PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Einar Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marcus Smith acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Lee
vs
Smith

182 cm
31
182 lbs
19 - 8 - 0

185 cm
29
183 lbs
15 - 10 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Einar Lee!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marcus Smith!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Tiny Johnson and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick from Lee lands but Smith takes it in his stride.

Smith gets the takedown into side control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Lee is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Smith looks up at the clock and then as Lee takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Smith smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Lee is trying to improve his position.
Lee regains half guard, as Smith was trying to land strikes.
Lee is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Smith's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Smith's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to escape the position.
Smith has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Lee.
Smith rolls, trying to escape but Lee keeps control of the position.
Lee is looking to control Smith but Smith is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Smith.
Even with his hooks in, Lee manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Smith is in bad spot here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Einar Lee wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Lee shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed Lee's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lee wants to clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Smith!

It looks like Einar Lee has been cut.

Lee drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Smith avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Lee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to get back to half guard.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith is not content to let Lee control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Einar Lee just wasn't active enough.
Smith takes one on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Einar Lee will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Einar Lee's cut.
That's time! Lee's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Lee slips under a jab.
Smith misses with a wild combination.
Lee throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Marcus Smith has been cut.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Lee.

Smith gets a takedown into half guard.
Smith thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Smith looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Einar Lee overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lee is trying to maintain the position but Smith is very close to passing his half guard.
Smith is trying to control the action in half guard but Lee is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Lee is defending against the submission attempts here by Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lee makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Lee throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smith's waist but Smith gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lee off to one side.
Smith lands with a good body shot.
Smith tests Lee's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lee shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Smith feints a jab promting Lee to slip. Smith then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Lee slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Marcus Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lee throws out a powerful jab.
Smith lands a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith looks to land a left hand but Lee moved out of range nicely.
Lee has his takedown stuffed
and Smith counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Einar Lee. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A combination from Smith does no damage.
Marcus Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lee shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lee counters with a good, hard body kick but Smith shrugs it off.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
The crowd cheers as Smith lands an impressive looking overhand right. Lee doesn't seem phased though.
Lee slaps away a takedown attempt from Smith, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Lee works Smith's body with a nice hook.
Smith misses with a straight left.
Marcus Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smith looks to land a combination but Lee avoids it well.
Lee lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Smith at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lee clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lee is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Smith pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A head punch on the inside from Smith fails to land.
Lee drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Lee is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Smith can't fight it off and eventually Lee manages to take the fight to the floor. Smith looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Smith fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Lee to the ground. Smith is now in Lee's guard.
Lee avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lee avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lee has his hands on Smith's head, controlling the position.
Smith throws an elbow that misses. Lee uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Smith's guard. Nice move by Lee!
Lee trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Einar Lee wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Smith wants to clinch up but Lee keeps it at a distance.
Smith throws a nice looking combination but Lee bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Smith waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lee.
Lee throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Smith falls off balance throwing a combination

and Lee counters with a nice double leg into side control. Smith won't be happy with that.
Lee sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Smith is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Smith is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Lee is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Smith can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee wants to control the pace but Smith is squirming around nicely.
Lee controlling from the full mount.
Lee throws some wild stikes that Smith manages to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to improve his position but Lee isn't that keen on the idea.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Lee looking to ground and pound but Smith is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee with shots to the head and body - Smith looks very uncomfortable down there.
Lee misses with a head shot.
Lee controlling the pace for now.
Lee can't control as he wanted to and Smith manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Einar Lee clearly takes that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lee wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Smith misses with a wild combination.
Smith misses with a series of wild punches.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lee with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Smith rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lee moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lee scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lee looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Lee decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Lee is taking a breather. Smith 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.
Smith is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Lee wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Einar Lee wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Lee throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.

Lee drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Lee trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Lee content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee tries to score with some ground and pound. Smith controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Lee working the ground and pound but Smith is defending the strikes.
Lee in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith regains half guard there - taking advantage of Lee's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Lee trying to control from half guard but Smith is working away.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Einar Lee just wasn't active enough.

Lee forces Smith back against the cage and clinches.
Lee tries to score a body lock takedown but Smith shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Lee changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Smith fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Lee instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Lee tries to stall but Smith uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Lee lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Lee wants to take a breather but Smith is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Einar Lee has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Einar Lee had his way with Marcus Smith in that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Lee's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lee circles away quickly and effectively.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Lee closes the distance and clinches.
Lee tries to land a knee to the head but Smith blocks with his arms.
Smith tries for a takedown. No joy.
Lee is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Smith gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Lee is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Smith gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lee.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Einar Lee. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith working hard to break the clinch.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Smith throws a punch but it's blocked by Lee.
Lee tries to score a body lock takedown but Smith shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Smith content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Lee changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Smith fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Smith slips under a jab.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lee fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lee connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Smith misses with a few strikes there.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lee circles away quickly and effectively.
Lee throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith throws a nice looking combination but Lee bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lee scores with a jab to the body.
Lee feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Smiths jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lee scores a takedown into full mount!
Smith is desperately trying to improve his position but Lee has a good base and remains in mount.
Lee can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Smith is looking to escape.
Lee looking to control and managing it successfully.
Marcus Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee looking to control but Smith is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Einar Lee wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lee moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Lee lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Smith works over Lee's head and body with a nice combination.

Lee drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.
Smith lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smith stalling in the clinch but Lee improves position.
Smith is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Smith stops a takedown attempt from Lee.
Smith swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Smith misses with some punches.
Smith gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lee.
Lee has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Smith after a bit of a struggle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith throws a head punch that misses.

Lee wants the takedown. Smith is fighting it off but Lee persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Smith's guard against the cage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Einar Lee showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lee 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 49:46
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 49:46
Judge George Francis scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Einar Lee!
Einar Lee retains his welterweight title!