PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jan Smeets (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bartosz Solomon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bartosz Solomon has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Smeets
vs
Solomon

185 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

210 cm
22
212 lbs
0 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jan Smeets!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bartosz Solomon!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paul Aken and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smeets has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Solomon.
Smeets looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Smeets throws a head kick that misses.
Solomon tries for a takedown but Smeets sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Solomon is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Smeets tries to clinch but Solomon is having none of it.
Solomon tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smeets sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Solomon somewhat.
Solomon shoots in for a takedown but Smeets shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jan Smeets has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bartosz Solomon.
Solomon scores with a kick to the body.
Solomon shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smeets sprawls well. Smeets wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Solomon gets slowly back to his feet.
We've been told by Smeets's head coaches at Cozad Amsterdam that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Solomon fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smeets, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Solomon manages to break the clinch.
Smeets dives in and grabs Solomon's left leg, looking for a takedown. Solomon pushes down on Smeets's head and hops out.
Solomon misses with the combination.

Solomon decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Smeets is staying active underneath Solomon, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Solomon not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Solomon looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Smeets is not content to let Solomon control the position.
Solomon is nestled in close to Smeets, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smeets avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Solomon.
Smeets is not content to let Solomon control the position.
Smeets is looking to escape.
Solomon tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Smeets trying to control here.
Solomon winds up and cracks Smeets with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Smeets is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Solomon pulls his head out easily.
Solomon really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smeets. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Solomon is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Smeets sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solomon missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Smeets trying to hold on to Solomon's head to control him but Solomon postures up.
Smeets gets full guard.
Solomon works over Smeets with some ground and pound from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Solomon would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Smeets seems keen to control Solomon's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Solomon got a little sloppy there for a moment and Smeets has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Solomon has managed to get both his arms back between Smeets's legs - danger averted.
Smeets controls Solomon momentarily but Solomon frees himself.
Smeets might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Smeets is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Solomon is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Solomon distracts Smeets with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smeets looking for a sweep. Not yet Smeets, not yet.
Solomon throws a big right hand that misses.
Solomon preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bartosz Solomon dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A head kick from Solomon lands but Smeets takes it in his stride.
Smeets tries for a takedown but Solomon sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Solomon scores with a spinning back kick!
Smeets takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Solomon looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Smeets pushes Solomon off looking to stand but Solomon dives back in and keeps control.
Solomon throwing shots but Smeets is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Solomon blocks the strikes from Smeets.
Smeets is trying to stand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smeets is staying active underneath Solomon, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smeets wants to get back to his feet.
Smeets blocking the ground and pound attempt from Solomon.
Solomon tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Smeets.
Smeets trying to control from the bottom.
Smeets tries to get to full guard but Solomon has control of the leg.
Solomon lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Smeets wants to get back to full guard.
Solomon winds up and cracks Smeets with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smeets tries to roll over but Solomon keeps him under control.

Solomon is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Solomon wants to stand up but Smeets has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Solomon not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Smeets on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Solomon is looking to take a break and control but Smeets is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Solomon is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Smeets has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smeets is looking for a sweep. Solomon is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Solomon stops Smeets from getting back to his feet.
Solomon trying to control from half guard but Smeets is working away.
Solomon tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Smeets has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Solomon is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smeets slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Smeets is pulling down on Solomon's head. It's preventing any offense from Solomon, at least for the moment.
Solomon throws a big elbow that misses.

Smeets has his feet on Solomon's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Jan Smeets is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Solomon shoots in for a double leg but Smeets sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bartosz Solomon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Solomon enables Smeets to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Solomon manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Solomon bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smeets's guard.
Solomon trying to control but Smeets is working from the bottom.

Smeets had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Solomon defends it easily.

Smeets looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Solomon postures up and lands a big shot to Smeets's brow.
Solomon wanted to stand there but Smeets had control of the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smeets works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Solomon trying to control the position from guard on top but Smeets is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smeets throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Solomon landing with the ground and pound.
Smeets wants to stand and escape but Solomon is having none of it.
Solomon would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Solomon must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smeets wants to sweep here but Solomon controlling him for the moment.
Smeets has momentary wrist control but Solomon slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smeets tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Solomon wants to get up but he can't break Smeets's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Solomon accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Smeets had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Solomon defends it easily.
Smeets has his hands on Solomon's head, controlling the position.
Smeets looking for a sweep. Not yet Smeets, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solomon landing some decent shots from guard.
Solomon would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Smeets wants to sweep but no luck.
Smeets has a closed guard, preventing Solomon from standing up.
Smeets preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smeets is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Solomon wants to improve his position but Smeets is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solomon trying to control from the bottom.
Solomon looks like he's trying to stand up.
Smeets with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Solomon avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smeets.
Jan Smeets has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bartosz Solomon is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Smeets missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Bartosz Solomon.
Well Solomon 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bartosz Solomon!