PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antero Rokka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Noel Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rokka comes to the cage accompanied by Twilight Guardians - Out of Our Hands. Smith has chosen Duality - Slipknot as his entrance music. Noel Smith has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rokka
vs
Smith

188 cm
27
208 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

191 cm
36
224 lbs
31 - 18 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

VIRAL COMBAT
Milwaukee's Best 160

Steel Penn\'s Laundry 80% LAUNDRY IS AVAILABLE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Antero Rokka!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 18 - 0, fighting out of New York, Noel Smith!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Dean Styles and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut lands for Rokka. That snapped Smith's head back.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith misses with an uppercut

and Rokka counters with a single leg into guard. Smith didn't expect that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rokka looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rokka is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rokka keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith works over Rokka with some ground and pound from guard.

Rokka escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rokka working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Rokka is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rokka looking for a sweep. Not yet Rokka, not yet.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rokka trying to control the position.

Rokka had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.
Rokka trying to control the position.
Rokka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Rokka is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.
Smith seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rokka escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Smith trying to control but Rokka is working from the bottom.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Rokka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rokka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Noel Smith.
Smith thows a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses the body punch
and Rokka makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Smith needs to keep his hands up - Rokka had a free shot at his head there.
Rokka lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Rokka ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Rokka tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Rokka.
Smith misses with a lunging right hand
and Rokka makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Smith throws an off balance right hand
and Rokka counters with a head kick that wobbles Smith - left then right he sways and one more bomb from Rokka sends him down. This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:38 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Antero Rokka!
Antero Rokka retains his light heavyweight title!
After winning the bout, Antero Rokka thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.