PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shane Tanner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeeves Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanner comes to the cage accompanied by Cleveland Rocks. 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.

Tanner
vs
Smith

171 cm
23
178 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

178 cm
23
177 lbs
5 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Fighters Formula

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shane Tanner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jeeves Smith!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Sergei Dronov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanner wants to clinch.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
A jab from Tanner misses.
Tanner loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.
Tanner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tanner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
A punch lands to the side of Smith 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanner misses with an uppercut. Smith saw that one coming.
Tanner wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Smith fails to land the takedown.
Smith lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Shane Tanner has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner misses with a double jab.
Tanner fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smith slips a straight right by Tanner.
Smith tries to clinch but Tanner moves away
letting Tanner counter with a right hand.
A good leg kick by Smith.
Tanner throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tanner throws a series of punches but Smith avoids them all with ease.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Smith tries to keep at a distance but Tanner has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tanner throws a punch but it's blocked by Smith.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Smith just misses with a elbow thrown towards Tanner's brow.
Smith with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tanner throws a knee to the head but misses.
Smith looking for a takedown.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but Tanner blocks with his arms.
Smith is leaning against Tanner and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Tanner goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanner scores with a shoulder strike.
Smith with an attempt at a knee that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tanner.
Tanner trying to land knees to the body.
Smith tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tanner smiles and moves away.
Shane Tanner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeeves Smith.
Tanner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Tanner rushes Smith and presses him up against the cage.
Tanner with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Smith drags the fight down to the ground.

Tanner avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tanner missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smith keeping full guard, as Tanner tries to pass.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smith is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tanner trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Tanner wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Smith advances to half guard.
Tanner avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smith.
Tanner is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Smith is trying to work for a kimura but Tanner is defending well.
Smith looks gassed!
Smith wants to free his trapped foot but Tanner is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Tanner is trying to get back to full guard.
Tanner trying to control but Smith postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smith is looking for a kimura but Tanner is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Smith to get the leverage.
Tanner wants to control but Smith is keeping busy.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tanner manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Tanner throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Tanner looking for a sweep. Not yet Tanner, not yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tanner scores with a shot to the body.
Tanner swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tanner thuds his right hand into Smith's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Shane Tanner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith clinches but Tanner breaks the clinch

and Tanner counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Smith is looking to control Tanner's arms but Tanner gets an underhook and turns him. Now Smith has his back to the cage.
Tanner landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jeeves Smith will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Shane Tanner's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tanner avoids the head kick by Smith.
Tanner pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tanner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Tanner throws a series of punches but Smith moves out of range.
Tanner swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tanner tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tanner misses with a looping left.
Shane Tanner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tanner misses with a two punch combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tanner looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.

Tanner fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smith, pushing him back against the cage.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tanner lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Smith connects with a knee to the head.
Smith goes for a takedown attempt but Tanner pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Smith lands a nice leg kick that just misses Tanner's sensitive parts.
Tanner lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Tanner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tanner throws a jab when Smith was well out of range.
Tanner misses with a series of wild punches.
Tanner scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Smith can't get the takedown.
Tanner working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanner avoids the elbow strike from Smith, against the cage.
Smith throws a knee to the head but misses.
Smith fails to pull guard.
Shane Tanner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeeves Smith.
Tanner misses with a hook from the clinch.
Smith misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tanner throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tanner has a couple of punches blocked by Smith.
With the fighters up against the cage, Smith throws an elbow but misses.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tanner has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Smith lands an elbow inside that Tanner shrugs off.
Smith lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Smith tries to pull guard but Tanner holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.
Tanner looking to throw knees to the head but Smith is blocking nicely.
A short body shot lands from Tanner as the two fighters clinch.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tanner.
Smith blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tanner misses with a knee strike.
Tanner prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tanner.

Tanner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Tanner clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a knee strike.
Smith tries to pull guard but Tanner won't allow it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tanner.
Tanner wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Smith looking to throw knees to the head but Tanner is blocking nicely.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tanner.

Tanner breaks from the clinch.
Smith looks to clinch
and Tanner counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Smith misses with a wild combination.

Smith gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Still in the clinch, Smith scores with a nice short uppercut.
Smith tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tanner tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tanner misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smith.
Smith missing with knees to the body.
Smith taking a breather.
Still in the clinch, Smith scores with a nice short uppercut.
Tanner doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tanner misses with a hook to the ribs.

Smith ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Smith no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Tanner wants to stand but Smith has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Tanner has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith is looking for a triangle but Tanner pushes his legs off easily.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Tanner trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing Tanner from standing up.
Tanner trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith keeping full guard, as Tanner tries to pass.
Tanner stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Tanner from controlling successfully.

Tanner avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeeves Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Shane Tanner's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith misses with a body shot.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tanner pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nice defenses there by Smith.
Smith shoots in but Tanner avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Tanner wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tanner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Tanner tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Jeeves Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith tries to clinch up but Tanner circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Tanner shows good takedown defense.
Shane Tanner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeeves Smith.
Tanner looks to land a right hand but Smith moved out of range.
Tanner tries to clinch up
and Smith counters with an inside leg kick.

Tanner closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tanner lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Tanner works on Smith's body with a couple of short punches.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tanner has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tanner has had enough of the clinch but Smith keeps him there for the moment.
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tanner avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws an elbow but it misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Smith throws an elbow but misses.
Smith tries to pull guard but Tanner won't allow it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smith.

Tanner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tanner takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Tanner is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Tanner misses with a combination

and Smith moves into the clinch.
Tanner lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Smith just misses with a elbow thrown towards Tanner's brow.
Smith looking for a takedown.
Smith has a couple of punches blocked by Tanner.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Tanner.
Smith throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Smith fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tanner scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Tanner lands a hook that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Tanner lands a hook to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Still in the clinch, Tanner scores with a nice short uppercut.
Tanner stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tanner.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanner lands a hook that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Tanner tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Tanner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tanner.
Tanner misses with a combination
and Smith makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tanner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Tanner.
Tanner swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smith counters with a left to the body.
Smith tries to clinch there but Tanner circles away.
Tanner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Tanner lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tanner clinches.
Shane Tanner has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Smith trying to land knees to the body.
Smith fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Smith tries a knee to the head but Tanner blocks it.
Smith tries to pull guard but Tanner holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.
Tanner throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Smiths head.
Smith keeps control of Tanner as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tanner.
Tanner lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Tanner throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smith blocks it with crossed arms.
Shane Tanner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith throws a punch but it's blocked by Tanner.
Tanner throws a knee to the head but misses.
Smith gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Smith.
Tanner lands a right hand.
Smith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tanner just stands there and leans against the cage.
Tanner misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smith.
Smith landing knees to the head.

Tanner breaks from the clinch.

Smith gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tanner.
Smith tries for a takedown. No joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shane Tanner showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!