PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Endi Arentov (ranked 4518 p4p, 25467 weight class) and Esteban Smith (ranked 465 p4p, 508 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Arentov
vs
Smith

184 cm
22
193
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
185
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Endi Arentov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Esteban Smith!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Arentov changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Arentov tries to pull guard but Smith holds him up against the cage and eventually Arentov drops back down to his feet.

Arentov turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Smith bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Smith tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Arentov swivels and escapes.

Arentov rushes Smith and presses him up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Arentov breaks from the clinch.
Arentov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Arentov.

Smith bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown but Arentov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smith's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Endi Arentov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esteban Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arentov takes the fight into the clinch.
Smith wants a takedown.
A bit of stalling here from Arentov.
Arentov fails to pull guard.
Smith is looking for a takedown.
Arentov jumps guard but Smith stands there with Arentov around his waist. Arentov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Smith is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Arentov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith stops a takedown attempt from Arentov.

Arentov pulls guard.
Arentov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smith controls the pace.

Arentov uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arentov moves into the clinch successfully.

Arentov breaks the clinch.
Arentov throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Smith shoots in for a double leg but Arentov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Arentov feinted with a counter takedown.
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!
Smith has a takedown stuffed.
It looked like Arentov was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Arentov stuffs the takedown.
Smith looks winded!

Arentov tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Smith tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to pull guard but Arentov holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.
Smith wants to stall.

Arentov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Arentov wants to stand but Smith is controlling the position.

Arentov has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Smith has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Arentov breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Arentov as he jumps to the side.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Arentov.
A little jabbing left from Smith on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Arentov throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Smith's head.
Arentov closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. Arentov pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Smith throws out a counter right but Arentov avoids it with no problem.

Arentov has managed to clinch.
Arentov jumps guard but Smith turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Arentov ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Arentov no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Arentov is keeping the position for now.
Arentov wants to stand but Smith is controlling the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Endi Arentov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Arentov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smith, pushing him back against the cage.

Arentov manages to break the clinch.
Smith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Arentov defends it nicely.
Smith throws a head kick but Arentov moves out of range.
Arentov thows a body kick. Smith tries to catch it but that hurt him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Smith.

Arentov closes the distance and clinches.
Arentov has Smith pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Smith manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith pulls guard successfully.
Smith is pulling down on Arentov's head. It's preventing any offense from Arentov, at least for the moment.
Arentov wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Arentov throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Smith manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Arentov manages to get himself to full guard.

Arentov keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith won't allow Arentov to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arentov pushes Smith off and scrambles back to his feet.

Arentov rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Arentov pressing his opponent against the cage.
Arentov stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Arentov pulls guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith prevents Arentov from getting back to his feet.
Arentov is wriggling around but Smith manages to pass to half guard.
Smith prevents Arentov from standing back up.

Arentov pushes Smith off and gets back to his feet.
Esteban Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Smith has taken the fight to the clinch.
Arentov is trying to drag Smith to the mat but Smith just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Arentov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?
Smith looking to stall.
Arentov missing with knees to the body.

Arentov breaks the clinch.
Arentov tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Smith instigates a clinch.
Arentov jumps guard but Smith stands there with Arentov around his waist. Arentov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Endi Arentov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Arentov fails to pull guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Endi Arentov dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Arentov gets tackled into the cage by Smith. Smith maintains the clinch.
Arentov wants a takedown.
Arentov slowing the pace effectively.
Arentov stalling the fight.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Arentov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Endi Arentov is winning the standup battle so far.

Smith clinches up with Arentov and pushes him back against the cage.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Arentov jumps guard but Smith turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Arentov breaks from the clinch.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.

Arentov turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Smith sneaks out the side door and pushes Arentov away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Arentov counters with a single leg into guard. Smith didn't expect that.

Smith wriggles free and stands up.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Arentov as he jumps to the side.
Smith fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Arentov avoids it really well and circles away.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Arentov throws a head kick that misses

and Smith counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smith.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith prevents Arentov from getting back to his feet.
Arentov is looking to stand back up but Smith counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Arentov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arentov is trying to stand back up but Smith is controlling him
Smith performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Smith is trying to control the action in half guard but Arentov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Arentov looks like he's trying to stand up.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arentov throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Smith dives in and grabs Arentov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Arentov pushes down on Smith's head and hops out.
Endi Arentov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esteban Smith.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Arentov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.
Smith throws a body shot but no joy.
Arentov tries to counter with a takedown but Smith is quick to defend against it.
Arentov lands with a nice body kick.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt - Arentov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Arentov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arentov chips away with some ground and pound.
Arentov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Arentov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Esteban Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Arentov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Arentov postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
Smith is trying to keep Arentov in close.
Esteban Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Arentov sitting in guard doing not very much at all here. Smith doesn't need a second invitation though! He's locked up a guillotine and he's squeezing tight! That is tiiiiiiiiight! Arentov paying the price for stalling here - he's pushing hard on the arm trying to free himself but it's no use! He's tapped! WOW, quick submission from Smith - great work!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Esteban Smith!