PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stratovarius Smiff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Umberto Grena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Smiff
vs
Grena

170 cm
24
177 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

165 cm
22
169 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stratovarius Smiff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Umberto Grena!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Steve Montenegro and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grena stuns Smiff with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A head kick misses from Smiff.
Smiff has a takedown stuffed.
Grena tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smiff was well out of range. Poor timing from Grena.
Smiff tries to score a power double leg takedown but Grena sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smiff somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grena dives in for a single leg takedown but Smiff sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Smiff shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Grena sprawls well. Grena wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Smiff gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stratovarius Smiff. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smiff shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Grena shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Grena defending well as Smiff loads up on a big left hand.
Stratovarius Smiff seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smiff fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Grena manages to avoid it.
Grena looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Smiff tries a head kick but it misses.
Grena throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Smiff changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Grena doesn't manage to clinch there - Smiff circles away.
Smiff feinted with a counter takedown.
Grena shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smiff sprawls well. Smiff wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Grena gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grena wants to clinch.
The fighters circling - Smiff throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Grena staying out of range there.
Grena looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smiff is fending him off so far but Grena persists. Nope, Smiff circles away and we're back to standing.
Smiff changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Smiff misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Grena lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Smiff throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Grena tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Smiff is in Grena's guard.

Grena has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Smiff has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grena manages to break the clinch.
Smiff tries to score a power double leg takedown but Grena sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smiff somewhat.
A head kick misses from Grena.
Grena misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Grena misses with a head kick.
Smiff tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Grena tries to clinch but Smiff moves out of range.

Smiff gets a takedown into half guard.
Grena pushes Smiff off but Smiff dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smiff wants to control but Grena is keeping him busy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smiff controlling the position.
Grena is not content to let Smiff control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Grena is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Umberto Grena will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Smiff is trying hard to land a takedown here. Grena sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Smiff rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Grena moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Grena is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Smiff gets a clinch.
Smiff avoiding damage as Grena throws knees to the body.
Grena tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Smiff's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smiff swings for the body but Grena moves out of range.

Grena takes the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smiff trying to land knees to the body.
Grena working hard to break the clinch.

Grena breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smiff avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smiff shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Grena but Grena pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smiff moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromGrena.
Smiff misses with an uppercut.
Grena drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Smiff defends it well.
Smiff slaps away a takedown attempt from Grena, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Smiff takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Grena ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Smiff throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Grena sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Smiff sets himself, and Grena steps forward looking for the clinch! Smiff avoids it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Grena.
Smiff misses with a straight right.
Smiff tries to clinch there but Grena circles away.
Grena swats away the attempt to clinch by Smiff.
A nice side step and Grena releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Smiff on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Grena blocks a jab.
Smiff shoots in for a takedown but Grena shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stratovarius Smiff. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grena wants to clinch up but Smiff keeps it at a distance.
Grena throws a head kick that misses
and Smiff counters with a straight right hand.

Smiff rushes Grena and presses him up against the cage.

Grena escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smiff with a poor takedown
and Grena counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Grena is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Smiff rather than just go for the knockout.
Grena fails with an attempt to clinch.
Grena lands a nice looking body shot.
Smiff swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Smiff tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smiff misses the shot to the body.
Grena feints a counter leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smiff takes a kick to the side of the head.
Grena uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smiff.
Smiff fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Grena misses with a head kick.
Smiff appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Grena gets in close and instigates a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Grena breaks the clinch.
Grena shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smiff but Smiff pushes him off and we're back to square one.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Grena with a poor takedown

and Smiff counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smiff.

Grena has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Smiff is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Umberto Grena will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Smiff's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Grena shoots in and bounces Smiff off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Smiff is pulling down on Grena's head. It's preventing any offense from Grena, at least for the moment.

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

Smiff trying to control but Grena is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smiff preventing the sweep.
Grena wants to stand but Smiff is controlling the position.
Grena really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smiff. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Smiff lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Grena controlling Smiff's posture.
Smiff scoring with punches to the head and body.
Stratovarius Smiff has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.

Grena working for a triangle but Smiff defends it easily.
Smiff advances to half guard.
Smiff passes into side control, despite Grena's attempt to control the position.
Smiff gets to mount! Grena was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Smiff is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smiff can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Grena is looking to escape.
Smiff lands a heavy elbow.
Smiff lands with some strikes.
Grena is desperately trying to improve his position but Smiff has a good base and remains in mount.
Grena takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Smiff has control of Grena's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Grena regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Smiff dominating with strikes here.
Umberto Grena is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grena wants to hold on but Smiff pushes him away.
Grena really wants to buck Smiff off and get back to his feet.
Smiff controlling his opponent.
Grena is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Grena is squirming around, avoiding Smiff's attempts to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stratovarius Smiff showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Grena 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Umberto Grena!
Stratovarius Smiff was interviewed post fight and said 'Thanks for coming out party's on me '.