PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Shipilov (ranked 324 p4p, 270 weight class) and Kenneth Smith (ranked 51 p4p, 42 weight class). Smith is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Creep. Kenneth Smith is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Shipilov
vs
Smith

195 cm
31
195
23 - 12 - 1

180 cm
28
170
16 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

PWNAGEâ„¢
HELLBENT

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 23 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Sergey Shipilov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kenneth Smith!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yukihiro Shimada and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Shipilov defends it nicely.
Shipilov feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Smith clobbers Shipilov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Smith scoring well with a low kick there.
Shipilov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
It seemed like Smith was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Shipilov looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Shipilov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
It looked like Shipilov was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Smith.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice shot lands for Smith.
Smith looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Shipilov connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Smith's hands.
Smith looks to land a left hand but Shipilov moved out of range nicely.
Shipilov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Smith works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith blocks a head kick by Shipilov.
Smith blocks a jab.
Shipilov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
A nice side step and Smith releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Shipilov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Smith connects with a leg kick.
Smith works the jab nicely.
Smith lands a nice leg kick that just misses Shipilov's sensitive parts.
Kenneth Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shipilov.
Smith attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Shipilov throwing a counter right hand but Smith manages to avoid it.
Shipilov slips under a jab.
A little feinted left hand from Shipilov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Smith moves into range and connects with a jab.
Smith goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Shipilov moves away from the strike by Smith.
Shipilov is looking to counter with a body kick.
Shipilov checks a leg kick.
Smith connects with a body shot that sends Shipilov's belly button to the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeps Shipilov at a distance using the push kick.
Smith lands with a nice body kick.
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!
Shipilov misses with a head kick.
Smith gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Shipilov.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Smith. Shipilov shrugs it off though.
Smith throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Shipilov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Shipilov checks a leg kick nicely.
Smith throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Shipilov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shipilov tries to move into range but Smith moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Shipilov gets caught flat footed, as Smith shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Shipilov isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Smith stacks Shipilov on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Smith!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith working the head and body with strikes.
Shipilov tries to buck Smith off but Smith is having none of it.
Smith advances to mount.
Smith looking to control but Shipilov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Smith is landing with some decent strikes but Shipilov is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Shipilov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Smith lands a big elbow.
Shipilov wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Smith lands with some strikes.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Shipilov is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shipilov wants to control but Smith is having none of it.
Shipilov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Shipilov is squirming around, avoiding Smith's attempts to control the action.
Smith controlling the position easily from mount.
Smith lands a nice shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith dominating with strikes here.
Smith raining down shots from the mount!
Smith with shots to the head and body - Shipilov looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kenneth Smith dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Smith scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Smith staying out of range there.
Smith looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Shipilov slips under a jab.
Smith misses with a straight right.
Shipilov throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Shipilov has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Smith.
An inside leg kick lands from Smith.
Smith jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A slow jab from Shipilov misses its intended target.
Shipilov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Smith.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith throws a nice inside leg kick.
Smith misses with a straight left.
Shipilov is looking to counter punch.
Smith tries to land a front kick but Shipilov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
It looked like Shipilov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Smith misses with a straight left.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Smith. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a jab when Shipilov was well out of range.
Kenneth Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Shipilov moves out of range of the strikes.
Shipilov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Smith misses with a hook. Shipilov ducked under it nicely.
Smith cracks Shipilov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A bone on bone clash there as Shipilov blocks the leg kick.
Smith moves out of range as Shipilov strikes.
Smith lands with a cross.
A nice inside leg kick there by Smith. That's going to slow Shipilov down.
Smith lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Smith with a nice calf kick.
Shipilov steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Smith. That one must have hurt.
Shipilov walks into a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a half hearted mid kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nice uppercut lands for Smith. That snapped Shipilov's head back.
Shipilov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Shipilov looks to throw the jab but Smith is out of range.
Smith throws a leg kick which misses Shipilov's front leg but catches the back leg as Shipilov tries to avoid it.
Smith misses with an uppercut
and Shipilov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Kenneth Smith has been cut.
Smith throws a good cross that connects.
Shipilov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shipilov lands with a slapping head kick.

Smith scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Shipilov looking for submissions off his back.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shipilov keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith works his foot free and advances to mount.
Shipilov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Shipilov gets back to half guard.
Shipilov is trying to control but Smith passes into side control!
Smith lands a decent elbow from side control.
Shipilov struggling a bit here.
Shipilov wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Shipilov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Smith lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Shipilov down.
Smith has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at White Eagle. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Shipilov is trying to improve his position.
Smith lands an elbow.
Shipilov gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Smith is controlling the pace.

Shipilov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kenneth Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kenneth Smith's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Shipilov moves out of range as Smith strikes.
A little feinted left hand from Shipilov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Shipilov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Smith doesn't seem bothered though.
A head kick misses from Shipilov.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shipilov was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Shipilov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Smith finds it's way round the side to connect with Shipilov's head.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Shipilov was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Smith throws a body punch but Shipilov moves out of range.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Smith's corner calls for a 1-2. Smith obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shipilov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Smith throws a looping overhand right but Shipilov ducks down to avoid it.
Shipilov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Smith misses with a looping right.

Smith shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Shipilov is trying to defend but Smith finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shipilov actively working from the bottom here.
Shipilov is trying to stand back up but Smith is controlling him
Nice strikes from Smith there.
Smith trying to control the pace.

Shipilov looking for submissions off his back.
Smith drops an elbow to the side of Shipilov's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Smith lands a nice short elbow.
Smith takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Shipilov looking for submissions off his back.

Shipilov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Smith working over Shipilov with some ground and pound. Shipilov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Smith wants to control but Shipilov is keeping him busy.

Shipilov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Smith pulls his head out easily.

Shipilov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Well, if Smith is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shipilov is in trouble now - Smith has advanced to mount!
Shipilov tries to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
Sergey Shipilov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smith cracks Shipilov with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Shipilov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Smith lands a couple of good shots and Shipilov has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
What can Shipilov do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shipilov trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Shipilov is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Smith is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Well, with Smith on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Shipilov is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Smith punches Shipilov on the ear.
Kenneth Smith is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Good control from Smith.
You can see the frustration on Shipilov's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Shipilov looking very determined here, making life difficult for Smith.
Smith controlling well, preventing Shipilov from escaping the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shipilov wants to get back to his feet.
The referee is taking a good look at Shipilov as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Smith!

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenneth Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30

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