PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lawrence Neale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damico Smalls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Neale
vs
Smalls

177 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Fighter Suplements

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Lawrence Neale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Damico Smalls!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Sam Margolis and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Neale throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smalls scores with a three punch combo!
Neale fails to land with a series of punches.
Smalls has a takedown stuffed.
Smalls fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A punch combination from Neale misses.
Smalls dodges the punch combination from Neale.
Smalls walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Neale misses with an uppercut. Smalls saw that one coming.
Neale throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smalls.

Neale scores a takedown into full mount!
Smalls is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Smalls keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Neale trying to control but Smalls is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neale avoids the attempt from Smalls to control.
Smalls working to try and regain half guard.
Neale tries to control but Smalls wriggling away.
Neale is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Smalls is desperately trying to improve his position but Neale has a good base and remains in mount.

Neale is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Smalls uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Neale.
Neale throws a right and a left that Smalls avoids nicely.
Neale misses with a double jab
and Smalls counters with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Smalls showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Neale.
Smalls needs to keep his hands up - Neale had a free shot at his head there.
Neale looks to land a combination but Smalls avoids it well.
Neale is breathing heavily.
Neale throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smalls counters with a straight right hand.
Neale just misses with a punch to the body.
Neale on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Neale pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Neale stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Horrible takedown by Smalls or perhaps it was just good defense by Neale which made him look bad.
Neale misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Smalls drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Neale on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Neale tries to get out of the position.
Smalls trying to control the position but Neale is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smalls advances to full mount.
Smalls avoids the attempt from Neale to control.
Smalls has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Neale's face.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Neale is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Neale knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smalls on the ground.

Smalls working for a submission but Neale is keeping him at bay.
Neale is trying to escape the mount.

Smalls is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Neale is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Damico Smalls!