PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jack Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shigeno Goro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shigeno Goro has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Smith
vs
Goro

167 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

187 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Hates pizza

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jack Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shigeno Goro!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Joseph Jones and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Goro changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Smith looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Smith throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Goro looks to land a right hand but Smith moved out of range.
Nice uppercut there from Goro.
Smith fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Smith tries to clinch

and Goro decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Smith's guard.
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!
Goro seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Goro is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Smith wants to stand and escape but Goro is having none of it.
Smith might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Goro manages to get himself to full guard.

Goro really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Goro keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

Smith decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Goro, up you get!

Goro clinches up against the cage.

Goro manages to pull guard.
Goro has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Smith has passed into side control.
Goro is trying to control Smith's posture but Smith avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goro is looking for a sweep.
Goro looking for a sweep but Smith has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Smith throws some wild stikes that Goro manages to avoid easily.
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Goro is looking to escape.
Goro is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Goro looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Goro gets back to half guard.
Goro is holding on to half guard well.
Smith not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Smith working Goro over with strikes.

Smith is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Goro is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throwing shots but Goro is blocking nicely.
Smith is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Smith scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Goro is trying is best to control the position here.
Smith is stalling here. Goro is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Smith seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Goro has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Smith gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
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 Jack Smith will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Smith throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Goro looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Goro with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Goro tries to pass the half guard into mount. Smith knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goro stalling.
Smith is trying to maintain the position but Goro is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goro takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Smith misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Goro connects with a nice short shot to Smith's temple.
Goro perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Smith flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Goro closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Goro is breathing heavily.
Smith trying to remain calm as Goro controls from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Goro has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Smith works to full guard.
Goro must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smith controls Goro momentarily but Goro frees himself.
Goro seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goro wants to stand and escape but instead Smith has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Smith is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Goro is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Smith postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
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 passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Smith trying to control the position but Goro is working away.
Goro is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Smith is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Goro is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jack Smith will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Goro slaps away a takedown attempt from Smith, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Goro gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Goro has Smith pressed against the cage, preventing Smith from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Goro controlling the action here for a moment.

Smith pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith is working an open guard so Goro takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Smith closes the distance but Goro moves to the side

so Goro counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goro is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Smith is trying to keep Goro in close.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smith is on top in guard.

Goro wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Goro keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

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 won't allow Goro to sweep him here.
Jack Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Goro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Goro pushes Smith off and gets back to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.

Goro scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Smith makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith gets caught napping as Goro dives in and scores a takedown. Smith manages to retain guard.
Smith wants to sweep here but Goro controlling him for the moment.
Smith working a defensive guard here.

Goro stands and steps away. Smith gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Goro feints and then cracks Smith's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Smith down.
Smith scores with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries for a takedown but Goro sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smith gets tackled into the cage by Goro. Goro maintains the clinch.

Goro tightens his grip and picks Smith up, before dumping him to the ground. Smith manages to land in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Goro is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Let's hope that Goro has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Smith pushes a forearm under Goro's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Goro is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jack Smith!