PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vitali Jurcina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruce Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jurcina has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Vitali Jurcina has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Jurcina
vs
Smith

188 cm
30
196 lbs
16 - 20 - 0

180 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 20 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vitali Jurcina!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bruce Smith!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Chad Campbell and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Smith misses.
Smith looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Smith throws a push kick but Jurcina slaps the foot to one side.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Smith lands with a kick to the ribs.
Smith throws an overhand right that lands on Jurcina's shoulder, as Jurcina tries to avoid the shot.
Jurcina throws a combination that misses
and Smith counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Smith looks to throw the jab but Jurcina is out of range.
Jurcina staying out of range there.

Smith gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Smith trying to land knees to the body.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Jurcina is keeping busy.
Jurcina misses with a knee to the head.
Smith working hard to break the clinch.
Jurcina with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith can't find room to land a body shot as Jurcina controls the action.
Jurcina tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Smith is looking to control Jurcina's arms but Jurcina gets an underhook and turns him. Now Smith has his back to the cage.
Jurcina misses with a knee strike.
Jurcina has Smith pressed against the cage, preventing Smith from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Smith is trying to break free.
Smith controlling the action here for a moment.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Bruce Smith.

Smith darts in and clinches Jurcina up against the cage.
Jurcina tries to land a knee to the head but Smith blocks with his arms.
Smith tries to circle away but Jurcina has him pinned against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Jurcina as Smith tries to tie him up.
Jurcina throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smith blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to slow down the pace here.
Jurcina throws a knee to the head but misses.
Jurcina throws a knee to the head but misses.
Jurcina is breathing heavily.
Smith is looking to control Jurcina's arms but Jurcina gets an underhook and turns him. Now Smith has his back to the cage.
Jurcina tries a knee to the head but Smith blocks it.
Jurcina tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Jurcina is keeping busy.
Jurcina tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Jurcina with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Jurcina tries to land a knee to the head but Smith blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jurcina prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Smith misses with a hook to the ribs.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Jurcina won't allow it.
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Jurcina blocks a body shot from Smith.
The referee is keeping an eye on Jurcina - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Jurcina tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A frustrated look appears on Smith's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Jurcina won't allow it.
Jurcina throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smith blocks it with crossed arms.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.
Smith looking to slow down the pace here.
Jurcina with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Jurcina is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jurcina using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Smith has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Jurcina throws a knee to the head but misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Jurcina misses with a knee to the head.
Smith tries to stall but Jurcina uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Jurcina tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Smith trying to control the position but instead, Jurcina has worked for underhooks and has pushed Smith into the cage.
Jurcina tries to land a knee to the head but Smith blocks with his arms.
Smith is trying to stall.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jurcina looking to throw knees to the head but Smith is blocking nicely.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Jurcina as Smith tries to tie him up.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Bruce Smith.

Smith darts in and clinches Jurcina up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Smith dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jurcina rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Smith dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Jurcina. That did some damage!

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Jurcina tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jurcina is pushing Smith up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Jurcina looking to throw knees to the head but Smith is blocking nicely.
Smith is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Jurcina throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smith blocks it with crossed arms.
Jurcina with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jurcina tries to land a knee to the head but Smith blocks with his arms.
Smith trying to control the position but instead, Jurcina has worked for underhooks and has pushed Smith into the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is looking to break free of the clinch but Jurcina has double underhooks.
Jurcina tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Jurcina is controlling him.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Jurcina with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Bruce Smith seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Jurcina with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Smith trying to stall but Jurcina improves his position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Bruce Smith.
Smith is looking to land body kicks.
Vitali Jurcina is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith loads up on a big right hand but Jurcina slips the punch.

Jurcina tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Jurcina throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smith blocks it with crossed arms.
Smith tries a body shot but Jurcina blocks it.
Smith is trying to push Jurcina away but Jurcina has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jurcina keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Smith's efforts to push away.
Jurcina with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Jurcina tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Smith is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Smith is looking to break free of the clinch but Jurcina has double underhooks.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Jurcina using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Smith has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Jurcina throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smith blocks it with crossed arms.
Smith is trying to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith can't break the clinch.
Jurcina tries to land a knee to the head but Smith blocks with his arms.
Smith is trying to stall.
Jurcina misses with a knee strike.
Jurcina with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Smith is trying to maintain a safe position but Jurcina gets an underhook and turns Smith into the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Bruce Smith.
Jab from Smith.
Smith pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Smith clinches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Jurcina with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Smith misses with a hook to the ribs.
Smith stalling in the clinch but Jurcina improves position.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Jurcina has him pressed against the cage.
Jurcina with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jurcina blocks a body shot from Smith.
Smith is trying to force a seperation but Jurcina has the dominant position.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Jurcina tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Smith is looking to break free of the clinch but Jurcina has double underhooks.
Smith taking a breather.
Smith is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Jurcina has denied him.
Smith goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Jurcina has him pressed against the cage.
Jurcina tries a knee to the head but Smith blocks it.
Smith is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Smith tries to circle away but Jurcina has him pinned against the cage.
Jurcina tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Jurcina bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jurcina takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Jurcina tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jurcina swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jurcina moves out of range as Smith throws a body kick.

Smith darts in and clinches Jurcina up against the cage.
Jurcina looking to throw knees to the head but Smith is blocking nicely.
Jurcina throws a knee to the head but misses.
Smith is trying to break free.
Jurcina tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Smith tries to stall but Jurcina uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Smith is looking to break free of the clinch but Jurcina has double underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jurcina keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Smith's efforts to push away.
Jurcina throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Jurcina is keeping busy.
Smith has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Jurcina misses with a knee strike.
Smith is looking to control Jurcina's arms but Jurcina gets an underhook and turns him. Now Smith has his back to the cage.
Jurcina tries to land a knee to the head but Smith blocks with his arms.
Smith looking to stall.
Smith misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jurcina throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smith blocks it with crossed arms.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Bruce Smith.
Nice body kick from Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws out a loose jab but Jurcina uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Smith buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Smith, as that shot connected.
Jurcina avoids a kick to the body.
Jurcina throws a right and a left that Smith avoids nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. Jurcina does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vitali Jurcina seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith takes a swing at Jurcina's ribcage but misses.
Smith scoring well with a low kick there.

Jurcina gets tackled into the cage by Smith. Smith maintains the clinch.
Jurcina throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smith blocks it with crossed arms.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Smith tries to break free but Jurcina pushes him back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Smith struggles to land a body shot inside as Jurcina controls his hands.
Jurcina looking to throw knees to the head but Smith is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jurcina with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Jurcina tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jurcina on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Jurcina tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Smith taking a breather.
Smith seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Bruce Smith.
Smith looks to land a body kick but Jurcina moved away.
Smith chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Smith takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to force a seperation but Jurcina has the dominant position.
Smith tries to throw a body punch but Jurcina avoids it by throwing Smith back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Smith's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Smith tries to work over Jurcina's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Jurcina tries to land a knee to the head but Smith blocks with his arms.
Jurcina throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smith blocks it with crossed arms.
Smith looking to stall.
Jurcina tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith tries to stall but Jurcina uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Jurcina tries to land a knee to the head but Smith blocks with his arms.
Vitali Jurcina has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bruce Smith is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Jurcina blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Smith goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruce Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Smith has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruce Smith!