PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rodney Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jakub Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Smith
vs
Junior

173 cm
18
158 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
160 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rodney Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Jakub Junior!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Junior looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Smith wants to free his trapped foot but Junior is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Smith is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Junior wants to control but Smith is keeping busy.
Smith working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Smith is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Smith uses his free foot to push down on Junior's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Junior.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Smith cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith looking to finish Junior with some ground and pound. This is bad for Junior!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith breaks from Junior's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Junior avoids a series of strikes thrown by Smith.
Smith lands with some strikes.
Junior can't escape the position.

Junior defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Smith.

Smith wants to finish this one by submission but Junior is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Smith.
Smith scoring with strikes but Junior is staying in there.
Junior is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Smith has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Junior's face.

Junior is rocked!

Smith is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Junior is surviving well by controlling Smith's body position as best he can.
Junior is still in real trouble! Can Smith finish him?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith cracks Junior with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Junior is bucking up trying to escape but Smith cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior is working to get back to half guard.

Smith is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Junior can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Smith is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Junior to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Junior shrugs it off.

Smith is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Junior is surviving well by controlling Smith's body position as best he can.

Smith jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Junior manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Junior sneaks back into half guard.
Smith is thwarting Junior's attempts to control the position.
Junior flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Junior is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Junior seems to have recovered his senses.
Junior has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Smith is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Junior is trying to stand up here but Smith is controlling him well.

Smith is working for a submission of some sort.

Smith wants to work for an arm triangle but Junior is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Smith tries to pass to full mount but Junior defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Smith is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Smith is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Smith trying to pass the guard but Junior defending well.
Smith is working hard here to advance position.
Smith blocks the strikes from Junior.

Smith is looking for a kimura but Junior is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Smith to get the leverage.
Junior wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Smith dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Junior feints and as Smith raises his hands in defense, Junior changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Junior working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Smith is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Junior can do to turn this around?

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Smith working for a triangle but Junior defends it easily.

Smith pushes a forearm under Junior's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Junior is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rodney Smith!
Rodney Smith seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.