PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pato Hortiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes into the arena with Dawn of the Angry blaring out of the sound system. The key to victory for Mark Smith has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Smith
vs
Hortiz

180 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pato Hortiz!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hortiz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hortiz looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
A solid leg kick lands there for Smith.
Smith scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Smith tries to clinch

and Hortiz counters by clinching up.
Knees to the body from Smith.
A hook to the body from Smith.

Smith jumps into guard, dragging Hortiz to the mat.
Hortiz would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Smith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hortiz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hortiz won't allow Smith to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is working hard here to advance position.
Hortiz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hortizis looking to pass into half guard but Smith pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Smith is in guard.
Smith trying to control but Hortiz is working from the bottom.
Smith works over Hortiz with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith wants to control from the top but Hortiz keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Smith closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Hortiz is not content to let Smith control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hortiz can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hortiz can't do much from the bottom here.
Smith wants to stand but Hortiz has his arm trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hortiz tries to improve position but can't.
Hortiz is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Smith off and has taken his back!
Smith just trying to survive but Hortiz is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hortiz looking for the choke but no joy.
Smith breaks Hortiz's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Smith trying to control but Hortiz is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hortiz being controlled here, momentarily.
Smith seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Hortiz for as long as he can get away with.
Hortiz looking for a sweep. Not yet Hortiz, not yet.
Smith lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Smith sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hortiz keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Mark Smith just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

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 tries to clinch there but Hortiz circles away.
Smith moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Hortiz takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Hortiz on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hortiz as he jumps to the side.
Smith throws a nice looking combination but Hortiz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Smith misses with a series of wild punches.
Smith tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hortiz swivels and escapes.

Hortiz changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Smith looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Smith regains half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Smith controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Smith regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark 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.

Nice sprawl there from Smith as Hortiz shoots in.
Smith lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A left and a right from Smith both land. Nice combination.
Mark Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith wants to clinch up but Hortiz keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith has his takedown stuffed
and Hortiz counters with a nice low kick that buckles Smith's knee momentarily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Smith, right into the meat.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hortiz as he avoids it easily.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith throws a series of punches but Hortiz moves out of range.

Hortiz darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith manages to get to full guard.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hortiz is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands an upkick as Hortiz stands over him.
Smith is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Smith controls Hortiz momentarily but Hortiz frees himself.
Hortiz won't allow Smith to sweep him here.

Smith has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Hortiz off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Hortiz takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Smith tries to clinch

and Hortiz counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Smith!
Smith tries to hold on but Hortiz pushes him away.
Hortiz trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hortiz prevents Smith from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hortiz misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Hortiz controlling the pace for now.
Smith tries to hold on but Hortiz pushes him away.
Hortiz wants to get back to his feet but Smith is holding on tight.
Hortiz won't let Smith get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Hortiz content just to control the position here.
Smith tries to reverse the position but Hortiz maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pato Hortiz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith tries to lock up and control but Hortiz gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Smith is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hortiz thowing shots but they're missing.
Smith is wriggling around trying to escape.
Smith reaches up and holds on to Hortiz to control the position.
Smith regains half guard.
Smith slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

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.
Hortiz trying to stand up but can't free himself from Smith's guard.
Hortiz stops Smith from standing up.
Smith lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hortiz!
Hortiz tries to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
Smith sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Smith lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mark Smith will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Nice sprawl there from Hortiz as Smith shoots in.
Smith goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Nice body punch from Smith.
Smith lands a jab-cross combination.
Good standup being displayed there by Smith as he connects with a hook.
Mark Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Smith gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Smith is pulling down on Hortiz's head to control his posture.
Smith manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hortiz manages to get himself to full guard.
Smith would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Smith is fighting to break Hortiz's control of his arms but Hortiz is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Smith is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hortiz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith pushing down on Hortiz's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Smith trying to control the pace.
Smith tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hortiz knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Smith seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hortiz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Hortiz is defending well.
Smith controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith trying to control the action but Hortiz is working from the bottom.
Smith perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Mark Smith just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Smith tries to clinch up but Hortiz circles away and keeps his distance.
Hortiz shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense.
Smith has a takedown stuffed.

Hortiz drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Smith prevents Hortiz from improving position.
Smith is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hortiz has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hortiz stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Hortiz shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense.
Smith shoots in but Hortiz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hortiz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Hortiz persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hortiz moves into the clinch.
Hortiz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Smith has Hortiz pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hortiz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hortiz tries for a takedown. No joy.
Smith has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hortiz is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hortiz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Smith gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Nice body punch from Smith - that landed with a thud.
Smith is trying to stall.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hortiz.
Smith landing knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to stall.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith has his takedown stuffed

and Hortiz decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Smith's guard.
Hortiz won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Hortiz sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hortiz's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Smith wants to sweep here but Hortiz controlling him for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith wants to stand up but Hortiz is controlling him.
Pato Hortiz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Hortiz is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Pato Hortiz.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

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