UFC Milwaukee: Zak Cummings outlasts Trevor Smith en route to decision

Zak Cummings beats Trevor Smith in a war of attrition at UFC Milwaukee.

Zak Cummings def. Trevor Smith via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC Milwaukee. FanSided was cage side for the event at the Fiserv Forum on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018.

Zak Cummings moves up to middleweight for the first time in his UFC career. Introducing him to the division is Trevor Smith, who has alternated wins-and-losses in his last four fights. Cummings has also lost two of his last four, dropping decisions to Santiago Ponzinibbio and Michel Prazeres.

ROUND 1

Cummings stands southpaw, Smith starts in orthodox. Smith’s big right hand over the top immediately lands on Cummings. Commentator Daniel Cormier chuckles and welcomes Cummings to the middleweight division. A nice fake with the jab and a leg kick to follow for Cummings. A nice head kick from Cummings is blocked by Smith. Another overhand right lands on Cummings’ chin. A  looping left lands on Cummings. Another looping left on the counter for Smith. A lot of stance switching for Cummings. Ooh, Smith counters an uppercut from Cummings with a big punch. Smith blocks another head kick. Some blood trickles on the bridge of Cummings’ nose. A nice short uppercut lands for Cummings. Nice inside leg kick for Cummings. A good punch lands for him as well. Now Smith is bleeding and it seems to be rushing into his right eye. Cummings changes levels for a double leg takedown and eats a counter knee for his effort. Cummings keeps driving despite that knee and presses Smith against the cage. Left hand over the top lands for Smith on the break.

Fansided’s Score: 10-9 for Smith

ROUND 2

A high-five to start. Cummings’ left eye has noticeably swollen up, but not as bad as Brian Ortega’s eye vs. Max Holloway at UFC 231. A lot of short exchanges but nothing lands clean. Effort from both men but still not much is landing. Cummings gets a good leg kick in as Smith rushes forward with a combination. Both men are throwing hard leather. Smith is starting to advance more with clubbing strikes. Cummings is staying very active, throwing shovel punches and strikes from all angles. Props to the commentary team for “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine reference. A lot of straights landing for Cummings now. A nice leg kick lands for Cummings and he shoots for a takedown. Nice sprawl from Smith. Cummings lands a shot on the break. Cummings darts forward with a superman punch and eats a knuckle sandwich. That one seemed to do some damage.

Fansided’s Score: 10-9 for Cummings (19-19 overall)

ROUND 3

Smith throws a counter as Cummings rushes in. Nice left hand for Cummings. A leg kick trips Smith as he presses forward. What an exchange. Cummings lands a leg kick, slips past a punch and fires back. Cummings clips Smith behind the ear and Smith drops. Cummings initiates a grappling exchange and ends up underneath Smith despite having him stunned. Cummings made a big tactical error and gave up a great position to a hurt opponent. Smith is putting a lot of pressure on Cummings but the latter manages to crawl to the cage and get back to his feet. Cummings reverses the position against the cage and tries to take Smith down. No luck. Cummings lands a few strikes from up close and Smith looks hurt. Cummings clips Smith big but shoots for a takedown and almost gets caught in a guillotine. Cummings, fortunately, lands in side control opposite to the choke. He is safe. Cummings has Smith’s back, gets in a hook but slips off and ends up on the bottom. What is going on. Smith is back on top and is firing off ground-and-pound. Cummings has given up great positions multiple times now. Cummings back up and initiates a double leg. He turns the corner while Smith looks for the switch. A scramble ends with Smith turtled underneath Cummings. A big knee from Cummings lands to the ribs. The fight ends with both fighters slinging leather on the feet.

Fansided’s Score: 10-9 for Cummings (29-28 overall for Cummings)

Cummings — who one fought the late Ryan Jimmo for the MFC light-heavyweight championship — successfully makes his middleweight debut in the sport’s premier organization. Consecutive losses to Cummings and Elias Theodorou put Smith on his first two-fight skid since 2013.

Click here for live results on all of the action from UFC Milwaukee on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, live from Milwaukee, WN.