PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chad Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Gilbert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Gilbert

199 cm
27
255 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

190 cm
37
215 lbs
16 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

On Tap (160Q)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chad Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, George Gilbert!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Ivan Kurochkin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gilbert tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Smith manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Gilbert is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.
We've been hearing that Smith has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gilbert escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Smith stands up and waves to Gilbert to follow him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith scores with a jab.

Gilbert shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Smith is trying to defend but Gilbert finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gilbert is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Smith is just riding it out for now. Gilbert eventually gives up the hold.
Smith wants to improve his position but Gilbert is controlling well.
Gilbert wants to pass to mount but Smith is defending the position.

Gilbert looking for a submission but Smith manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Smith is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gilbert trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smith wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Gilbert postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith is controlling Gilbert's posture.
Gilbert trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith is pulling down on Gilbert's head. It's preventing any offense from Gilbert, at least for the moment.
Gilbert must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gilbert throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gilbert trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Gilbert is still trying to improve position.

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

Gilbert is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Smith's half guard.
Smith slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gilbert postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.

Gilbert drops back, looking for a kneebar! Smith looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Smith looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Smith!

Smith tries to advance to mount but Gilbert denies him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gilbert manages to work his way to half guard, despite Smith's best efforts.

Gilbert looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Smith looking to secure an arm triangle but Gilbert defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Chad Smith will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Smith scores with a nice strike.
Smith throws a leg kick but Gilbert moved away.

Gilbert is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Smith's half guard.

Gilbert is trying to work for a kimura but Smith is defending well.

Gilbert is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Smith is just riding it out for now. Gilbert eventually gives up the hold.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Gilbert postures up.
Smith is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Gilbert is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Gilbert looking to pass the guard.
Smith controls Gilbert momentarily but Gilbert frees himself.
Gilbert stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Gilbert pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.

Smith is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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.
Gilbert wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gilbert manages to get himself to full guard.

Gilbert looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Gilbert working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.
Smith works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gilbert felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Smith is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gilbert doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Smith.

Gilbert looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert tries to roll over but Smith keeps him under control.

Gilbert actively working from the bottom here.
Smith perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gilbert wants to control but Smith is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Gilbert looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith passes to side control.
Smith looks up at the clock and then as Gilbert takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Smith smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the action but Gilbert is working from the bottom.
Smith works to advance to full mount. Gilbert defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Smith looking to control and managing it successfully.
Smith looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Gilbert working to try and regain half guard.
Smith controlling his opponent.
Smith trying to control but Gilbert is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Smith with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Smith looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Smith dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Gilbert gets the takedown into side control.
Smith is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Gilbert is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Gilbert is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Gilbert wants to pass to mount but Smith is defending the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith is defending against the submission attempts here by Gilbert.
Smith is concentrating on defense, preventing Gilbert from advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gilbert is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Smith is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Gilbert is looking to pass Smith's guard but actually Smith recovers to full guard.
Smith is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gilbert throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Smith in side control lands a decent elbow.
Smith wants to control but Gilbert is keeping him busy.
Smith moves into full mount!

Smith looking for a guillotine from mount but Gilbert is having none of it.
Smith wants to control the pace but Gilbert is squirming around nicely.

Smith is working for a guillotine from mount but Gilbert frees his head quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert gets back to half guard.

Gilbert looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Smith seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Gilbert tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.

Smith wants to work for an arm triangle but Gilbert is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gilbert works his way to full guard. Good work.

Gilbert has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gilbert takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith works over Gilbert with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith advances position into side control!

Gilbert reaches up around Smith's neck trying to control. But Smith takes advantage instantly and he's locked on an arm triangle! Big trouble for Gilbert! Oh that looks nasty! A human being's head is not meant to turn that color! Gilbert is out! He's gone limp! The ref steps in to break the fighters up and Smith celebrates the victory with the fans!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Chad Smith!
Chad Smith decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.