After three rounds inside the Battlefield Fight League (BFL) cage, Squamish鈥檚 Cole Smith had his fate determined by the three fight judges. But after a few anxious moments, 鈥淐ole Train鈥� had his hand raised again.
Smith was pushed to the limit against Reece Wood at BFL 29 at the Hard Rock Casino in Coquitlam on Saturday (March 29) and won via judges鈥� decision (30-27, 30-27 and 29-28).
Despite the win, Smith wasn鈥檛 totally satisfied with his effort.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 fight to the best of my abilities,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 kind of disappointed 鈥� I was grappling a little too much and wasn鈥檛 listening to my coaches as much as I should have. I made a lot of little mistakes out there 鈥� I should have pushed off more and used my boxing and if I did that more, the fight would have went a lot better.鈥�
Smith鈥檚 superior stand-up skills were on display in the third round and he said it was that third round that decided the fight.
鈥淚 knew it was a close fight and I knew that third round would determine the winner,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 wanted to stand more and box, which I managed to do, but I think I let him do more than I wanted him to. I knew he was a grappler but I feel I can grapple with anyone.鈥�
Adam Ryan, a former 麻豆社国产resident, said Smith showed a lot of skill but the coaches had to make some important adjustments heading into that final round.
鈥淚 wanted him to stick and move,鈥� he said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 chase 鈥� fake and expect him to shoot. That鈥檚 what happened in the first two rounds. Cole would step forward and Wood would step back and shoot 鈥� which is exactly what a grappler should do. We told Cole to fake more so the guy didn鈥檛 know what he was doing and make his opponent come at him and then strike him.鈥�
Ryan and coach Kasey Smith said it was exactly the type of fight Cole needed.
鈥淗e needed a tough fight,鈥� Kasey said. 鈥淭he last two fights he won easily and this was just the type of thing he needed.鈥�
鈥淭his was good and tough but it鈥檚 going to make him think more when he fights now,鈥� Ryan added.
Ryan said Smith鈥檚 jiu-jitsu has improved in recent months and he did fine against an established jiu-jitsu grappler in Wood.
鈥淐ole showed a lot of skill in his stand up and on the ground today,鈥� Ryan said. 鈥淭he other guy鈥檚 specialty was jiu-jitsu and some of his hip switches with the takedowns caught Cole a little by surprise, but he held his own. Cole鈥檚 grappling and jiu-jitsu was fine and his striking was clearly better. I thought maybe he was chasing his punches a bit early on and that鈥檚 something that he needs to slow down and be more accurate with.鈥�
Ryan said Smith has improved his jiu-jitsu by participating in some recent jiu-jitsu tournaments and that helped on Saturday.
鈥淗is jiu-jitsu training is really paying off,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou learn from the good and bad at these tournaments and he used some of that experience tonight.鈥�
Scott Strachan from the 麻豆社国产Martial Arts Centre said his student has blossomed into an excellent fighter.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be more proud of him,鈥� he said, from inside Smith鈥檚 dressing room. 鈥淗e had some adversity tonight and overcame it. He鈥檚 so well-rounded 鈥� his opponent was known for his ground game and he hung with him. And I think Cole had a clear advantage in the stand-up.鈥�
The win improves Smith鈥檚 record to 3-0 as an amateur and 2-0 inside the BFL cage. Back on Dec. 7 he defeated Damon Begg in 48 seconds of the first round via a guillotine choke.
Smith said he鈥檚 not sure what鈥檚 next, but the title for his flyweight (145-pound) division is currently vacant and Smith鈥檚 camp said it鈥檚 possible that he will get a chance to fight for the gold at an upcoming BFL show.
For complete results from the event, visit www.battlefieldfight.com.聽
