PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hard Core (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hard Core has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Core
vs
Smith

180 cm
24
192 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

180 cm
20
190 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hard Core!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Scott Smith!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksandr Martynov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Core shoots in looking for a takedown. Smith tries to sprawl out of it but Core keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Smith manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Core shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Core takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Smith shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Core makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Core.
Smith wants to control from the top but Core keeps moving.

Core had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Smith is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Core has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Core is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Smith's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Core is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Smith pulls his head out easily.
Smith takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Core punching from the bottom.
Smith slips a nice elbow through Core's hands, connecting with Core's forehead.
Smith seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Smith has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Smith working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Core sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Smith is working for a kimura but Core is defending it quite comfortably.
Core moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Core is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.

Core looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
Smith keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Core's head.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Smith got a little sloppy there for a moment and Core has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smith has managed to get both his arms back between Core's legs - danger averted.
Smith wants to control from the top but Core keeps moving.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith postures up and lands a big shot to Core's brow.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Core working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.
Core is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Core is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Core looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smith looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Core 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 is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Smith pushes down on Core's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Smith looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Smith scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Smith is working for a submission of some sort.
Core wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
Core moves into full guard.
Smith wants to control from the top but Core keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Smith showed some decent athleticism there.
Core wants to control but Smith is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Smith scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Core tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.

Core looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Core is defending well.
Smith scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Core actively working from the bottom here.
Core trying to control here.
Core is in trouble now - Smith has advanced to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Core can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Core tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Core flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

Smith jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Core manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Core is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Smith off and has taken his back!
Core connects with a big shot to the side of Smith's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Smith is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Core gets his way!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith breaks Core's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Core had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Smith drops back looking for a leg! Core is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Core manages to kick Smith off! Smith jumps back into Core's guard.
Core keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith won't allow Core to sweep him here.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smith pushing down on Core's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Smith is trying to control. Core wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith is looking for a kimura here.

Core looking for submissions off his back.
Core tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Core taking some punishment here, with Smith in his half guard.

Smith wants to work for an arm triangle but Core is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Core wants to get back to full guard.
Core gets back to full guard.

Core is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.

Smith thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Core is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.
Smith slips nicely into half guard.
Ground and pound from Smith.

Core is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Smith pulls his head out easily.

Smith is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Core is just riding it out for now. Smith eventually gives up the hold.

Smith is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Smith scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Smith gets the takedown into side control.
Smith is working Core over with some ground and pound from side control.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Core keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Core's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Smith working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Smith looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Core manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to control but Core postures up.
Core scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Core not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Core is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Smith is looking for a sweep. Core is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Core is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Core is stalling here. Smith is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Core seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Smith has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Core sneaks back into half guard.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Core's head.

Smith is looking for a kimura but Core is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Smith to get the leverage.
Smith seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Core does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Core looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Smith is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Core is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Smith's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Smith's back!
Core has the hooks in. Smith is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Core working for a choke but Smith is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to survive by controlling the hands.

Smith is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Hard Core has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Core is trying to stick to Smith's back but Smith is turning into Core. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Core's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Smith.

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.
Smith is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Core's head.

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.

Core had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.
Smith slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Core.

Core looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Core keeps working.

Smith is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Core is just riding it out for now. Smith eventually gives up the hold.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Hard Core.
Well Smith 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29

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