PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Darin Blood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Blood
vs
Smith

183 cm
21
181 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darin Blood!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Smith!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Blood lands with a right hand.

Blood looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Blood is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Blood pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Blood is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Blood thows a big elbow that misses.
Blood postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Blood postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Blood working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Blood scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Blood accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smith is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Blood thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Blood with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Blood with a nice head shot there.
Blood postures up and lands a big shot to Smith's brow.
Blood is pushing down on Smith's leg trying to pass to half guard. Smith is fighting to maintain full guard but Blood has managed to sneak the leg through.
Smith looks gassed!
Smith has hold of Blood's hands but Blood slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Smith missing with punches from the bottom.
Blood scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blood seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Smith does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Blood working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Blood lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Blood works his way into full mount!
Blood in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

It looks like Ryan Smith has been cut.
Blood 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.
The referee warns Smith that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Smith is desperately trying to improve his position but Blood has a good base and remains in mount.
Blood is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Smith can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Blood wants to control the pace but Smith is squirming around nicely.
The referee warns Smith that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blood lands a nice shot to the head.
Smith taking shots to the head.

Blood wants to finish this one by submission but Smith is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Blood.
Blood landing strikes from the mount.

Blood looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Blood with shots to the head and body - Smith looks very uncomfortable down there.
Blood controlling from mount.

Blood jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Smith manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Blood is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith sneaks back into half guard.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Blood sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darin Blood dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ryan Smith's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Blood connects with a body shot.
Darin Blood is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blood throws a nice head kick!

That has opened up Ryan Smith's cut even more.
Smith fails with the takedown

and Blood counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Smith!
Blood lands with some strikes.
Smith is bucking up trying to escape but Blood cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Smith is trying to escape the mount.

Blood is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Smith has managed to escape the submission attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blood raining down shots from the mount!

Smith is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Blood locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Smith is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Darin Blood!
Darin Blood retains his middleweight title!