PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Art Ist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by Lazaretto by Jack White. Art Ist has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Smith
vs
Ist

180 cm
25
190 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

172 cm
21
193 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bruce Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Art Ist!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ist is out of range and Smith settles back down.
Ist fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ist checks the leg kick nicely there.
Smith looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Smith throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Smith throws a poor cross that misses

and Ist counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ist pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ist drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ist jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith has Ist pulled in close to control his posture.
Ist trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ist missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smith is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Ist throws a big right hand that misses.
Ist pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Smith holds on and takes a little breather.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Ist is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.
Ist throws a big elbow that misses.
Smith wants to stand up but Ist is controlling him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ist shoots in but no luck this time.
Bruce Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nice body kick there by Smith.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.

Smith takes the fight into the clinch.
Ist looking for a takedown.
Bruce Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Art Ist.
Nice elbow from Smith.
Knees in the clinch landing for Smith.
Smith gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Art Ist has been cut.
Smith makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ist is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Smith.
Ist goes for a takedown attempt but Smith pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Smith wants to clinch up but Ist keeps it at a distance.
Ist drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Smith defends it well.
Smith lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ist is working for takedown but Smith is calmly controlling the position for now.
Smith lands an elbow inside.

That has opened up Art Ist's cut even more.
Nice body punch from Smith - that landed with a thud.
Ist looks winded!
Ist has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Smith after a bit of a struggle.
Ist tries to pull guard but Smith forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Smith is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Smith lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Ist's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

The cut above Art Ist's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Ist has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Smith avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ist has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Smith seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Ist can turn it around.
Ist takes a knee right on the jaw!
Smith lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Smith unloads a knee to the mid-section.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Ist's defenses.

Art Ist's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Art Ist's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:53 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Bruce Smith!
Bruce Smith decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.