PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Will Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Bader (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alex Bader will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Smith
vs
Bader

180 cm
25
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Will Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alex Bader!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Skip Squint and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Bader can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smith controls the pace.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bader works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Smith has gone for a leg lock! Bader slips out almost immediately though and dives into Smith's guard.

Smith has his foot on Bader's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bader works his way back into a safe position though.
Smith trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Bader trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Bader avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Smith is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bader defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bader avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Bader trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

Smith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bader can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Bader is proving a slippery customer.

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.
Bader working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bader pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Bader is pushing down on Smith's leg trying to pass to half guard. Smith is fighting to maintain full guard but Bader has managed to sneak the leg through.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith won't allow Bader to pass to mount.
Smith gets back to full guard.
Smith has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Bader has passed into side control.
Smith is looking for a sweep.
Bader trying to control the position but Smith is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bader is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bader tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Bader has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to control from the top but Bader keeps moving.
Bader working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bader is keeping the position for now.
Bader has a closed guard, preventing Smith from standing up.
Smith wants to control from the top but Bader keeps moving.

Smith drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bader looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bader looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bader!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Smith dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alex Bader's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bader misses with a takedown attempt

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Smith trying to work for an americana but Bader has managed to regain full guard.
Smith not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Bader is retaining full guard.
Bader looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Smith is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Bader is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Bader has escaped and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bader stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.

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

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bader wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

Bader 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.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

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

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bader wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith is looking for a triangle but Bader pushes his legs off easily.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Bader stands and throws Smith's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bader is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smith is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Bader is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Smith knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Bader wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Smith manages to work his way to half guard, despite Bader's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith looking for submissions off his back.
Smith landing strikes from the bottom.

Bader wants to work for an arm triangle but Smith is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Smith preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Smith is trying to stand back up but Bader is controlling him

Bader is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Smith is just riding it out for now. Bader eventually gives up the hold.
Smith is trying to maintain the position but Bader is very close to passing his half guard.
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 Will Smith will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alex Bader's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Bader shoots and misses

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Smith is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Smith is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bader has managed to free his arm - good work.
Smith is trying to control the action in half guard but Bader is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Smith is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Smith is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bader looks like he's trying to stand up.
Smith has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Bader is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's two 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.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Smith cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Smith goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Bader turns into him and now he's in Smith's guard.

Smith throws his legs up looking for a submission but Bader uses it to pass to side control.
Smith regains half guard.
Bader thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bader is thwarting Smith's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bader is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Bader lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Smith looking for submissions off his back.
Smith punching from the bottom.
Bader thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Smith's head.

Smith looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bader misses with a takedown attempt

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown. Bader fights it but they end up in guard.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bader swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Bader is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bader swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Will Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bader is on top in guard.

Bader got a little sloppy there for a moment and Smith has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bader has managed to get both his arms back between Smith's legs - danger averted.

And that's the end of the fight!
Will Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Smith 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27

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