PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hito Sakaruba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakaruba comes to the cage accompanied by Bleed it Out . The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Sakaruba
vs
Smith

190 cm
24
265 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

193 cm
22
233 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hito Sakaruba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kevin Smith!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Sakaruba is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Sakaruba moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Sakaruba fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smith, pushing him back against the cage.

Sakaruba breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sakaruba defends it nicely.
Smith takes a kick to the side of the head.
Hito Sakaruba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith tries to clinch up
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith misses with a straight right.
Sakaruba misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sakaruba buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Smith on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Sakaruba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sakaruba throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakaruba misses with a head kick.
A head kick from Sakaruba lands but Smith takes it in his stride.
A head kick misses from Sakaruba.
Sakaruba tries a head kick but it misses.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Sakaruba is trying to stand back up but Smith is controlling him
Sakaruba is breathing heavily.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Sakaruba is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Smith decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Smith gets a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sakaruba pushes Smith off and gets back to his feet.
Sakaruba throws a series of strikes that have Smith backpedaling.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith blocks a head kick by Sakaruba.
Sakaruba goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Smith.
Sakaruba throws a head kick that misses.
Smith with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sakaruba counters with a nice leg kick.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
Hito Sakaruba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Smith.
Smith has his takedown stuffed
and Sakaruba counters with a one-two to the body.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Sakaruba moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakaruba gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Sakaruba breaks from the clinch.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Smith is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Sakaruba.
Smith tries to clinch up
and Sakaruba counters with an inside leg kick.
Sakaruba misses with a head kick.
Smith scores with a hook to the body. Sakaruba takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Smith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sakaruba counters with a big head kick but Smith shrugs it off.
Sakaruba misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Smith feints and as Sakaruba raises his hands in defense, Smith changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith passes into half guard.
Smith is trying to control. Sakaruba wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Sakaruba kicks off Smith and gets to his feet.
Sakaruba fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sakaruba tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Smith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sakaruba defends it nicely.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakaruba throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hito Sakaruba dominated that round.
That's time! Sakaruba's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smith misses with a body kick.
Smith with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sakaruba counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Smith is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Sakaruba misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sakaruba misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sakaruba is not content to let Smith control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakaruba is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Smith is controlling him well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sakaruba is being controlled here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakaruba wants to get back to his feet but Smith is dominant here and he's now got Sakaruba's back!

Smith has got one arm under Sakaruba's chin. This could be trouble... Sakaruba trying to control the other hand but Smith gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Sakaruba has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Kevin Smith!