PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jamarcus Hard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hard
vs
Smith

185 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

200 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Swiss Systems Fight School

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jamarcus Hard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Paul Smith!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Robert Douchet and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hard looks for a takedown but Smith sprawls well.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hard misses with a takedown attempt - Smith sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A combination from Smith does no damage.
Hard misses with a takedown attempt - Smith sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jamarcus Hard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hard shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense.
A choreographed right hand from Hard misses the target.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Hard circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hard shoots in but Smith avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Hard tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hard prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short left from Smith.
Smith lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hard backwards.
A bit of stalling here from Hard.
Hard tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.
Smith stalls.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Smith moves into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smith.
Smith is stalling here.
Smith managing to block the knees to the body from Hard.

Hard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hard misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hard is breathing heavily.

Smith has closed the distance and engaged Hard in a clinch.
Hard is working for takedown but Smith is calmly controlling the position for now.
Smith landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Smith has Hard up against the cage in a clinch.
Hard misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smith.
A left hand lands to the body for Smith.
Hard looking for a takedown.
Smith leaning his opponent against the cage.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Hard fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hard prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Smith wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hard has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smith.
Smith has had enough of the clinch but Hard keeps him there for the moment.
Hard pressing his opponent against the cage.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Hard won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Smith misses with a series of wild punches.

Hard scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.
Hard is thwarting Smith's attempts to control the position.

Smith manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Smith moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Hard bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hard tries to move to full mount but Smith actually manages to regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Smith controlling the position well.
Hard is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Smith!
Hard tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Smith dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Smith swinging wilding here.
Hard keeps the fight on the outside.
Hard throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Smith moves into the clinch.

Hard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hard tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hard misses with a series of wild punches.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hard.
Hard checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Smith.
Hard wants to clinch
and Smith counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Horrible takedown by Hard or perhaps it was just good defense by Smith which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jamarcus Hard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hard keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Smith has taken the fight to the clinch.
Smith avoiding damage as Hard throws knees to the body.
Smith taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Smith is trying to break free.
Hard tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
A body shot lands from Smith.
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A short uppercut from Smith.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.
Smith prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith wants to break free but Hard has control.
Smith misses with a knee strike.
Hard tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.
Smith lands a left hand.
Hard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Smith just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hard tries to break the clinch but Smith is controlling the position.
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hard lands a nice elbow.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Hard won't allow it.
Smith wants to break free but Hard has control.
Smith wants to break free but Hard has control.
Hard misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smith.
Smith tries to break the clinch but Hard is controlling the position.
Hard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Smith gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hard.
Smith lands a damaging elbow.
Hard has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Smith avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Smith doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Smith is trying to break free.
Smith is trying to break free.
Hard drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Smith gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Hard is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Smith can't fight it off and eventually Hard manages to take the fight to the floor. Smith looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to sweep here but Hard controlling him for the moment.
Smith trying to strike off his back.
Smith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hard's guard.
Hard might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Hard.
Hard working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Hard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Hard.
Smith wants to control from the top but Hard keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Hard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Hard circles away.
Hard bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Smith moves into the clinch.
Hard keeps control of Smith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hard fails to pull guard.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Smith avoiding damage as Hard throws knees to the body.
Hard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Smith just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hard fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jamarcus Hard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith lands a body shot in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hard prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Hard tries to score a body lock takedown but Smith shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Hard breaks from the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hard shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hard shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith has Hard up against the cage in a clinch.
Hard fails to pull guard.
Hard using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Smith has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Smith has had enough of the clinch but Hard keeps him there for the moment.
Hard throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hard has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Smith avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hard tries to score a body lock takedown but Smith shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Smith has had enough of the clinch but Hard keeps him there for the moment.
Hard changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Smith fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hard checks a leg kick.
Smith finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Smith throws a right hand that Hard ducks under and follows up with a left that Hard also avoids with ease.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Smith.

Hard scores with a takedown into Smith's guard.
Hard preventing the sweep.
Hard tries to stand but Smith is controlling from the bottom.
Hard trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is controlling Hard's posture.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Smith. No joy for Hard on that attempt.
Smith is looking to clinch but Hard is avoiding it.
A clash of legs there as Hard blocks the low kick.
Hard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hard throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Jamarcus Hard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith scores with a jab to the jaw.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Smith.
A nice combination there by Smith.

Smith has closed the distance and engaged Hard in a clinch.
Hard tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hard wants a takedown but no success here.
Smith prevents a body shot from Hard.
Smith is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smith.
Hard is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Smith pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hard lands a right hand.
Hard tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith blocks the body kick.
Smith tries to clinch but Hard moves out of range.
Hard waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Smith.
Hard misses with a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smith 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30

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