PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Josephis Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jackson Juliard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Juliard

189 cm
19
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

190 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Josephis Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jackson Juliard!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith misses with an attempted mid kick.
Juliard closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
Juliard stuffs the takedown attempt from Smith. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.

Juliard closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Smith did well to prevent Juliard getting side control.
Juliard thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Juliard seems to be looking for submissions.
Juliard is trying to control the action in half guard but Smith is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Juliard trying to control from Smith's half guard. Smith has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Juliard tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Juliard must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smith is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to control but Juliard is working from the bottom.
Juliard wants to stand and escape but Smith is having none of it.
Smith is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Juliard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Juliard pushes Smith off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Juliard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith with a lazy takedown attempt

and Juliard counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Juliard.
Juliard throws and elbow that misses. Smith uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Juliard's guard. Nice move by Smith!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Juliard keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Juliard is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Juliard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Juliard is trying to stand up here but Smith is controlling him well.
Smith has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Juliard looks gassed!
Juliard wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith working Juliard over with strikes here.
Smith throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Smith thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Juliard blocking the ground and pound.
Juliard keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Smith misses with a head shot.
Juliard avoids a series of strikes thrown by Smith.
Juliard is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Juliard is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Juliard is looking to improve his position but Smith isn't that keen on the idea.
Smith controlling from mount.
Juliard is squirming around, avoiding Smith's attempts to control the action.

Smith goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Juliard is on top in guard.
Smith pulls Juliard in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jackson Juliard dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smith cracks Juliard with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Juliard but Juliard pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Smith fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Juliard.
Juliard fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Juliard. No joy for Smith on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josephis Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Juliard is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smith sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith has a takedown stuffed.
Smith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Juliard's waist but Juliard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smith off to one side.

Juliard changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Smith looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Juliard wants to take a breather but Smith manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Juliard.
Juliard throws and elbow that misses. Smith uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Juliard's guard. Nice move by Smith!
Juliard is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juliard keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Juliard defending against the ground and pound.
Smith misses with an attempted head punch from side 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.
Smith takes a little break here. Juliard wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Juliard manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Smith is positioning himself well to prevent Juliard advancing to mount.

Juliard is looking for submissions but instead, Smith has regained full guard.
Smith is pulling down on Juliard's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juliard wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
Smith seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

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's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Jackson Juliard has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Josephis Smith.
Smith stuffs the takedown attempt from Juliard. Juliard gets slowly back to his feet.
Juliard shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smith sprawls well. Smith wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Juliard gets slowly back to his feet.

Juliard gets the takedown into side control.
Smith manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Juliard is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Smith sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Josephis Smith will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Juliard but Juliard pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Smith fails with the takedown

and Juliard counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josephis Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Juliard throws and elbow that misses. Smith uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Juliard's guard. Nice move by Smith!
Smith works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Juliard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Juliard has a hand on Smith's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Smith takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Smith controlling from the full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Smith landing strikes from the mount and Juliard is in trouble!
Juliard is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Juliard can't escape the position.
Smith content just to control the position here.
Juliard holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Smith tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Smith trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Smith throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Smith controlling the pace for now.
Smith in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Juliard is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juliard tries to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
Poor strikes thrown by Smith there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Smith landing strikes from the mount and Juliard is in trouble!
Juliard keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Smith scoring with strikes but Juliard is staying in there.
Smith controlling from the full mount.
Smith throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Juliard wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Smith.
Juliard tries to lock up and control but Smith gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Smith wants to control the pace but Juliard is squirming around nicely.
Smith unloads with some shots from mount but Juliard bucks and avoids them well.
Smith thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Juliard tries to lock up and control but Smith gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Smith scoring with strikes but Juliard is staying in there.
Smith throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Smith lands a nice shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josephis Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

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