PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergo Belov (ranked 4562 p4p, 4495 weight class) and Greg Smithson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Belov
vs
Smithson

184 cm
18
210
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
24
200
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight 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, Sergo Belov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Greg Smithson!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Belov darts in and clinches Smithson up against the cage.
Belov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Smithson slowing the pace effectively.
Belov throws a punch but it's blocked by Smithson.
Belov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Belov tries to pull guard but Smithson holds him up against the cage and eventually Belov drops back down to his feet.
Smithson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Belov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smithson is pushing Belov up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Smithson misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smithson taking a breather.
Belov slowing the pace effectively.

Smithson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Belov closes the distance and clinches.

Smithson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Belov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smithson sprawls well. Smithson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Belov gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smithson doesn't manage to clinch there - Belov circles away.
Smithson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Belov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Belov half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Smithson has managed to clinch.
Belov tries to pull guard but Smithson won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergo Belov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smithson displaying some good clinch control by pressing Belov up against the cage.
Belov wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belov stalling in the clinch.
Belov throws a punch but it's blocked by Smithson.
Smithson is looking for a takedown.
Belov fails to pull guard.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Belov.
Smithson stalling in the clinch.
Smithson has Belov pressed against the cage.
Belov is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A bit of stalling here from Belov.
Belov lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Smithson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Belov moves into range and connects with a jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sergo Belov will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Smithson clinches up with Belov and pushes him back against the cage.
Belov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smithson blocks it with crossed arms.

Smithson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Belov moves in looking to clinch but Smithson pushes him off.
Belov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Smithson is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Belov wants to clinch up but Smithson keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Smithson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Belov's guard.
Smithson wants to control from the top but Belov keeps moving.

Smithson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Smithson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Smithson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Smithson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smithson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Smithson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smithson is stalling in the full guard.

Smithson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Smithson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Belov's guard.
Belov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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.
Smithson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Smithson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Belov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Belov keeping moving, preventing Smithson from controlling successfully.
Smithson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Smithson drops back looking for a leg! Belov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Belov manages to kick Smithson off! Smithson jumps back into Belov's guard.
Smithson slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Smithson trying to control the action but Belov is working from the bottom.

Smithson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Belov is just riding it out for now. Smithson eventually gives up the hold.
Belov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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.

Smithson seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Belov is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Greg Smithson!