PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Malaki Novez (ranked 4908 p4p, 443 weight class) and Eric Smith (ranked 4612 p4p, 439 weight class). Malaki Novez has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Novez
vs
Smith

180 cm
20
190 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Malaki Novez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eric Smith!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shigeki Sano and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Novez drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.
Novez wants a takedown but no success here.
Smith prevents a takedown attempt there.
Novez has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Smith after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malaki Novez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Novez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Smith fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Eric Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith lands a nice shot to the body.

Smith clinches with his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Smith will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Novez up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is pushing Novez up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Smith misses with some punches.
We've been hearing reports that Novez has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Novez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Smith misses with a hook to the ribs.
Novez has Smith pressed against the cage, preventing Smith from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Smith pressing his opponent against the cage.
Smith has a couple of punches blocked by Novez.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's two 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.
Novez blocks a body shot from Smith.
Smith misses with a knee strike.
Smith lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Smith swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Novez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Smith is defending well.
Novez is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Novez has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Smith is trying to keep an underhook but Novez manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Smith tries to kick Novez off but Novez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Novez trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Novez looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Novez sits in half guard.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Novez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Novez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Novez trying to control the pace.

Smith makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Smith moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Smith both land. Nice combination.

Smith moves into the clinch.
Smith trying to land knees to the body.
Smith cracks Novez with a nice body shot.
Novez is breathing heavily.
Novez tries to score a body lock takedown but Smith shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Smith looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Smith just leaning against Novez, taking a breather.
Smith pressing his opponent against the cage.

Novez successfully pulls guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith is looking to stand up but Novez won't let him.
Smith told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Novez doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Smith dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Smith digs a good hook to Novez's body.
Smith moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Smith rushes Novez and presses him up against the cage.
Novez looking for a takedown.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Novez has Smith pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Smith manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Smith creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Smith lands a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Smith fails to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith lands a right hand.
Smith is trying to stall.
Smith can't find room to land a body shot as Novez controls the action.
Smith makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novez trying to control the position but instead, Smith has worked for underhooks and has pushed Novez into the cage.
Smith holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Smith working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Smith throws a head punch that misses.
Smith doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Smith looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but Novez blocks with his arms.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Novez ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Novez no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Novez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Novez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Novez has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Novez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.
Smith wanted to stand there but Novez had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith got a little sloppy there for a moment and Novez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smith has managed to get both his arms back between Novez's legs - danger averted.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Novez.
Smith wanted to stand there but Novez had control of the position.

Smith gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Smith misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Smith has closed the distance and engaged Novez in a clinch.
Novez wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malaki Novez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith can't find room to land a body shot as Novez controls the action.
Smith pushes Novez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Novez blocks an elbow strike.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Smith takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A nice left hand lands by Smith.
Novez is trying to drag Smith to the mat but Smith just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith scores with a nice hook to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Smith thuds a left hand into Novez's body.
Novez avoids a punch combination nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Novez is working for takedown but Smith is calmly controlling the position for now.
Smith is looking to control Novez's arms but Novez gets an underhook and turns him. Now Smith has his back to the cage.
Smith prevents the takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novez prevents a body shot from Smith.
A short left from Smith.
Smith is struggling to control the position.
Smith scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Eric Smith seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Smith working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Smith lands with a right to the head.

Novez is rocked!
Novez blocks an elbow strike from Smith.
Oh Novez is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Smith looking to throw knees to the head but Novez is blocking nicely.
Smith tries a knee to the head but Novez blocks it.
A nice left hand lands by Smith.
Novez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Smith pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malaki Novez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith lets his hands go wild with a nice combination. Left! Right! Uppercut! Spinning backfist! Novez goes down and covers up as Smith starts wailing on him! The ref watches the action closely before stepping in and putting a stop to the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Eric Smith!