PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Devon Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elias Jude (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Smith
vs
Jude

186 cm
24
215 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
217 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Hellbent
//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

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 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Devon Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Elias Jude!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Josh West and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jude chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Jude gets a clinch.
Jude is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Smith is trying to pull guard but Jude has him pressed against the cage.
Smith jumps guard but Jude stands there with Smith around his waist. Smith gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jude with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smith jumps guard but Jude turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Devon Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jude throws a knee to the head but misses.
Smith blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Smith tries a body shot but Jude blocks it.
Jude with a knee to the head.

It looks like Devon Smith has been cut.
Jude utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Nice body punch from Jude.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jude with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Smith takes an elbow to the temple.
Jude gets through Smith's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A short uppercut from Smith.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jude doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Smith lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Jude backwards.
Smith lands a right hand.
Smith managing to block the knees to the body from Jude.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jude misses with a knee to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Smith jumps guard but Jude turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Smith misses with a hook from the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Smith.
Jude has Smith pushed against the cage.
Jude tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jude.
Good body shot from Jude.
Jude with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Smith struggles to land a body shot inside as Jude controls his hands.
Jude lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Smith lands a body shot in the clinch.
Smith throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Jude looks winded!

Smith ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Smith no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Smith controlling the position.
Smith has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jude with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jude trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jude has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jude trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith wants to control from the top but Jude keeps moving.
Jude keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Smith sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jude looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Jude wants to sweep but no luck.

Jude looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
Smith passes Jude's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith is thwarting Jude's attempts to control the position.
Jude is staying active underneath Smith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Jude gets back to full guard.
Smith's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jude swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jude keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smith controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Jude is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.
Smith trying to control but Jude is working from the bottom.
Smith with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Smith content to stall in guard here.

Jude looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Jude keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith stands and throws Jude's legs to the side, diving into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Elias Jude will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Devon Smith's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Jude closes the distance and pushes Smith back into the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Jude tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Smith tries to pull guard but Jude holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jude working aggressively here.
Jude tries to land a knee to the head but Smith blocks with his arms.
Smith working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jude with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Smith jumps guard.
Jude trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jude throws an elbow that misses. Smith uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jude's guard. Nice move by Smith!

Devon Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jude trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Smith passes Jude's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Smith perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Jude is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Smith pulls his head out easily.
Smith tries to pass the half guard into mount. Jude knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Jude is not content to let Smith control the position.
Jude is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Jude actively working from the bottom here.
Jude is refusing to be controlled, as Smith sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Jude is defending well.
Smith with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Jude actively working from the bottom here.
Jude is looking to improve his position.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Jude is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith not doing much here.

Jude pushes Smith off and gets back to his feet.

Jude has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jude lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Smith is looking to control Jude's arms but Jude gets an underhook and turns him. Now Smith has his back to the cage.

Smith pulls guard successfully.
Jude wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Jude is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.
Jude distracts Smith with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Jude working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Smith's head.

Jude drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Smith dives on top into guard.

Jude being controlled here, momentarily.
Jude keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jude is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Jude is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jude swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith is working hard here to advance position.

Jude looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
Jude looking to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Jude is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Elias Jude will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Devon Smith's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Jude has managed to clinch.
Smith fails to pull guard.
A short uppercut from Smith.

Smith pulls Jude into guard.
Jude in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Jude working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Jude trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith wants to sweep here but Jude controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jude postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jude throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jude accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jude throwing strikes but missing.
Smith wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Jude scores with a kick to the midsection.

Smith clinches up against the cage.

Smith pulls Jude into guard.
Jude throws an elbow that misses. Smith uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jude's guard. Nice move by Smith!

Jude keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jude is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Jude is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.
Smith controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Smith wants to control from the top but Jude keeps moving.
Jude being controlled here, momentarily.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jude is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Jude has his foot on Smith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smith works his way back into a safe position though.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Jude is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith forces his way into half guard.
Smith wants to take a breather but Jude is having none of it.
Jude wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Jude is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jude manages to get to full guard.
Smith forces his way into half guard.
Devon Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jude actively working from the bottom here.
Jude takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Smith in particular looking to stall.
Smith working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Smith with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Smith trying to control from half guard but Jude is working away.
Elias Jude is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Jude looking for submissions off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jude is looking to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Devon Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Jude 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Elias Jude!