PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cucumber Slice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Slice
vs
Smith

187 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very confident

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 Los Angeles, Cucumber Slice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Smith!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slice thuds a left hand into Smith's body.
Slice swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Slice keeps the fight on the outside.

Slice drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Slice trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Slice postures up and lands a big shot to Smith's brow.
Slice has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Slice stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Smith gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Slice to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Slice throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Slice trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slice won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Slice won't allow Smith to get back to his feet.

Slice stands up from guard. Let's bang!
No luck for Slice with that takedown attempt.

Slice pushes Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith taking a breather.

Slice jumps into guard, dragging Smith to the mat.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Slice is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Slice. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Slice is controlling Smith's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slice throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Slice tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Slice is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.
Slice controlling the position.
Slice has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slice has control of Smith's left arm, preventing Smith from doing any damage.
Smith passes into half guard.

Smith stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Slice is breathing heavily.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Smith pushes Slice up against the cage in a clinch.
Slice prevents a takedown attempt there.

Slice is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Smith can't fight it off and eventually Slice manages to take the fight to the floor. Smith looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Slice stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smith is trying to control the position but Slice postures up.
Slice passes Smith's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Slice trying to mount his opponent but Smith defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cucumber Slice dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Smith 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.
Slice pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.
Slice looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Slice wants to get back to his feet but Smith is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Slice pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.
Slice keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slice keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

Slice is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Smith wants to control from the top but Slice keeps moving.

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.

Slice throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Smith escapes and throws Slice's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Slice prevents Smith from moving into mount.
Slice is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Slice managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Smith.
Smith tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Slice tries to improve position but can't.

Smith goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Slice has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Smith but great work by Slice.

Slice is trying to get an arm triangle but Smith is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking for a sweep.

Slice has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Smith shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Smith was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Slice is trying to escape the mount.
Slice tries to lock up and control but Smith gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Good standup being displayed there by Smith as he connects with a hook.
Smith looks for the body kick but Slice saw that one coming.

Slice instigates a clinch.
Smith working hard to break the clinch.

Slice has hold of one of Smith's legs. Smith is fighting the takedown attempt but Slice gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Slice is proving a slippery customer.
Smith is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Slice won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Slice postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Slice content to stall in guard here.
Slice trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slice tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Slice content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Smith pulls Slice in close to his closed guard and prevents Slice from doing any damage or advancing position.

Smith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Slice can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smith looking to control.

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.
Slice cracks Smith with a solid left hand.

Slice gets to his feet - Smith follows without any prompting.
Slice scores with a one two! Smith had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Smith shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Slice's guard.
Slice bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.
Slice controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Slice advances to half guard.
Slice stalling away here and it's allowed Smith to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slice passes Smith's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Smith wants to get back to full guard but Slice has mounted him!
Slice looking to control and managing it successfully.
Smith really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Slice controlling from mount.

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.
Smith keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Slice in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
BOOM! Slice connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Slice tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Smith is looking to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cucumber Slice showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Slice has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cucumber Slice!