PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Soto Rojas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jorma Niemi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rojas
vs
Niemi

181 cm
25
161 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
19
158 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

AnonymouS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Soto Rojas!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jorma Niemi!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Colin Fotheringham and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rojas throws a leg kick
enabling Niemi to counter with a crisp jab.
Rojas fails with the takedown
and Niemi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Niemi misses with a straight right.
Rojas throws a lazy uppercut
and Niemi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rojas misses with a shot to the body
and Niemi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rojas thows a leg kick but Niemi checks it
letting Niemi counter with a right hand.
Rojas misses with the body kick
and Niemi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rojas throws a push kick but Niemi slaps the foot to one side.
Rojas moves to clinch but Niemi breaks away
and Niemi counters with a straight right hand.
Rojas takes a swing at Niemi's ribcage but misses.
Niemi lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Rojas wants to slow Niemi down by chopping away at his legs.
Niemi flicks out a counter leg kick but Rojas steps away.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rojas looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Despite the aggression on Niemi's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Rojas tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Niemi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rojas throws a body kick, spinning off balance
enabling Niemi to counter with a crisp jab.
Niemi takes a kick to the side of the head.
Rojas tries for a takedown but Niemi circles away easily
and Niemi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rojas misses with a lunging right hand
and Niemi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Niemi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rojas throws a leg kick that is checked
and Niemi makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Rojas really felt that one!
Rojas closes the distance looking to clinch
and Niemi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rojas throws a body shot but no joy.
We've been hearing reports that Rojas has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Rojas rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Niemi counters with a stiff right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rojas lands with an uppercut that bounces Niemi off the cage and back into range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rojas doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Niemi counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Soto Rojas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A low kick from Rojas misses
and Niemi counters with a thumping low kick.
Rojas is breathing heavily.
Niemi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rojas throws a hook to the side of Niemi's head but Niemi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rojas looks to throw a body kick
and Niemi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Rojas shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rojas showed some decent athleticism there.

Rojas seems to be looking for submissions.

Rojas is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Niemi defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rojas is looking to advance position but Niemi won't allow it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Niemi can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rojas wants to take a breather but Niemi is having none of it.
Niemi wants to get back to full guard but Rojas has passed into side control.
Niemi is not content to let Rojas control the position.
Rojas fails to land a wild elbow strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rojas advances nicely into full mount.
Rojas trying to control but Niemi is having none of it.

Rojas looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Rojas trying to control but Niemi is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jorma Niemi dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rojas closes the distance looking to clinch
and Niemi counters with a left and a right that stings Rojas.
Soto Rojas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rojas fails with the takedown
and Niemi counters with a nice uppercut.
Rojas fails with the takedown
and Niemi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A low kick from Rojas misses
and Niemi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rojas closes the distance looking to clinch
and Niemi counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rojas throws a sloppy body shot
and Niemi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rojas motions for Niemi to come forward. Rojas throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rojas moves to clinch but Niemi breaks away
enabling Niemi to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Niemi gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rojas to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rojas pushes down on Niemi's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rojas content to control rather than advance.
Rojas is trying to control the action in half guard but Niemi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Niemi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rojas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rojas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Niemi defending well though.
Rojas seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Niemi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rojas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Niemi's head.

Rojas is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Rojas is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Niemi is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rojas throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Niemi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rojas.
Rojas keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rojas trying to control the action but Niemi is working from the bottom.
Rojas tries to pass the half guard into mount. Niemi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rojas working the head and body with strikes.
Rojas is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rojas quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Rojas but it's paid off an Niemi is forced to tap! Nice work by Rojas.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Soto Rojas!
Soto Rojas is the new lightweight champion!