PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tora Ropez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ropez comes to the cage accompanied by Ambrosia. The key to victory for Tora Ropez has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Ropez
vs
Smith

190 cm
24
170 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

180 cm
22
180 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tora Ropez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Smith!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Ropez avoids the body shot from Smith.
No joy there for Ropez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Smith misses with a straight left.
Ropez with a jab.
Smith lands a nice shot to the body.

Smith clinches.
Smith is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ropez pulls him back up using the underhooks.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Smith lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ropez backwards.
Ropez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ropez is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.
Smith slows down the pace here.

Smith breaks the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Smith.
Smith misses with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a strike aimed at the side of Ropez's head but Ropez avoids it well.
Ropez defending against the ground and pound.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ropez is trying to get back to his feet.

Smith decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Smith throws a jab when Ropez was well out of range.
No joy there for Ropez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith misses with a double jab.
Ropez cracks Smith with a good jab.
Ropez leaves Smith with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tora Ropez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Smith.
Ropez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ropez tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ropez defending well as Smith loads up on a big left hand.
Smith cracks a nice hook into Ropez's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a big shot that misses.
Smith swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jab from Smith.
Smith is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Ropez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice shot by Smith.
Some wild striking there from Ropez.
Some wild striking there from Ropez.
Ropez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ropez scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Ryan Smith has been cut.
Ropez misses with the combination.
Ropez throws a combination. Smith tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Ropez throws a left and a right that both miss

and Smith counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Smith has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Tora Ropez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses the jab.
Smith throws a big shot that misses.
Ropez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith catches Ropez with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Smith moves into the clinch.
Ropez tries to circle away but Smith has him pinned against the cage.
Ropez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Smith.
Smith lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ropez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Smith is working Ropez over against the cage.
Smith tries for a takedown. No joy.

Smith has clasped his hands together around Ropez's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Smith looks gassed!
Ropez is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Smith is controlling him well.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Ropez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ropez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smith on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Smith decides to stand back up.
Smith looks for the body kick but Ropez saw that one coming.
Ropez throws a nice looking combination but Smith bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Smith misses with a straight left.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ropez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ropez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smith counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith misses with the combination.
Smith has a takedown stuffed.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Smith dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ryan Smith's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Smith doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Smith connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ropez. Ropez circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Smith misses with a combination
letting Ropez counter with a right hand.
Smith dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Ropez, as that shot connected.
Smith lands with a straight right. Ropez didn't see that one coming.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Ropez lands a jab to Smith's midsection.
Ropez keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Ropez swinging wilding here.
Ropez tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ropez lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Smith is breathing heavily.
No joy there for Ropez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ropez looks to land a combination but Smith avoids it well.
Ropez moves out of range as Smith strikes.
Ropez misses with a double jab.
Smith wants to clinch up but Ropez keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a lazy right hand but Ropez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ropez misses with a hook. Smith ducked under it nicely.
Ropez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
Ropez throws a series of punches but Smith avoids them all with ease.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Smith, as that shot connected.

Smith has closed the distance and engaged Ropez in a clinch.
Ropez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ropez is trying to break free.
Smith is stalling here.
Smith lands a hook to the side of the head.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A punch combination from Ropez misses.
Ropez misses with a double jab

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ropez won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith in side control lands a decent elbow.
Smith throws an elbow but Ropez slips to the side and avoids it well.
Smith wants to control but Ropez is keeping him busy.

Smith stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Smith thows a body shot but no joy.
Smith misses the body punch
and Ropez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ropez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Smith misses with a wild combination.
Ropez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice straight punches there by Smith. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ropez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.
Ropez is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Good shot there by Smith.
Ropez misses with a few strikes there.
Smith lands a really nice looking cross but Ropez seems unphased.
Smith misses with a looping left.
Ropez ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Ropez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Smith counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ropez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Smith gets to his feet - Ropez follows without any prompting.
Ryan Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ropez.
Ropez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a hook to the side of Ropez's head but Ropez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smith throws out a loose jab but Ropez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt - Ropez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Smith fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ropez fails to land with a series of punches.
Smith takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Ropez falls off balance throwing a combination
and Smith counters with a nice uppercut.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ropez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Smith.
Ropez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ropez's waist but Ropez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smith off to one side.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Tora Ropez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Smith.
Ropez looks to land a combination but Smith avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ryan Smith's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Ropez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Smith.
Ropez throws a nice looking combination but Smith bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Smith looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Ropez!
Smith misses with a head shot.
Ropez wants to try and get back to his feet.
Smith sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith dominating with strikes here.
Smith misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Smith looking to finish with strikes here!
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Poor strikes thrown by Smith there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's one minute gone in the round.
BOOM! Smith connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Ropez is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Smith landing punches.
Ryan Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ropez is trying to escape the mount.
Smith in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Smith fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ropez squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to finish with strikes here!
Smith thowing shots but they're missing.
Smith looking to finish Ropez with some ground and pound. This is bad for Ropez!
Ropez blocking the ground and pound.
Smith thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Ropez avoids a series of strikes thrown by Smith.
Smith is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ropez can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a big elbow.
Smith misses with a head shot.
Smith landing shots from mount.
Smith misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Ropez blocking the ground and pound.
Ryan Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smith looking to ground and pound but Ropez is blocking nicely.
Ropez is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Ropez blocking the ground and pound.
Smith throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Ropez's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to control but Ropez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Smith lands a heavy elbow.
Ropez is looking to improve his position but Smith isn't that keen on the idea.
Smith misses with a head shot.
Ropez is bucking up trying to escape but Smith cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Ropez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Tora Ropez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ropez wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smith winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

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