PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between James Smith (ranked 1431 p4p, 1128 weight class) and Tomoe Gozen (ranked 194 p4p, 153 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Smith
vs
Gozen

176 cm
36
164
25 - 17 - 0

176 cm
32
155
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Voodoo Nutrition

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 25 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tomoe Gozen!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yukihiro Shimada and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gozen misses with an uppercut. Smith saw that one coming.
A left lands for Gozen.
Smith throws a body punch but Gozen moves out of range.
Gozen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Gozen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. Gozen does a little dance to reset his feet.
And Gozen responds with a good body kick, but Smith manages to step out the way in time.
Smith throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gozen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gozen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Smith lands with a right hand.
A slow jab from Smith misses its intended target.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Gozen! But no joy.
Gozen misses with a straight right.

Gozen clinches up with Smith and pushes him back against the cage.
Smith softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gozen blocks an uppercut.
Gozen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Smith tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gozen swings wildly with an uppercut but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gozen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gozen.
Gozen tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
Smith blocks a body shot from Gozen.
Smith blocks an uppercut.
Smith manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Smith tries for a takedown. No joy.
Gozen has a couple of punches blocked by Smith.
Smith misses with a hook to the ribs.
Smith is pushing Gozen up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A right handed body shot lands from Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith takes a shot to the head.
Gozen tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
Gozen struggles to land a body shot inside as Smith controls his hands.
Smith scores with a shot to the side of Gozen's head.
Gozen blocks a body shot from Smith.
Smith misses with some punches.
Gozen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Smith misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gozen blocks a body shot from Smith.
Gozen can't find room to land a body shot as Smith controls the action.
Gozen blocking some punches.
Smith tries to throw a body punch but Gozen avoids it by throwing Smith back against the cage.
Smith presses Gozen against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gozen.
Gozen works on Smith's body with a couple of short punches.
Gozen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Gozen.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smith misses with some punches.
Gozen lands with a short shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gozen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smith's elbow.
Gozen misses with a punch to the body.
Gozen lands with a left to the head.
Smith presses Gozen against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Gozen misses with the head strike.
Smith lands with a light punch inside.
Smith lands a shoulder strike.
Gozen lands a nice shot to the body.
Smith misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gozen lands with a light punch inside.
Smith tries to throw a body punch but Gozen avoids it by throwing Smith back against the cage.
Gozen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Smith goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gozen.
Smith has a couple of punches blocked by Gozen.
Gozen pushes Smith back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Smith scores with a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith wants to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gozen misses with a hook from the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Smith creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Gozen misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gozen.
Gozen misses with some punches.
A left hand lands to the body for Smith.
Smith throws a punch but it's blocked by Gozen.
Gozen lands a shoulder strike.
Smith tries to stall but Gozen uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A short left from Smith.
Smith tries a body shot but Gozen blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Gozen fails to land.
Smith blocks an uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gozen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Gozen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Smith stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Gozen misses with the head strike.
Gozen throws a punch but it's blocked by Smith.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gozen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Smith cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nice uppercut lands for Gozen. That snapped Smith's head back.
Gozen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gozen. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smith appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Smith misses with an uppercut
letting Gozen counter with a right hand.
Gozen just misses with a punch to the body.
Gozen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Gozen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Smith momentarily.
A slow jab from Gozen misses its intended target.
Gozen has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gozen looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
It looked like Smith was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Gozen.
Nice body punch from Gozen.
Nice uppercut there from Gozen.
Gozen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gozen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith lands a glancing blow to the side of Gozen's head.
A big left from Smith misses.
Smith on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Crunch! Gozen slams his shin into Smith's torso.
Gozen connects with a crisp jab.
That kick from Gozen tenderised Smith's leg. Smith is trying to keep his angry face on.
A big right from Gozen misses.
Gozen throws a hook but Smith blocks it.
Smith swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Smith misses with a hook.
Nice defenses there by Smith.
Smith throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gozen takes one on the button.
Gozen lands with a hook. Smith tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
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!
Gozen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Smith takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Smith swinging wildly here.
Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gozen.
Smith throws a left and a right that both miss

and Gozen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Smith wants to get back to full guard.
Smith is looking to control Gozen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smith avoid being mounted?
Smith trying to get back to full guard but Gozen takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gozen controlling the pace for now.
Smith is looking to get to half guard.

Gozen is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Smith misses with a left hand
letting Gozen counter with a right hand.
Gozen works over Smith's head and body with a nice combination.
Gozen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A slow jab from Smith misses its intended target.
Smith takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries for a takedown but Gozen circles away easily
and Gozen counters with a straight right hand.
Gozen scores with a decent looking hook.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gozen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gozen.
Smith throws a hook but Gozen blocks it.
Smith throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gozen on the side of the head.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gozen.
Gozen lunges at Smith with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Smith's hand.
Gozen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Smith.
Gozen with the inside leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tomoe Gozen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
An attempted straight right counter from Smith misses the target.
Smith checks a leg kick nicely.
It looked like Smith was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Gozen.
James Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice defenses there by Smith.
Gozen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gozen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gozen lands with a kick to the ribs.
Gozen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Smith throws out the jab.
Gozen lands a glancing blow to the side of Smith's head.
Gozen connects with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gozen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Smiths jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Smith throws a predictable looking body shot
and Gozen counters with a good low kick that Smith was not able to check.
Smith with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Gozen to score with a decent uppercut.
Gozen just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gozen connects with a nice looking jab.
Jab from Gozen.
Smith looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Gozen connects with an inside leg kick.
Gozen scores with a nice right hand.
Smith thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gozen scores with a jab to the head.
Nice uppercut there from Gozen.
Tomoe Gozen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gozen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Smith waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gozen.
Gozen is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Gozen is just out of range.
Smith lands a nice shot to the body.
Gozen tries to work over Smith's front leg with a kick but Smith checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gozen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gozen.
Gozen tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Smith is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Gozen throws a sloppy body shot
and Smith counters with a nice uppercut.
Smith swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gozen counters with a low kick, right behind Smith 's knee.
Smith takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Gozen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Smith stalks Gozen and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gozen's face. Gozen staggers backwards, shaken.
Smith takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Gozen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Smith throws a right hand that misses
and Gozen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Gozen slips under a jab.
Gozen feints the counter takedown.
Smith throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gozen is looking to slow Smith down with leg kicks.
Smith throws a hook to the side of Gozen's head but Gozen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gozen throws a shot from downtown. Smith moves away and avoids it.
Smith went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Gozen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gozen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Gozen! But no joy.
Smith lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Gozen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gozen connects with a looping right hand.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gozen.
Smith misses with a double jab.
Smith changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Tomoe Gozen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gozen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Gozen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gozen.
Gozen is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Smith with a body shot.
Gozen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Smith.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gozen loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.
Smith takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Smith rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Gozen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Smith walks into a left hand.
Gozen lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Gozen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gozen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
James Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Gozen changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tomoe Gozen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gozen 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tomoe Gozen!
A very excited looking Tomoe Gozen rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.