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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hardijan Matic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!
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| 168 cm
33
147 lbs
22 - 9 - 1 |
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166 cm
29
146 lbs
12 - 9 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
22 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jimmy Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hardijan Matic!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Cecil Peabody and George Francis.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Smith.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Matic has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Matic jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Smith appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Matic rushes Smith and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Smith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Matic misses with a hook to the ribs.
Smith is looking for a takedown.
Matic manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matic bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Matic tries a low kick but Smith avoids it.
Hardijan Matic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Matic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Matic tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Smith jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Matic lands a nice shot to the body.
Matic will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Smith tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matic swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith gets a takedown into half guard.
Matic wants to control but Smith is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Matic is trying to stand up here but Smith is controlling him well.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Smith perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Matic wants to get back to his feet.
Smith tries to pass to full mount but Matic defends it.
Still in half guard, Smith seems content to control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matic is trying to stand back up but Smith is controlling him
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smith is trying to control. Matic wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
Hardijan Matic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith shoots in but Matic avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Matic fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smith, pushing him back against the ropes.
Matic tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
Matic lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Matic.
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!
A frustrated look appears on Matic's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Matic prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matic dodges an elbow strike from Smith.
Smith goes for a takedown in the clinch but Matic prevents it.
Matic lands a right hand that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Matic wants to break free but Smith has control.
Matic doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Matic is trying to break free.
Matic lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Come on Matic - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Matic digs a right hand into Smith's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Smith's gas tank.
Matic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Smith showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is in close to Matic's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Matic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Matic works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Smith's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Matic wants to stand but Smith is controlling the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Matic keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Matic moves forwards but Smith connects with a nice, crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Hardijan Matic dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Matic fails with an attempt to clinch.
Matic jabs Smith to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Smith misses with a few strikes there.
Matic on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
The fighters circling - Matic throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Matic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Matic landing knees to the head.
Matic is trying to push Smith away but Smith has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Matic breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Matic moves out of range easily.
Smith blocks a head kick by Matic.
It looked like Smith was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A punch combination from Matic misses.
Smith tries to counter with a takedown but Matic is quick to defend against it.
Smith takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith moves out of range as Matic strikes.
Smith works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Smith throws a hook but Matic blocks it.
Smith lands a jab to the head.
Matic gets caught flat footed, as Smith shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Smith stops Matic from standing up.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Matic.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Matic's head.
Smith throws a strike but Matic rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Matic trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smith is on top in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith trying to control but Matic is working from the bottom.
Matic wants to stand and escape but Smith is having none of it.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Smith stops Matic from standing up.
Smith wants to control from the top but Matic keeps moving.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Matic keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Smith controlling from the top position.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Matic digs a good body shot into Smith's ribs.
Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Matic is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Matic moves away from the strike by Smith.
Matic throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Matic.
Matic scores with a nice head shot.
Matic misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Matic clinches up with Smith and pushes him back against the ropes.
Matic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith blocks a low kick nicely.
Smith tried to counter with a leg kick but Matic avoided it.
Smith clinches with his opponent.
Smith has clasped his hands together around Matic's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith cracks Matic with a big elbow.
Smith working the ground and pound.
Smith lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Hardijan Matic will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Matic.
Smith throws a poor cross that misses
and Matic counters with a two punch combo.
Smith lands with a thumping leg kick.
Matic throws out a powerful jab.
Smith takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Smith is rocked!
Matic looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
Oh Smith is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A big right from Matic misses.
Smith on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Matic paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Matic checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Matic is looking to clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Matic fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Matic takes a swing at Smith's ribcage but misses.
Matic misses with an uppercut.
Smith seems to have got his legs back now.
Matic swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smith swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A nice leg kick lands there from Matic.
Matic throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matic uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Smith has time to react.
Matic tries to clinch
and Smith counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Smith stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Matic.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Matic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matic throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matic throws a sloppy head kick
and Smith counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith is taking a breather. Matic says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Matic is trying to stand.
Smith is trying to control. Matic wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Smith is thwarting Matic's attempts to control the position.
Matic is looking to escape.
Smith is trying to control. Matic wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matic connects with an inside leg kick.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Matic sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Matic misses with a telegraphed body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Smith on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Matic misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Jimmy Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matic tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith throws a hook to the side of Matic's head but Matic sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The fighters circling - Matic throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Matic misses with a looping left.
A counter left hand to the body from Smith misses its target.
Matic throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith half committed to a counter leg kick.
Matic throws a right hand that misses
and Smith connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith avoids the body shot from Matic.
Hardijan Matic seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A punch lands to the side of Matic 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Matic throws a chopping leg kick but Smith manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Matic ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Smith keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Smith tries to counter with a takedown but Matic is quick to defend against it.
Matic misses with a body punch
and Smith counters with an outside leg kick.
Matic throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matic drives through and clinches with Smith against the ropes.
Smith throws an elbow that misses.
Matic can't find room to land a body shot as Smith controls the action.
Smith throws a punch but it's blocked by Matic.
Smith drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Matic gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hardijan Matic is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Smith struggles to land a body shot inside as Matic controls his hands.
And that's the end of the fight!
Hardijan Matic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Matic winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hardijan Matic!
Hardijan Matic took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Perkele! for their support in the buildup to the fight.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
47% |
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