PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Paul Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bullet Bookem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by call to prayer. Bookem has chosen Solitaire Unraveling as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Bookem

169 cm
27
135 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

170 cm
33
147 lbs
27 - 17 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Jihad Fight Gear-Outkast Infidels Version
Jihad Fight Gear-Outkast Infidels Version

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bullet Bookem!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Josh West and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circle momentarily. Smith darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Smith swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Bookem counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Smith looks to land a body kick but Bookem moved away.
Smith slips under a jab.
Bookem clobbers Smith with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Smith throws a low kick, looking for Bookem's leg but Bookem calmly moves out of range.
Smith lands with a right hand.
Smith keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bookem.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bookem sprawls well. Bookem wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Smith with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bookem counters with a straight right hand.
Bookem throws a solid leg kick but Smith takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Bookem.

Bookem tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Smith fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smith pulls Bookem into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bookem accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bookem is working Smith over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Bookem makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bookem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bookem is pulling down on Smith's head to control his posture.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bookem utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bookem seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Bookem is retaining full guard.
Bookem has control of Smith's left arm, preventing Smith from doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bullet Bookem was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Smith drops his hands momentarily and Bookem takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith blocks a jab.
Smith scores with a jab to the body.
Bookem looks to land a right hand but Smith moved out of range.
Smith closes the distance and clinches up with Bookem, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes Bookem against the cage but Bookem circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Paul Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith takes one to the side of the head.
Smith waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bookem.
Bookem blocks a low kick nicely.

Bookem feints and as Smith raises his hands in defense, Bookem changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bookem stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith wants to sweep here but Bookem controlling him for the moment.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smith manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Bookem stops Smith from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bookem working to try and regain half guard.
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bookem is looking to escape.
Smith avoids the attempt from Bookem to control.
Smith thowing shots but they're missing.

Smith is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Bookem has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Bookem!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bookem trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

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

Smith had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bookem defends it easily.
Bookem postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bookem wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bookem postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
Smith keeping full guard, as Bookem tries to pass.

Smith is looking for a triangle here but Bookem uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bullet Bookem will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bookem.
Bookem misses with a two punch combination.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Bookem.
Smith slips a straight right by Bookem.
Bookem throws a jab but it's blocked by Smith.
Smith moves out of range of the strikes.
Bookem cracks Smith with a good jab.
Smith blocks a jab.
Smith tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Smith takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Bookem will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Smith slips under a jab from Bookem.
Smith shoots in but Bookem avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Smith will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smith lands in his opponent's guard.
Smith advances to half guard.
Bookem is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Smith is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bookem sees it coming and defends easily.
Smith is thwarting Bookem's attempts to control the position.

Smith is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bookem is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith is working for a kimura but Bookem is defending it quite comfortably.

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

Smith is looking for a kimura here.
Bookem avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith with the ground and pound but Bookem uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith being controlled here momentarily.
Bookem utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bookem is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Paul Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bookem is controlling Smith's posture.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Bullet Bookem hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Smith gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Bookem.
Bookem goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Paul Smith has been cut.
Smith with a poor takedown
and Bookem counters with a nice body shot.
Bookem works the jab nicely.
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!
Horrible takedown by Bookem or perhaps it was just good defense by Smith which made him look bad.
Bookem throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Smith sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bookem jabs Smith right on the nose. Smith blinks but takes it well.
Bookem 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 Bookem off to one side.
Paul Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bullet Bookem.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bookem sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
Smith shoots in but Bookem avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bullet Bookem showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Paul Smith's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Smith gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Bookem to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Smith has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Bookem is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Smith.
Bookem trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.

Bookem tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Smith takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Smith tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bookem wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is working to avoid the ground and pound but Bookem connects with a decent elbow.
Bookem wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Smith is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Smith wants to control but Bookem postures up.
Bookem working the head and body with strikes.
Bookem wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Smith tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bookem wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Paul Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bullet Bookem is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is letting Bookem control him for a moment.
Bookem wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Smith is looking for a sweep.
Bookem trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Bookem 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.
Smith tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bookem wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Smith is trying to control Bookem's posture but Bookem avoids it.
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bookem working away.
Bookem taking a breather here.
Smith is looking to reverse the position.
Smith is working hard here to advance position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bookem trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Bookem controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Bookem has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Smith is trying to get back to half guard.
The referee asks Bookem politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Bookem prefers to stall for the moment though.
Smith is trying to get back to half guard.
Smith is not content to let Bookem control the position.
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bullet Bookem comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bookem 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bullet Bookem!