PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John Joe Smith (ranked 2083 p4p, 2180 weight class) and Michele Rene Gaspard (ranked 146 p4p, 151 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Smith
vs
Gaspard

171 cm
19
135
4 - 0 - 0

168 cm
19
135
4 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Conquer
Knock Out Sups

Northern Zombie

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Joe Smith!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michele Rene Gaspard!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Roger Salmon and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gaspard closes the distance looking to clinch
and Smith counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Smith blocks a jab.
Gaspard wants to clinch.
Smith misses with an uppercut.
Gaspard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Smith loads up on a big right hand but Gaspard slips the punch.
Gaspard scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Gaspard has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gaspard tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Nice shot by Gaspard.
Gaspard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smith.
Gaspard throws a poor cross that misses
and Smith counters with a stiff right hand.
Smith looks to land a left hand but Gaspard moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gaspard darts in and clinches Smith up against the cage.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fighters circling - Smith throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A shot to the body from Gaspard misses
and Smith counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Gaspard clinches.
Gaspard tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Smith throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Smith is looking to break free of the clinch but Gaspard has double underhooks.
Gaspard blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Gaspard.
Gaspard tries to pull guard but Smith holds him up against the cage and eventually Gaspard drops back down to his feet.
John Joe Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michele Rene Gaspard.
Gaspard is trying to pull guard but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Smith throws a punch but it's blocked by Gaspard.
Gaspard lands a left hand.
Smith lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on Smith's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Smith can't break the clinch.
Smith goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Smith tries to throw a body punch but Gaspard avoids it by throwing Smith back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gaspard.
Gaspard stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gaspard tries to pull guard but Smith forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Smith lands a hook that snaps the head of Gaspard backwards.
Smith misses with a hook from the clinch.
Smith misses with a body punch.
Smith lands a nice uppercut.
Smith lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Gaspard manages to pull guard.
Smith is looking to stand up but Gaspard won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gaspard is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gaspard working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.

Gaspard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gaspard trying to control the position.
Smith wants to stand but Gaspard has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Gaspard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Smith knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gaspard on the ground.

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.

Gaspard escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Smith gets to his feet. Gaspard looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Gaspard misses with a left hand
and Smith counters with a left to the body.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gaspard manages to avoid it.
Michele Rene Gaspard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gaspard tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Gaspard doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Gaspard cracks Smith with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Gaspard tries to clinch
and Smith connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gaspard swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Smith.

Gaspard forces Smith back against the cage and clinches.

Gaspard drags the fight down to the ground.
Smith would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
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 John Joe Smith will probably get the nod.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gaspard misses with a straight right.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
We've been told by Smith's head coaches at Hammer House of Horror that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
John Joe Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Gaspard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
An attempted straight right counter from Smith misses the target.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.

Gaspard drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.
Gaspard is trying to pull guard but Smith turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gaspard is trying to pull guard but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Smith just leaning against Gaspard, taking a breather.
A nice right hand lands inside from Smith.
A right hand to the body from Smith.
Smith struggles to land a body shot inside as Gaspard controls his hands.
A short uppercut from Smith.
Gaspard tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smith's elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gaspard tries to pull guard but Smith holds him up against the cage and eventually Gaspard drops back down to his feet.
John Joe Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michele Rene Gaspard.
A right hand to the body from Smith.
Smith has a couple of punches blocked by Gaspard.
Gaspard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Smith just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gaspard jumps guard but Smith turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaspard misses with a body punch.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gaspard thuds a left hand into Smith's body.
Gaspard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gaspard tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Gaspard tries to clinch up
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.
Gaspard lands a right hook to the body.
Smith throws a lazy right hand but Gaspard sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gaspard thuds his right hand into Smith's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Gaspard bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt
and Smith counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Smith takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Gaspard avoids the body shot from Smith.
Gaspard fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gaspard.
Gaspard changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gaspard.
Gaspard takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Smith slips under a jab from Gaspard.
Smith takes a jab right on the kisser.
Gaspard misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Smith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Gaspard moves into the clinch.
Smith goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Smith misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gaspard jumps guard but Smith stands there with Gaspard around his waist. Gaspard gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Gaspard throws a looping overhand right but Smith ducks down to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gaspard. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smith clobbers Gaspard with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Gaspard moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Smith.
Gaspard misses with a right hand
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.

Gaspard pushes Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Smith fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Gaspard pulls Smith into guard.

Smith got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gaspard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smith has managed to get both his arms back between Gaspard's legs - danger averted.
Smith wants to stand but Gaspard is controlling his posture from full guard.
Smith won't allow Gaspard to sweep him here.
Smith wanted to stand there but Gaspard had control of the position.

Gaspard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smith tries to stand but Gaspard is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gaspard working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Smith wants to get up but he can't break Gaspard's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Smith trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Gaspard looking for a sweep. Not yet Gaspard, not yet.

Gaspard had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.

Gaspard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.

Gaspard is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.

Smith stands and steps away. Gaspard gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Gaspard throws a jab but it's blocked by Smith.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that John Joe Smith will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gaspard closes the distance but Smith moves to the side
letting Smith counter with a right hand.
Gaspard moves away from the strike by Smith.
Gaspard lands a body shot.
Gaspard swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gaspard is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Smith misses with an uppercut.
Gaspard throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Smith counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gaspard lands a nice shot that snaps Smith's head back.
Gaspard tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gaspard manages to avoid it.
Gaspard swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Smith counters with a series of strikes. Gaspard will be more careful next time no doubt.

Gaspard is rocked!
Smith cracks Gaspard with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Gaspard is still on wobbly legs! Can Smith finish him?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Gaspard moves into the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Smith.
Smith tries to throw a body punch but Gaspard avoids it by throwing Smith back against the cage.
Gaspard tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.
Gaspard lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Smith doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaspard tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.
Smith goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gaspard jumps guard but Smith turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
John Joe Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michele Rene Gaspard.
A short left from Smith.
Gaspard jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Smith walks away with a smile on his face. Gaspard gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Smith connects with a right that clearly hurt Gaspard. He's backed up against the cage with nowhere to go as Smith proceeds to tee off with vicious combinations till Gaspard collapses and taps out under the pressure!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). John Joe Smith!
John Joe Smith retains his bantamweight title!