PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Booker Rosales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zack Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Booker Rosales has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rosales
vs
Smith

177 cm
23
194 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Great elbows
Determined

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Booker Rosales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zack Smith!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, John Mangel and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith looks to clinch

and Rosales moves into the clinch.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Rosales is controlling him.

Smith pulls guard successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rosales won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Rosales is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.

Smith looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rosales has picked Smith up and slammed him! Smith can't keep hold of the triangle and Rosales manages to pass to side control!
Smith wants to control but Rosales postures up.
Smith sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Rosales is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Smith sees it coming and defends easily.
Smith is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rosales's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rosales's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rosales controlling Smith 's hands.
Well, with Smith on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Rosales is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Smith is hanging on to Rosales's back as he tries to escape.
Smith throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

Smith looking for the choke from the back.

Rosales is having to fend off submission attempts from Smith, who is looking to sink in the choke. Smith doesn't have the hooks in though and Rosales manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the position.
Rosales working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Smith's head.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rosales scoring with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rosales gets to his feet - Smith follows without any prompting.
Rosales could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Smith moves to clinch but Rosales breaks away

and Rosales holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Rosales jumps into guard, dragging Smith to the mat.
Smith trying to control but Rosales is working from the bottom.
Rosales keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to control from the top but Rosales keeps moving.
Smith won't allow Rosales to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zack Smith was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Smith tries to clinch but Rosales moves away

and Rosales moves into the clinch.

Smith has Rosales pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Smith pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Rosales tumbling to the mat - Smith dives into Rosales's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rosales looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zack Smith will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smith closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rosales is looking to escape.
Rosales avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smith.
Smith wants to pass to mount but Rosales is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rosales defending well though.
Smith passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rosales!
Rosales is trying to escape the mount.

Smith goes for an armbar but Rosales turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Rosales.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rosales working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Smith's head.
Rosales keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Smith's head.
Rosales working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Smith's head.
Rosales is in close to Smith's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rosales 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 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.
Rosales has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith has momentary wrist control but Rosales slips an elbow through the middle.
Smith looking to control.
Smith wants to control but Rosales passes easily into half guard.
Smith has a hand on Rosales's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Rosales takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rosales landing shots from mount.
Rosales manages to capitalize on a mistake by Smith to take his back!

Smith showing good submission defense here.

Rosales is looking for the choke from the back position but Smith is controlling his hands well.
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.

Rosales looking to break Smith's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Smith remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Rosales will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Booker Rosales dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Smith fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rosales sprawls well initially but Smith persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rosales looks like he's trying to stand up.
Smith wants to stand up but Rosales has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Smith wants to pass to mount but Rosales is defending the position.
Rosales is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booker Rosales overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Zack Smith has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Smith shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rosales napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
You can see the frustration on Rosales's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Smith trying to control the action but Rosales is working from the bottom.
Rosales struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Smith landing strikes.
Smith wants to control but Rosales is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rosales managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Smith.
Rosales defending against the ground and pound.
Rosales tries to improve position but can't.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Smith shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rosales's guard.
Smith trying to control but Rosales is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rosales throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Rosales is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Zack Smith wasn't active enough on the ground.

Rosales has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
Smith is trying to break free.

Rosales has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Smith uses from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zack Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 28:29

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