PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ray Stein (ranked 3129 p4p, 24936 weight class) and Anthony Smith (ranked 328 p4p, 506 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Stein
vs
Smith

180 cm
23
195
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
24
195
1 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ray Stein!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony Smith!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Steve Smith and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stein throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Stein feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Smith pushes Stein off and gets back to his feet.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Stein shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stein misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nice takedown defense from Stein. No joy for Smith on that attempt.
Stein throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by Stein.
Ray Stein has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Smith.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stein but Stein pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.

Smith closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Stein's guard.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Stein 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.

Smith has gone for a leg lock! Stein slips out almost immediately though and dives into Smith's guard.

Stein looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stein is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith won't allow Stein to sweep him here.
Smith throws a big elbow that misses.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stein swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Stein working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Smith gets to his feet. Stein looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stein ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Stein throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And Smith tries to counter it with a takedown but Stein pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Stein misses with a two punch combination.
Smith wants to counter the offense by Stein and move into the clinch position.
Stein is breathing heavily.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt - Stein sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Smith looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Stein sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Smith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stein's waist but Stein gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smith off to one side.
Smith tries for a takedown but Stein sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Stein drives through with a takedown into Smith's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeping full guard, as Stein tries to pass.
Smith pulls Stein in close to his closed guard and prevents Stein from doing any damage or advancing position.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stein is one step ahead there.
Stein being controlled here momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Stein dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Stein clinches with his opponent.
Smith is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Stein gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Stein gets underhooks to prevent Smith's takedown attempt.
Smith is stalling here.
Smith has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stein is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ray Stein has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Smith.
Stein is looking for a takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stein trying to stall but Smith improves his position.

Smith has picked Stein up - he's going for a ride! Smith dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Stein makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Stein shoots in and drives through. Smith sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smith.
Stein will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith closes the distance and clinches up with Stein, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes Stein against the cage but Stein circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Stein throws a body kick that misses.
Smith tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Stein defends well and Smith ends up having to push Stein into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
As Smith tries to get set, Stein tries to push him back and clinch up but Smith manages to avoid the attempt.
Stein tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stein is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, Stein circles away and we're back to standing.
Stein seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Smith fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Smith or perhaps it was just good defense by Stein, which made it look bad.
As Smith tries to get set, Stein tries to push him back and clinch up but Smith manages to avoid the attempt.
Stein is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smith.
Stein tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.
Smith lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Stein sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Stein looks for a takedown but Smith sprawls well.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. Stein tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stein manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stein slaps away a takedown attempt from Smith, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown but Stein manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smith's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Stein wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Smith dives in and grabs Stein's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stein pushes down on Smith's head and hops out.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stein sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.

Stein shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stein trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Stein wants to pass to mount but Smith is defending the position.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stein. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Stein dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith looks for a takedown but Stein sprawls well.
Stein is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?
Smith slips a jab and a cross from Stein.

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into Stein's guard.

Smith is sitting in close to Stein's body. Stein has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Smith is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Smith is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Stein.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Ray Stein!