PBP Commentary

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

Smith
vs
Cabrera

180 cm
24
180 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

171 cm
24
187 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alejandro Cabrera!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Stewart Dunkirk and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cabrera throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cabrera.

Smith feints and as Cabrera raises his hands in defense, Smith changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cabrera working a defensive guard here.
Cabrera should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith won't allow Cabrera to sweep him here.
Smith passes into half guard.
Cabrera tries to roll over but Smith keeps him under control.
Cabrera is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A slapping leg kick lands for Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabrera throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by Cabrera.
Cabrera thows a leg kick but Smith checks it

and Smith counters with a takedown into side control.
Smith lands an elbow.
Cabrera dodges the ground and pound from Smith.
Cabrera is trying to improve his position.
Cabrera regains half guard, as Smith was trying to land strikes.
Smith 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.
Cabrera tries to roll over but Smith keeps him under control.
Nice strikes from Smith there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith prevents Cabrera from standing back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Smith lands a nice short elbow.
Cabrera is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Smith sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cabrera defending well though.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smith prevents Cabrera from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith is taking a breather. Cabrera says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Cabrera is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Smith scoring with strikes but Cabrera is staying in there.
Cabrera wants to control but Smith is having none of it.
A nice elbow there by Smith.
Cabrera wants to control but Smith is having none of it.

Smith swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Cabrera is now in Smith's guard. A big mistake from Smith there, giving up the dominant position!
Cabrera preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Cabrera from controlling successfully.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cabrera is one step ahead there.
Cabrera not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Smith controls Cabrera momentarily but Cabrera frees himself.
Cabrera trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cabrera stands up over Smith, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Smith is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cabrera looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith scores with a takedown into Cabrera's guard.
Cabrera preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Smith gets to his feet. Cabrera looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Cabrera is looking to slow Smith down with leg kicks.

Smith closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Smith prevents Cabrera from improving his position.
Cabrera trying to hold on to Smith's head to control him but Smith postures up.
Cabrera has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Cabrera trying to control here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cabrera avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabrera gets back to full guard.
Cabrera trying to control the position.
Smith forces his way into half guard.
Smith slips a nice elbow through Cabrera's hands, connecting with Cabrera's forehead.
Cabrera trying to control here.

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.
Cabrera regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ryan Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cabrera looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Smith puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Cabrera makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cabrera.

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

Smith gets to his feet - Cabrera follows without any prompting.
Cabrera throws a low kick but Smith avoids it.
Cabrera misses with a kick to the body

and Smith decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cabrera's guard.
Cabrera looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith with a nice head shot there.
Cabrera is trying to keep Smith in close.
Cabrera seems keen to control Smith's posture.
Cabrera bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.
Smith wants to sweep here but Cabrera controlling him for the moment.

Smith uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Cabrera throws a sloppy head kick

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown. Cabrera fights it but they end up in guard.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cabrera controlling Smith's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera trying to control the position.
Smith won't allow Cabrera to sweep him here.
Cabrera not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Smith is looking to stand up but Cabrera won't let him.
Cabrera is controlling Smith's posture.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cabrera looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cabrera throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Smith shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cabrera pinned against the cage. Cabrera gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cabrera throws a leg kick

and Smith counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Cabrera's guard now.
Cabrera looking to control.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Cabrera is keeping the position.
Cabrera looking to control.
Cabrera wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Cabrera is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Cabrera blocks nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cabrera is pulling down on Smith's head to control his posture.
Cabrera working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cabrera scores with a leg kick.
Alejandro Cabrera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Smith looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Cabrera trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Cabrera looking for a sweep. Not yet Cabrera, not yet.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cabrera is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cabrera throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smith passes Cabrera's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cabrera missing with punches from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Cabrera swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Alejandro Cabrera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cabrera throws a wild body kick that Smith sees coming a mile off.
A good leg kick by Cabrera.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cabrera but Cabrera pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera tries to score with a low kick but Smith moves his leg out of the way.
Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cabrera tries a low kick but Smith avoids it.
Cabrera misses with a hook to the body
and Smith cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
An inside leg kick from Cabrera misses.
Cabrera takes a swing at Smith's ribcage but misses.
Ryan Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cabrera throws a series of punches but Smith moves out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - Cabrera scores with a four punch combination!

Smith closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smith lands in his opponent's guard.
Cabrera trying to control the position.
Alejandro Cabrera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cabrera might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Smith kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Cabrera is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smith is controlling him.

Smith drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Cabrera dives on top into guard.
Cabrera wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

Cabrera stands and steps away. Smith gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cabrera tries to work over Smith's front leg with a kick but Smith checks it.
Cabrera throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

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