PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Reggie Smalls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julio Sobral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Smalls
vs
Sobral

170 cm
27
162 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

181 cm
25
168 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Reggie Smalls!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Julio Sobral!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Alexandre Firmino and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smalls slips a jab and a cross from Sobral.
Smalls misses with a body shot.
Sobral misses with a takedown attempt

and Smalls counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Sobral is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smalls defends well.
Sobral wants to sweep but no luck.
Sobral utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smalls throwing strikes from guard but Sobral blocks nicely.
Smalls stands up over Sobral, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sobral wants to sweep but no luck.
Smalls slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Smalls might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sobral is on top in guard.
Smalls trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smalls wants to hit a switch here but Sobral passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Smalls there!
Sobral thowing shots but they're missing.
Smalls gets back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sobral thows a huge punch but Smalls dodges it nicely.
Smalls has hold of Sobral's hands but Sobral slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sobral wants to take a breather but Smalls is having none of it.
Sobral trying to mount his opponent but Smalls defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sobral is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are battling for position here. Smalls manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sobral throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smalls works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smalls keeping full guard, as Sobral tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sobral accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sobral trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sobral wants to control from the top but Smalls keeps moving.
Smalls keeping full guard, as Sobral tries to pass.
Sobral trying to control but Smalls is working from the bottom.

Sobral is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Smalls is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Smalls has escaped and now he's on top!

Sobral looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sobral is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Smalls trying to control the position from guard on top but Sobral is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smalls stands up over Sobral, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Smalls stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sobral swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sobral preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Sobral looking for a guillotine here but Smalls defends easily.
Smalls with a nice head shot there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sobral trying to control the position.
Smalls won't allow Sobral to sweep him here.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Sobral looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Julio Sobral will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A punch combination from Sobral misses.
Smalls throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Sobral throws a body punch but Smalls moves out of range.
Julio Sobral seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sobral uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smalls.
Smalls avoids the body shot from Sobral.
Sobral shoots in looking for a takedown. Smalls tries to sprawl out of it but Sobral keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Smalls manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sobral misses with a double jab.
Sobral slaps away a takedown attempt from Smalls, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Smalls circles away from the clinch attempt.
A big right from Smalls misses.
Sobral looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smalls is fending him off so far but Sobral persists. Nope, Smalls circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Sobral misses.
A shot to the liver by Sobral. Beautiful body shot.
Sobral throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Good exchange - Smalls coming out on top.
Sobral misses with the combination.
Sobral misses with a wild combination.

Sobral has managed to clinch.
Sobral looking for a takedown.
Reggie Smalls has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Julio Sobral.
A head punch on the inside from Sobral fails to land.
Sobral is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobral tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sobral is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Smalls is working for takedown but Sobral is calmly controlling the position for now.

Sobral tightens his grip and picks Smalls up, before dumping him to the ground. Smalls manages to land in guard.
Sobral throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sobral trying to control but Smalls is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smalls is on top in guard.
Smalls with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smalls working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sobral working for a triangle but Smalls defends it easily.
Smalls is looking to work some ground and pound but Sobral has wrist control.
Smalls missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smalls working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sobral is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Sobral is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smalls with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sobral working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smalls.
Smalls trying to control but Sobral is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smalls lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sobral working a defensive guard but Smalls manages to pass into side control anyway.
Sobral takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Smalls throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Sobral tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Smalls wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sobral can't do much from the bottom here.
Smalls misses with the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smalls scoring with punches from side control.
Sobral is looking to reverse the position.
Sobral is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Reggie Smalls will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Smalls misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sobral comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sobral fails to land the takedown.
Sobral fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smalls misses with an uppercut.

Sobral fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Smalls sprawls well initially but Sobral persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Sobral with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sobral wants to pass to mount but Smalls is defending the position.
Smalls trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobral stops Smalls from getting back to his feet.
Smalls won't allow Sobral to pass to mount.
Smalls wants to get back to his feet.

Sobral is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Smalls is trying to stand.
Sobral missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sobral is keen to just control but Smalls is a slippery customer.
Sobral is pressing down on Smalls's thigh, looking to free his foot. Smalls is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sobral is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Smalls defends it well.
Sobral is looking to pass Smalls's guard but actually Smalls recovers to full guard.
Sobral pushes down on Smalls's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Smalls trying to control here.
Julio Sobral has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sobral prevents Smalls from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobral wants to advance to full mount but Smalls doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Sobral postures up in Smalls's guard and throws a big left but Smalls blocks it.
Sobral wants to control from the top but Smalls keeps moving.
Sobral throwing strikes but missing.
Sobral trying to control but Smalls is working from the bottom.
Smalls is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smalls missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sobral regains full guard. Nicely done.
Smalls is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Smalls trying to control but Sobral is working from the bottom.
Sobral pulls Smalls in to control the position.

Sobral is looking for a triangle but Smalls pushes his legs off easily.
Sobral is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smalls trying to control the position from guard on top but Sobral is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sobral wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julio Sobral comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sobral has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Reggie Smalls!
A very excited looking Reggie Smalls made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.