PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Emilio Rojas (ranked 1866 p4p, 2328 weight class) and James Smith (ranked 264 p4p, 287 weight class). James Smith has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Emilio Rojas's chin.

Rojas
vs
Smith

175 cm
40
168
26 - 20 - 0

176 cm
35
164
23 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

SynCity Fightwear
Voodoo Nutrition

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 26 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Emilio Rojas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Smith!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Eliza Hachem and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rojas looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
Nice defenses there by Rojas.
Rojas takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Smith takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Smith scores with the left hand. Rojas knows he should have avoided that one.
Rojas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Smith digs a good body shot into Rojas's ribs.
Smith's corner calls for a 1-2. Smith obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Smith slips a jab and a cross from Rojas.
Rojas on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Rojas swings widly with a right hand

and Smith decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rojas's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rojas avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rojas wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Rojas has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rojas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.

Rojas looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Rojas is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smith stands up over Rojas, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rojas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith with a nice head shot there.
Smith controlling from the top position.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rojas's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith working some strikes from top position.
Rojas is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Rojas keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Smith working his ground and pound in the gym.
Rojas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Rojas has momentary wrist control but Smith slips an elbow through the middle.
Smith stands up over Rojas, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Smith cracks Rojas with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rojas wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith postures up.

Rojas is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.
Smith engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Smith postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Smith trying to control but Rojas is working from the bottom.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rojas looking for a sweep. Not yet Rojas, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rojas misses with a right hand
and Rojas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Smith slips a jab from Rojas.
Rojas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smith digs a good hook to Rojas's body.
Rojas throws an overhand right that lands on Smith's shoulder, as Smith tries to avoid the shot.
Smith looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Smith dives in for a single leg takedown but Rojas sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rojas gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Smith.
Smith cracks Rojas with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rojas throws a lazy uppercut
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rojas was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nice body punch from Rojas.
Smith steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rojas.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Smith dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

The fighters circle momentarily. Smith darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rojas circles away quickly and effectively.
Rojas swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Smith cracks Rojas with a good jab.
Smith takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Smith takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Rojas misses the jab.
Rojas throws a lazy uppercut
and Smith counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rojas lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Smith at a distance.
Rojas uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Smith.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
James Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rojas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rojas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from Rojas.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rojas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Smith jabs at Rojas's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Some wild striking there from Rojas.
Smith scores with a hook to the body. Rojas takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Rojas ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Smith changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Smith scores with the left hand. Rojas knows he should have avoided that one.
Smith slips a jab from Rojas.
Smith throws out a counter right but Rojas avoids it with no problem.
Smith avoids the body shot from Rojas.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rojas moves away.
Rojas throws a big shot that misses.
Smith swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rojas counters with a straight right hand.
Rojas slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Smith keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rojas.
Smith looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rojas takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Smith fails to land the takedown.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A swing and a miss from Rojas.
Emilio Rojas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rojas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rojas takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Smith changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rojas just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith with the counter takedown but Rojas avoids it easily.
A bone on bone clash there as Rojas blocks the leg kick.
Smith lands with a shot to the body.
Good exchange - Smith coming out on top.
Rojas misses with a body shot.
Rojas swings widly with a right hand
and Smith cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Smith scores with a jab. Rojas acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Smith fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rojas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rojas throws a body shot but no joy.
Smith uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rojas.
A shot to the liver by Smith. Beautiful body shot.
Smith scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Smith with a hook.
Smith throws a nice looking combination but Rojas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rojas tests Smith's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rojas ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Rojas walks into a left hand.
Rojas scores with a jab to the body.
Rojas walks into a straight right hand from Smith.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rojas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Rojas wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rojas takes one on the button.

Smith shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rojas manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Smith works over Rojas with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rojas trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Smith is working Rojas over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Rojas is rocked!
Smith landing with the ground and pound.
Oh Rojas is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Rojas throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Smith escapes and throws Rojas's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Smith lands a few punches from side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Smith slips a straight right by Rojas.
Smith throws a shot to the body.
Jab from Rojas.
Rojas throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jab from Smith.
Rojas looks to land a left hand but Smith moved out of range nicely.
And Smith tries to counter it with a takedown but Rojas pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Smith drops Rojas with a huge uppercut! Rojas drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Smith is raining down punches and the ref stops the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). James Smith!