gehard wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Gehard trying to control the position.
Smith stands up over Gehard, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Gehard throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smith landing with the ground and pound.
Smith cracks Gehard with a solid left hand.
Smith controls from within his opponent's guard.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gehard is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Smith is not content to let Gehard control the position.
Gehard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gehard is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Smith regains half guard.
Smith wants to improve his position but Gehard is controlling well.
Gehard performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Smith is staying active underneath Gehard, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gehard passes the guard and advances to mount!
Gehard punishing his opponent with strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bruno Gehard will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gehard is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, Gehard circles away and we're back to standing.
Gehard looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Nice shot by Gehard.

Gehard has Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gehard's coach down at Area 51 was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Gehard's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Smith blocks a body shot from Gehard.
Gehard lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Smith.
Gehard lands a left hand that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Smith is trying to drag Gehard to the mat but Gehard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gehard lands an uppercut.
Gehard tries to stall but Smith uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Smith is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gehard to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Smith. 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.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Gehard.
Gehard misses with the head strike.
Gehard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Smith struggles to land a body shot inside as Gehard controls his hands.

Smith lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith stops Gehard from getting back to his feet.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Smith connects with a nice short shot to Gehard's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gehard looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gehard manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gehard controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
Gehard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gehard has his hands on Smith's head, controlling the position.
Smith sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gehard's guard.
Gehard is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Smith scores with a couple of nice shots.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Gehard is defending well.
Jake Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gehard trying to control but Smith postures up.
Smith scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gehard is pressing down on Smith's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Gehard 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.

Gehard throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Gehard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gehard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
Gehard keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Gehard is keeping the position.
Gehard working a defensive guard here.

Gehard is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gehard is keeping the position for now.
Gehard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.
Gehard working a defensive guard here.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Gehard.
Gehard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Gehard 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Smith throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gehard scoring well with a low kick there.
Smith throws the kick towards the body but Gehard avoids it.
Gehard loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.
Smith on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Gehard digs a good body shot into Smith's ribs.
Smith lands a body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Gehard as Smith shoots in.
Smith swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gehard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Smith throws a big shot that misses.
Smith throws a body shot but no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. Gehard does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smith blocks a low kick nicely.
Bruno Gehard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big left from Gehard misses.
Smith connects with an inside leg kick.
Gehard scores with a jab to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bruno Gehard will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gehard scores with a crisp jab that stopped Smith in his tracks.
A shot to the liver by Smith. Beautiful body shot.
A slow jab from Smith misses its intended target.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice shot by Gehard.
Gehard has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Gehard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
It looked like Smith wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Smith scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Gehard is looking for a sweep.
Gehard struggling a bit here.
Gehard is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Smith lands a nice short elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Gehard actively working from the bottom here.
Smith lands with a punch from half guard.
Gehard is trying to get back to full guard.
Smith is trying to control. Gehard wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Smith slips a nice elbow through Gehard's hands, connecting with Gehard's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Gehard looking for submissions off his back.

Smith wants to work for an arm triangle but Gehard is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Smith is thwarting Gehard's attempts to control the position.
Smith prevents Gehard from improving his position.
Gehard keeping hold of Smith's head, controlling as best he can.

Gehard actively working from the bottom here.
Smith moves nicely into side control.
Gehard wants to control but Smith postures up.
Jake Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Smith is trying to get an arm triangle but Gehard is defending well.
Smith in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Gehard is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.

Smith tries for a kimura but Gehard is defending well.
Gehard gets back to half guard.
Gehard moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Gehard is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gehard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith chips away with some ground and pound.
Smith with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Smith wants to control from the top but Gehard keeps moving.

Gehard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gehard looking for a sweep. Not yet Gehard, not yet.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gehard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Gehard 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.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Gehard.

Smith got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gehard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smith has managed to get both his arms back between Gehard's legs - danger averted.
Smith passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to control. Gehard wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Smith looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gehard is not content to let Smith control the position.
Smith working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Smith is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Gehard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gehard wants to control but Smith is keeping busy.

Smith seems to be looking for submissions.

Gehard looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Smith is looking for a kimura here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gehard 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruno Gehard!
After winning the bout, Bruno Gehard thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.