PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kai Gold (ranked 1579 p4p, 920 weight class) and Mike Smeshomedov (ranked 187 p4p, 108 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gold
vs
Smeshomedov

186 cm
21
198
6 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
192
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kai Gold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mike Smeshomedov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smeshomedov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Smeshomedov lands a glancing blow to the side of Gold's head.
Smeshomedov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gold sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gold gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Smeshomedov.
A big left from Gold misses.

Smeshomedov moves into the clinch successfully.
Gold prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gold prevents the takedown attempt.

Gold is fighting off a takedown attempt but Smeshomedov is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Gold to the mat. Gold regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Gold pulls Smeshomedov in close to prevent any damage.
Smeshomedov wants to control from the top but Gold keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smeshomedov stopping the sweep attempt from Gold.
Smeshomedov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gold tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gold utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gold working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smeshomedov.
Gold wants to sweep here but Smeshomedov controlling him for the moment.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gold holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two 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.
Smeshomedov slips under a jab.
Nice sprawl there from Smeshomedov as Gold shoots in.
Smeshomedov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gold shoots in for a takedown but Smeshomedov shows good takedown defense.
Smeshomedov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Smeshomedov throws a lazy right hand but Gold sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gold misses with a hook to the body
and Smeshomedov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Smeshomedov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smeshomedov tries to clinch there but Gold circles away.
Gold throws the left hand but Smeshomedov avoids the punch easily.
Smeshomedov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Gold throws a body punch but Smeshomedov moves out of range.
Gold showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smeshomedov.
Gold changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Smeshomedov misses with a hook. Gold ducked under it nicely.
Smeshomedov throws a series of punches but Gold moves out of range.
Nice body punch from Gold.
Gold loads up on a big right hand but Smeshomedov slips the punch.
Gold looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smeshomedov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Smeshomedov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Smeshomedov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gold connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Smeshomedov's hands.
Gold throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Gold throws a good cross that connects.
Gold avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smeshomedov looks to land a right hand but Gold moved out of range.
Smeshomedov tries to clinch there but Gold circles away.

Smeshomedov gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gold is trying to control Smeshomedov's posture but Smeshomedov avoids it.
Gold tries to get back to half guard but can't.
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!
Smeshomedov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gold keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smeshomedov goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Gold has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Smeshomedov but great work by Gold.
Smeshomedov is trying to improve his position.
Gold working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Smeshomedov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gold's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Gold is stalling here. Smeshomedov is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Gold seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Smeshomedov has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Smeshomedov working away.
Smeshomedov lands an elbow.
Smeshomedov working away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Smeshomedov dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Gold thows a leg kick but Smeshomedov checks it

and Smeshomedov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gold's guard.
Gold avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gold working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smeshomedov.
Gold is pulling down on Smeshomedov's head to control his posture.
Smeshomedov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gold is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smeshomedov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smeshomedov throws a big elbow that misses.
Gold is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gold bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smeshomedov's guard.

Smeshomedov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Smeshomedov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gold can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gold is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gold throws a big elbow that misses.

Gold got a little sloppy there for a moment and Smeshomedov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gold has managed to get both his arms back between Smeshomedov's legs - danger averted.
Gold postures up.
Gold looking to pass the guard.
Smeshomedov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gold working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Smeshomedov's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gold looking to pass the guard.
Smeshomedov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mike Smeshomedov has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gold is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Smeshomedov has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Gold is looking to defend but Smeshomedov has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Gold! Smeshomedov pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Gold taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Mike Smeshomedov!
Mike Smeshomedov managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Furnace Performance 🔥, into his post fight interview.