PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Smith has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Smith
vs
Stark

172 cm
33
172 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

185 cm
24
175 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ultimate Fighting Gear

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 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mike Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tony Stark!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Summer Carpenter and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stark steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Smith.
Stark uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smith throws a head kick that misses
and Stark counters with a stiff right hand.
Smith looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown but Stark manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smith's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Stark shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sloppy strikes from Stark. Those never looked like landing.

Stark pushes Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
A short right from Stark on the inside.
Stark tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Stark struggles to land a body shot inside as Smith controls his hands.
Stark stalling against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries for a takedown but Stark manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stark has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Stark tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smith's elbow.
Stark tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smith's elbow.
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Stark avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Smith can't get the takedown.
Smith wants a takedown but no success here.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Stark is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Stark scores with a nice short uppercut.
Smith tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stark smiles and moves away.
Stark avoids the body shot from Smith.
Smith throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Stark paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stark tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Smith drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Smith jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Stark is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Smith might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Stark sits in half guard.
Smith tries to roll over but Stark keeps him under control.
Stark keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stark is working away from the top position though.
Stark is just content to waste time from the top position. Smith takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Stark controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Stark is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Stark utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stark's head.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stark looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stark is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stark working a defensive guard here.
Stark might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Smith kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Stark dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Stark lands a jab-cross combination.
Mike Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith fails with the takedown
and Stark counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stark stuffs the takedown attempt from Smith. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Stark is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Smith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smith manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Stark on his heels. He'll look to pass Stark's guard now, I'm sure.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Stark wants to sweep but no luck.
Stark manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.
Stark slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Stark wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Smith doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Smith trying to control the position here.

Mike Smith has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Smith throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Stark was covering up waiting for the punch and Smith finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Smith postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mike Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Stark seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Stark looking to control.
Smith has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stark is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tony Stark.
Smith lands a glancing blow to the side of Stark's head.

Stark closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stark works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stark escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stark misses the shot to the body.
Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stark as he avoids it easily.
Smith throws a body punch but Stark moves out of range.
Smith fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stark avoids it really well and circles away.
Smith slips a jab and a cross from Stark.
Stark lands with a nice combination. Smith backs away looking to recover.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Stark.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Smith avoids the body shot from Stark.
Smith shoots in but Stark avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Smith gets a takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stark wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
Stark controlling the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tony Stark will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Smith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stark defends it nicely.
Stark fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Smith takes a swing at Stark's ribcage but misses.
Smith fails with the takedown.
Stark tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tony Stark seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Smith misses with a body shot.
Stark doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stark moves away.
Stark will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mike Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. Stark tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stark manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. Stark tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stark manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sloppy strikes from Stark. Those never looked like landing.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stark throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.

Smith scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Stark on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark wants to control but Smith postures up.
Stark holding on.
Stark is trying to get back to half guard.
Smith working the ground and pound.
Stark wants to control but Smith postures up.
Smith in side control lands a decent elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Smith is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Stark knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Smith working the ground and pound.

Smith swings around for an armbar but Stark sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Smith's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Smith is working hard here to advance position.
Stark wants to get up but he can't break Smith's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Tony Stark is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Stark from controlling successfully.
Stark controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith misses with a hook to the body
and Stark counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith has his takedown stuffed
and Stark counters with a one-two to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Stark there.
Stark has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by Stark.
Stark misses with a body shot.
Stark stuffs the takedown attempt from Smith. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Mike Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stark scores with a hook to the body. Smith takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith throws a left and a right that both miss
and Stark counters with a straight right hand.
Stark lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Stark.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tony Stark.
I've got Stark winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Stark!
In his post fight interview, Tony Stark started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.