PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mono Loco (ranked 2784 p4p, 3433 weight class) and Joe Smith (ranked 272 p4p, 322 weight class). Smith has chosen Ordinary Average Guy - Joe Walsh as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Loco
vs
Smith

168 cm
36
152
17 - 22 - 0

166 cm
29
150
9 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Altitude Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mono Loco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joe Smith!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Eliza Hachem and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Loco looks for a takedown but Smith sprawls well.
Loco avoids a punch combination nicely.
Loco is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Smith.
Loco shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
Smith wants to counter the offense by Loco and move into the clinch position.
Smith lands with a nice body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Loco has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Loco changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smith tries to avoid it but Loco 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 lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mono Loco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Loco fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a combination. Loco tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
Loco misses with a takedown
and Smith counters with a series of strikes. Loco will be more careful next time no doubt.
Loco blocks a low kick nicely.
Smith throws a one two combo.
Smith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Loco.
Smith throws a right and a left that Loco avoids nicely.

Loco looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Smith!
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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith is trying to buck Loco off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loco is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.
Loco is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Loco fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Loco is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smith is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Loco wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.
Loco trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.

Loco looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four 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.
Smith is looking to regain half guard here but Loco keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith regains half guard.
Loco is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Loco in particular looking to stall.
Smith is looking to control Loco's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smith avoid being mounted?
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Loco wants to pass to mount but Smith is defending the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Smith dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Loco shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
A punch combination from Smith misses.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Loco shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Loco.
Smith throws a counter combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mono Loco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Loco.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith throws a leg kick but Loco checks it.
Loco will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Horrible takedown attempt by Loco or perhaps it was just good defense by Smith, which made it look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loco takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Smith stuffs the takedown attempt from Loco. Loco gets slowly back to his feet.
Smith getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Joe Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Loco will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Loco fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Loco shoots in and drives through. Smith sprawls well.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Loco closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Smith struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Loco is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smith has escaped the position, nice work there.
Smith is looking for a sweep.

Loco thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Loco is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smith has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to regain half guard here but Loco keeps moving and retains side control.
Smith is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Loco has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Loco tries for a kimura but Smith is defending well.
Loco trying to control the position but Smith is working away.
Loco controls the position.

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.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.

Loco is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smith has escaped the position, nice work there.
Smith is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Loco is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Loco wants to control the action but instead Smith gets a body lock and reverses into Loco's guard! Nice work!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Loco is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Loco circles away quickly and effectively.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Smith. Loco shrugs it off though.
Loco shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Danga de danga de dang - Smith scores with a four punch combination!
Nice sprawl there from Smith as Loco shoots in.
Smith looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Loco closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Loco wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Loco working away.
Smith is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.
Smith is letting Loco control him for a moment.
Smith gets back to half guard.
Loco looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Loco throws a strike but Smith avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Loco looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Loco is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loco keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Smith trying to stand up but can't free himself from Loco's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Loco is on top in guard.

Loco trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith controlling the position.
Loco stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Smith is still trying to improve position.
Loco throws a big right hand that misses.
Joe Smith is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Smith is trying to keep Loco in close.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Loco is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Loco trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Loco fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Smith tries to counter by closing the distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mono Loco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick from Smith lands but Loco takes it in his stride.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
Mono Loco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Loco throws a head kick that misses
and Smith counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smith winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Darius Henderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Smith!
An out of breath Joe Smith thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.