PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Craig Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dzhabar Musuev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Craig Smith has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Smith
vs
Musuev

218 cm
22
224 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
243 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Craig Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dzhabar Musuev!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Trevor Gratis and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Musuev tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Musuev misses with a straight left.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Musuev sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.

Musuev closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Musuev lands in his opponent's guard.

Smith pushes Musuev off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Musuev fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Musuev scores with a shot to the body.
A head kick by Smith misses
and Musuev counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Musuev throws a head kick that misses.
Smith looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Smith shoots in but Musuev avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Musuev bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Musuev wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Musuev working the head with strikes.
Smith takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Musuev just content to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Musuev cracks Smith with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Musuev decides to stand back up. Musuev steps back and let's Smith get back to his feet.

Musuev feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Smith on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smith tries to get out of the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Musuev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Musuev stands up over Smith, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Musuev scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Smith is looking for a triangle but Musuev pushes his legs off easily.
Musuev looking to pass the guard.
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.
Musuev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Smith is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Musuev is aware though and is defending well.
Smith being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Musuev gets to his feet - Smith follows without any prompting.
Musuev lands a jab.

It looks like Craig Smith has been cut.

Musuev pushes Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith tries to pull guard but Musuev forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Musuev displaying some good clinch control by pressing Smith up against the cage.

Musuev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dzhabar Musuev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Craig Smith's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Musuev gets a clinch.

Smith is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Musuev can't fight it off and eventually Smith manages to take the fight to the floor. Musuev looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Musuev is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Musuev wants to stand up but Smith is controlling him.
Musuev controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Musuev has his hands on Smith's head, controlling the position.

Musuev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Musuev trying to control the position.
Smith is looking to stand up but Musuev won't let him.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Musuev manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.

Smith is looking to sweep but instead, Musuev has passed into half guard.

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.
Musuev tries to stand but can't do so whilst Smith controls his leg.

Smith is defending against the submission attempts here by Musuev.
Musuev 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 is trying to stand.
Smith trying to control but Musuev postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Smith is looking for a sweep. Musuev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Smith is working hard here to advance position.

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

Musuev shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Musuev takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Musuev uses his free foot to push down on Smith's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Smith.
Musuev landing strikes from the mount.
Musuev controlling from the full mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Musuev has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Smith's face.
Musuev controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dzhabar Musuev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Craig 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!

Musuev misses with a body kick.

Smith tries to keep at a distance but Musuev has taken the fight into the clinch.
Smith with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Musuev misses with a jab, cross combination.

Smith darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Musuev manages to escape and get back to his feet!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Musuev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Musuev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smith fires out a quick counter leg kick but Musuev just manages to avoid it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Musuev fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Musuev shoots in for a double leg but Smith sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Musuev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith throwing a counter right hand but Musuev manages to avoid it.
Musuev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smith pinned against the cage. Smith gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Craig Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dzhabar Musuev.
Smith tries to clinch but Musuev moves out of range.
Musuev throws a big counter head kick but Smith avoids it with no problem.

Musuev has managed to clinch.
Smith looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Musuev pulls guard.
Musuev controlling the position.
Musuev scores with a short punch from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Musuev wants to stand but Smith is controlling the position.

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

Smith seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Smith working for submissions but it's allowed Musuev to get to half guard.
Musuev controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Musuev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Smith defends it well.
Musuev with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Smith wants to improve his position but Musuev is controlling well.
Musuev controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Musuev scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Musuev is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Smith!
Musuev controlling his opponent.

Smith defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Musuev.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Musuev moves to the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dzhabar Musuev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Musuev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dzhabar Musuev!