PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Noah Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rahlir Jefferson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Smith
vs
Jefferson

185 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

189 cm
22
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Noah Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rahlir Jefferson!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Saam Ante and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jefferson shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jefferson moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.

Smith changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Jefferson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Smith scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Jefferson to see if he's OK.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The strikes coming from Smith are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Smith looks up at the clock and then as Jefferson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Smith smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Jefferson is rocked!
Jefferson is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Jefferson is still in real trouble! Can Smith finish him?
An elbow from Smith crashes against the mat.
Jefferson seems to have recovered his senses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jefferson dodges the ground and pound from Smith.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Jefferson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jefferson dodges the ground and pound from Smith.
Jefferson is working to avoid the ground and pound but Smith connects with a decent elbow.
Smith throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Smith lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Jefferson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Jefferson prevents Smith from improving position.
Smith sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Jefferson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Smith cracks Jefferson with a big elbow.
Smith cracks Jefferson with a big right hand but Jefferson just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Smith in side control, throwing shots but Jefferson defends.
Smith landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Smith postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
The ground and pound from Smith seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Smith in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Smith has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Jefferson dodges the ground and pound from Smith.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith tries to score with some ground and pound. Jefferson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Jefferson tries to improve position but can't.
Smith lands some shots froms side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Jefferson can do anything to dispel that myth.
You can see the frustration on Jefferson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson tries to buck Smith off but Smith is having none of it.
Smith scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Jefferson to see if he's OK.
Jefferson holding on.
Smith prevents Jefferson from escaping the position.
Jefferson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Smith wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Smith in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Smith in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Jefferson is looking for a sweep.
Jefferson is trying to control Smith's posture but Smith avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jefferson fails with the takedown

and Smith counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smith.
Smith is in close to Jefferson's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Jefferson 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.
Jefferson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smith is controlling him.
Smith advances to half guard.
Smith prevents Jefferson from improving his position.
Jefferson trying to control from the bottom.
Smith stops Jefferson from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Smith scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Jefferson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Jefferson trying to hold on to Smith's head to control him but Smith postures up.
Smith not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Smith throwing shots but Jefferson is blocking nicely.
Smith takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith stops Jefferson from getting back to his feet.

Jefferson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Smith is nestled in close to Jefferson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noah Smith dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Jefferson with a poor takedown

and Smith counters with a takedown into side control.
Jefferson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Smith.
An elbow from Smith crashes against the mat.
Smith lands an elbow.
Smith throws a strike aimed at the side of Jefferson's head but Jefferson avoids it well.
Smith throws a strike aimed at the side of Jefferson's head but Jefferson avoids it well.
Jefferson can't do much from the bottom here.
Check out the look on Smith's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Jefferson is looking for a sweep.
Smith working the ground and pound from side control.
Jefferson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Smith misses with the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jefferson struggling a bit here.
Smith lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Smith working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Smith is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jefferson can do to turn this around?
Jefferson is trying to improve his position.
Smith looks up at the clock and then as Jefferson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Smith smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Jefferson is trying to improve his position.
Smith in side control lands a decent elbow.
You can see the frustration on Jefferson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Jefferson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Smith kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The ground and pound from Smith seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Smith throws a strike aimed at the side of Jefferson's head but Jefferson avoids it well.
Jefferson tries to bench press Smith off him but Smith keeps the position.
Smith in side control, throwing shots but Jefferson defends.
Jefferson is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Smith looks for a takedown but Jefferson sprawls well.
Jefferson clinches but Smith breaks the clinch

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Smith not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Jefferson trying to control from the bottom.
Jefferson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smith.
Jefferson flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Jefferson is looking to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith blocks the body kick.
Smith ducks right into an uppercut from Jefferson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Jefferson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jefferson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
Noah Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rahlir Jefferson.
Smith stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Smith wants it to stay on the feet.
Smith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jefferson's waist but Jefferson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smith off to one side.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.

Jefferson feints and as Smith raises his hands in defense, Jefferson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Jefferson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Smith is proving hard to escape from.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noah Smith dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Jefferson shoots and misses

so Smith counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Smith postures up.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Jefferson.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Jefferson has wrist control.

Jefferson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Jefferson has wrist control.
Jefferson can't keep his opponent in guard - Smith advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jefferson throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Rahlir Jefferson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jefferson has a takedown stuffed.
Jefferson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Jefferson shoots for a takedown but Smith saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Noah Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rahlir Jefferson.
Jefferson is looking to clinch.
Smith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jefferson's waist but Jefferson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smith off to one side.
Smith leaves Jefferson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jefferson misses with a takedown attempt

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Smith throwing shots but Jefferson is blocking nicely.
Smith thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throwing shots but Jefferson is blocking nicely.
Smith trying to mount his opponent but Jefferson defends it.
Smith working Jefferson over with strikes.
Smith missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Smith throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Smith is thwarting Jefferson's attempts to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
Jefferson tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Jefferson shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jefferson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Jefferson as Smith shoots in.
Smith tries for a takedown but Jefferson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Smith takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Jefferson shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed Jefferson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Noah Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Jefferson shows good takedown defense.
A head kick by Jefferson misses
and Smith makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A nice combination there by Jefferson.
Smith leaves Jefferson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Jefferson. No joy for Smith on that attempt.

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.
Jefferson with a lazy takedown attempt

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Smith is trying to control the action in half guard but Jefferson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Jefferson trying to control here.
Smith trying to control the action but Jefferson is working from the bottom.
Smith trying to mount his opponent but Jefferson defends it.
Rahlir Jefferson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith is keen to just control but Jefferson is a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Noah Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Smith has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:26
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:26
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Noah Smith!