PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rikki Rhall (ranked 5303 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jackson Smalls (ranked 4973 p4p, 498 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Rhall
vs
Smalls

185 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
21
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rikki Rhall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jackson Smalls!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shigeki Fujiwara and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rhall gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Rhall breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smalls's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Smalls duly obliges.

It looks like Rikki Rhall has been cut.

Smalls shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
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.
Rhall won't allow Smalls to pass to mount.
Rhall trying to control but Smalls postures up.
Rhall wants to improve his position but Smalls is controlling well.
Smalls trying to pass the guard but Rhall defending well.
Rhall tries to kick Smalls off but Smalls keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smalls wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rhall keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smalls not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rhall won't allow Smalls to pass to mount.
Rhall keeping control of the position.
Rhall tries to get to full guard but Smalls has control of the leg.
Rhall wants to control but Smalls is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rhall pushes Smalls off looking to stand but Smalls dives back in and keeps control.
Smalls slips a nice elbow through Rhall's hands, connecting with Rhall's forehead.
Smalls stalling away here and it's allowed Rhall to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Smalls is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smalls tries to free his leg and advance position but Rhall is retaining full guard.
Smalls wants to control from the top but Rhall keeps moving.
Rhall looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Some wild striking there from Smalls.
Smalls stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Smalls wants it to stay on the feet.
Smalls wants to land a leg kick but Rhall is out of range.

Smalls shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rhall's guard.
Smalls throws a big elbow that misses.
Smalls throwing strikes but missing.
Rhall wants to stand and escape but Smalls is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smalls is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Rhall has his foot on Smalls's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smalls works his way back into a safe position though.
Rhall is breathing heavily.
Smalls wants to control from the top but Rhall keeps moving.
Rhall is trying to keep Smalls in close.
Smalls pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rhall is keeping the position for now.
Smalls wants to control from the top but Rhall keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Smalls scores with a punch to the head.
Smalls fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Rhall moves into the clinch.
Rhall is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Smalls is defending well for now.
Rhall is looking to take this one to the mat.
Smalls wants to get back to striking at distance but Rhall won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rhall leaning against his opponent.

Smalls escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rhall gets caught flat footed, as Smalls shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jackson Smalls dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rikki Rhall's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rhall looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jackson Smalls seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smalls moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Rhall shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rhall showed some decent athleticism there.
Rhall throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Smalls is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rhall trying to control from half guard but Smalls is working away.
Smalls is looking to control Rhall's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smalls avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rhall trying to control from half guard but Smalls is working away.
Rhall stalling.
Smalls controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rhall looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smalls has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Good exchange - Smalls coming out on top.

Rhall has closed the distance and engaged Smalls in a clinch.

Rhall breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rhall checks a low kick from Smalls.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rhall checks a leg kick.
Rhall takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rhall checks a leg kick nicely.
Smalls lands with a straight right. Rhall didn't see that one coming.
Smalls dives in and grabs Rhall's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rhall pushes down on Smalls's head and hops out.
Rhall seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Smalls changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rhall tries to avoid it but Smalls manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rhall to the ground. Rhall escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
No joy there for Smalls, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Rhall moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Smalls tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rikki Rhall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jackson Smalls.

Rhall's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rhall manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Smalls on his heels. He'll look to pass Smalls's guard now, I'm sure.
Smalls wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Rhall manages to pass to side control.

Smalls is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! Rhall is tapping! Great win for Smalls!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Jackson Smalls!