PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James Smith (ranked 3320 p4p, 3885 weight class) and Scooter Dahan (ranked 254 p4p, 289 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Dahan

150 cm
26
145
2 - 2 - 0

167 cm
26
150
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, James Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Scooter Dahan!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Donald Grub and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dahan tries to avoid it but Smith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dahan to the ground. Dahan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Dahan sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dahan changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Dahan shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Dahan was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Smith defending against the ground and pound.
Dahan misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Dahan is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smith is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Smith managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Dahan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dahan wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Smith dodges the ground and pound from Dahan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dahan trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith is trying to get back to half guard.
Dahan is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ground and pound from Dahan seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Dahan working the head and body with strikes.
Check out the look on Dahan's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Dahan fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Dahan working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
You can see the frustration on Smith's face as Dahan controls the position.
Smith is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Dahan is controlling him well.
Dahan tries to move into full mount but can't pass Smith's legs.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Dahan drags him back down.
Dahan lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Smith managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Dahan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to escape but Dahan is in control.
Smith avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Dahan.
Dahan lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Smith down.
Smith is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Dahan asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Smith wants to control but Dahan postures up.
Dahan landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Smith is trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Dahan crashes against the mat.
A lull in the action here as Dahan stalls from top position.
Dahan tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Smith is working to avoid the ground and pound but Dahan connects with a decent elbow.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Dahan drags him back down.

Dahan is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Smith knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Dahan has just dragged him back down to the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Scooter Dahan dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Smith is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dahan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Smith fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dahan avoids it really well and circles away.
James Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dahan lands with an overhand left.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by Dahan.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown but Dahan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smith's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Smith shoots in for a double leg but Dahan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Dahan feints a counter leg kick.
Dahan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dahan swivels and escapes.

Dahan decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dahan not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dahan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dahan with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Dahan is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Dahan is looking to advance position but Smith won't allow it.
Scooter Dahan has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dahan thows a huge punch but Smith dodges it nicely.
Dahan misses with a head shot. Smith uses the momentum to regain guard.
Dahan tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Dahan pushing down on Smith's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Dahan prevents Smith from standing back up.
Dahan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dahan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Smith might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Dahan is working for a kimura but Smith is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dahan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Smith defending well though.
Smith looks like he's trying to stand up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Dahan winds up and cracks Smith with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Smith is not content to let Dahan control the position.
Dahan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four 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.
Dahan not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dahan throwing shots but Smith is blocking nicely.
Dahan lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ground and pound from Dahan.
Dahan throwing shots but Smith is blocking nicely.
Dahan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dahan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Dahan is working for a kimura but Smith is defending it quite comfortably.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Scooter Dahan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Dahan closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Smith did well to prevent Dahan getting side control.
Dahan throwing shots but Smith is blocking nicely.
Dahan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Smith defending well though.
We've been informed that Dahan has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Dahan trying to control from Smith's half guard. Smith has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dahan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Dahan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is looking to stand up but Dahan isn't so interested in that idea.
Dahan looking to pass the guard.
Dahan throws a strike but Smith rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Smith tries to stand but Dahan is controlling from the bottom.
Dahan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dahan is proving hard to escape from.

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.
Smith trying to control but Dahan is working from the bottom.

Dahan 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.

Dahan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.
Smith wants to stand but Dahan has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Dahan closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Smith's guard.
Dahan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dahan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dahan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dahan content to stall in guard here.
James Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith controls Dahan momentarily but Dahan frees himself.
Dahan passes into half guard.
Dahan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dahan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Smith is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Dahan is keen to just control but Smith is a slippery customer.
Dahan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Smith shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dahan is trying to defend but Smith finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Scooter Dahan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Smith throwing shots but Dahan is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Scooter Dahan.
Well Dahan has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scooter Dahan!