PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Sarinnen (ranked 899 p4p, 1541 weight class) and Charles Smith (ranked 85 p4p, 142 weight class). Charles Smith has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Samuel Sarinnen's chin.

Sarinnen
vs
Smith

188 cm
21
149
4 - 0 - 0

177 cm
28
158
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Bloodbath MMA Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Samuel Sarinnen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Charles Smith!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Anthony Taglia and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sarinnen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sarinnen. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smith slips under a jab from Sarinnen.
Sarinnen shoots in for a double leg but Smith sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Smith tries to counter with a clinch but Sarinnen shakes him off and moves away.
Sarinnen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sarinnen jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Smith moves out of range of the strikes.
Sarinnen connects with a crisp jab.
Smith keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sarinnen.
Sarinnen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Sarinnen misses with a wild body shot.
Smith looks to land a left hand but Sarinnen moved out of range nicely.
Sarinnen looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Sarinnen's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Smith connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Sarinnen scrambles back to his feet.
Smith scores with a jab to the body.

Nice combo by Smith! Oh, that's hurt him - Sarinnen falls to the canvas and Smith follows him into side control.

Sarinnen is rocked!
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Smith working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee asks Smith politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Smith prefers to stall for the moment though.
Oh Sarinnen is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sarinnen is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.
Sarinnen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith gets back to full guard.
Smith lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sarinnen seems to have got his legs back now.

Sarinnen has his foot on Smith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smith works his way back into a safe position though.
Smith landing with the ground and pound.
Smith being controlled here momentarily.

Sarinnen 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.

Sarinnen isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Smith stacks Sarinnen on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Smith!
An elbow from Smith crashes against the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sarinnen keeps working.
Sarinnen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Smith off and has taken his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Sarinnen has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Smith is in real trouble here. Sarinnen gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Smith is tapping out! Sarinnen wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Samuel Sarinnen!
Samuel Sarinnen retains his featherweight title!
A relieved looking Samuel Sarinnen thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.