PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tomomi Tsuruta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eldar Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Eldar Smith will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Tsuruta
vs
Smith

192 cm
27
255 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

215 cm
27
270 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tomomi Tsuruta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eldar Smith!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Dmitry Maklakov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith jabs Tsuruta right on the nose. Tsuruta blinks but takes it well.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Tsuruta fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smith, pushing him back against the cage.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tsuruta doesn't seem bothered though.
Smith with a hook.

It looks like Tomomi Tsuruta has been cut.
Smith throws a hook but Tsuruta avoids it easily.
Smith throws a series of punches but Tsuruta moves out of range.
Tsuruta half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Tsuruta goes for a double leg but Smith avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Smith continues to drive forward.

Tsuruta clinches up with Smith and pushes him back against the cage.
Smith has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Smith is trying to break free.
Tsuruta lands an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith is leaning against Tsuruta and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tsuruta fails in his attempt to clinch.

Tsuruta has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsuruta is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Smith is defending well.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tsuruta uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Smith.

Tsuruta instigates a clinch.
Smith cracks Tsuruta with a nice body shot.
Smith tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tsuruta's elbow.
Smith is leaning against Tsuruta and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Tsuruta is breathing heavily.
Smith misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Smith swings wildly with an uppercut but Tsuruta uses good head movement to avoid it.

Tsuruta pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith leaves Tsuruta with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tomomi Tsuruta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith stuffs the takedown attempt from Tsuruta. Tsuruta gets slowly back to his feet.
Smith scores with a jab. Tsuruta acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith lands a big right hand that sends Tsuruta crashing to the mat! Smith stays standing though and waves Tsuruta back to his feet!

Tsuruta is rocked!
Smith is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Smith gets tackled into the cage by Tsuruta. Tsuruta maintains the clinch.
Oh Tsuruta is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

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

Smith cracks Tsuruta with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Tsuruta looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Smith finish him?
Smith misses with a body shot.
Tsuruta wants to clinch but Smith slips to the side
and Smith counters with a beautiful right hand that knocks Tsuruta out cold! What a finish! Smith is going crazy, running around the mat, summersaulting off the corner posts and screaming into the cameras. Something tells me he's pretty happy!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Eldar Smith!
An out of breath Eldar Smith thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.