PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mason Smith (ranked 4497 p4p, 3151 weight class) and Marlon Saint (ranked 456 p4p, 360 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Saint

180 cm
25
175
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
175
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mason Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marlon Saint!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Daniel Franklin and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Saint.

Saint moves into the clinch.
Smith wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Saint has him pressed against the cage.

Saint gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Smith manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Smith manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Saint on his heels. He'll look to pass Saint's guard now, I'm sure.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith lands a couple of elbows.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Saint keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Saint swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.
Smith pushes down on Saint's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Saint tries to kick Smith off but Smith keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Saint wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
Saint controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Saint wants to control but Smith is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Smith is pressing down on Saint's thigh, looking to free his foot. Saint is holding on for now.
Saint tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Saint is refusing to be controlled, as Smith sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Saint trying to control from the bottom.

Saint looking for submissions off his back.
Saint is controlling Smith's position as best he can from this difficult position.

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

Smith drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Saint is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Smith throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saint 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 trying to control but Saint is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith tries to stand but Saint is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Saint wants to get back to his feet but Smith is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Saint controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Saint pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four 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.

Smith drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Saint is not content to let Smith control the position.
Saint is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.
Smith wants to stand but Saint is controlling his arm.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith tries to move into full mount but can't pass Saint's legs.
Saint sneaks back into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mason Smith dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Smith tries to clinch but Saint moves away

and Saint counters with a shoot takedown. Smith fights it but they end up in guard.
Saint throwing strikes but missing.
Saint throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Saint looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Saint controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith trying to control but Saint is working from the bottom.
Saint is controlling Smith's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saint is keeping the position for now.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saint works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Smith wants to control from the top but Saint keeps moving.
Saint controlling the position.
Saint controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Saint looking for a sweep. Not yet Saint, not yet.
Saint seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

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

Saint moves into the clinch successfully.

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.
Saint drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Smith gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Saint gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Smith lands a takedown into guard.
Saint is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Saint looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Saint keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Saint is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saint is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.
Saint seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Saint working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Smith fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Saint to the ground. Smith is now in Saint's guard.
Saint is breathing heavily.
Saint is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Smith seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Saint pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.
Smith is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saint can do to turn this around?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mason Smith dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Saint shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Smith takes a swing at Saint's ribcage but misses.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Smith wanted to stand there but Saint had control of the position.

Saint looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smith wants to control from the top but Saint keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Saint is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saint is adopting a defensive guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

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

Saint has managed to clinch.

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.
Smith gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Saint.
Smith prevents a takedown attempt there.
Mason Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marlon Saint.

Smith gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Smith stops Saint from getting back to his feet.
Smith controlling the action here.

Saint is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Smith pulls his head out easily.
Saint takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Saint is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to stall here but Saint recovers full guard.
Saint is trying to keep Smith in close.
Saint trying to control the position here.

Smith got a little sloppy there for a moment and Saint has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smith has managed to get both his arms back between Saint's legs - danger averted.
Smith wants to control from the top but Saint keeps moving.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Saint preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Saint tries to clinch up
and Smith counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Smith scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Smith stands up and beckons Saint to his feet.
Smith wants to clinch.
Saint with the counter takedown but Smith avoids it easily.
Marlon Saint has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mason Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A lazy body kick from Smith

so Saint counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mason Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Smith, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

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