PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dondi Daga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rob Smalling (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dondi Daga has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Daga
vs
Smalling

201 cm
21
270 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

172 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Dondi Daga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Rob Smalling!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Steven Brown and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smalling throws a right hand that Daga ducks under and follows up with a left that Daga also avoids with ease.

Daga shoots in and bounces Smalling off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Daga stops Smalling from standing up.
Smalling really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Daga. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Daga slips nicely into half guard.
Smalling pushes Daga off but Daga dives into side control.

Daga decides to stand up, so the ref orders Smalling to his feet.

Daga rushes Smalling and presses him up against the cage.
Daga stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Smalling is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Smalling wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Daga ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Daga no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Daga working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Smalling has passed into half guard!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daga keeping control of the position.
Daga wants to control but Smalling is keeping busy.
Daga is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Smalling's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Smalling's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Daga just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Daga lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Smalling is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daga missing with strikes.
Daga throwing sloppy strikes.

Daga is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Smalling has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Smalling is trying to get back to his feet but Daga has full control of the position and if anything, Smalling has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Daga thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Daga controls the action.
Smalling manages to escape to a better position under a series of strikes. Daga is now in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daga happy to just control the position for now.

Daga working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Daga is staying tight to Smalling's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Daga decides to stand up, so the ref orders Smalling to his feet.
Smalling misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smalling ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Daga moves away.
Daga thows a body shot but no joy.
Rob Smalling is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Daga attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Smalling shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Daga eats them both and turns towards Smalling to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Smalling fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smalling throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Daga.

Daga clinches up with Smalling and pushes him back against the cage.
Smalling can't break the clinch.

Daga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smalling throws a series of punches but Daga avoids them all with ease.
Smalling jabs Daga to the body, keeping him at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dondi Daga dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Smalling misses with a jab, cross combination.

Daga drives through with a takedown into guard.

Daga stands up from Smalling's guard - Daga perhaps looking for a knockout.
Daga tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smalling sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Daga somewhat.
Daga jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Smalling digs a good body shot into Daga's ribs.
No joy there for Smalling, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Daga shoots for a double leg takedown but Smalling sprawls well. He's pushed Daga's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smalling swinging wildly here.
Smalling lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Daga circles away quickly and effectively.
Daga takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smalling looks to land a combination. Daga sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Smalling slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Daga is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Daga walks into a left hand.
Smalling lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Smalling stalks Daga and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Daga's face. Daga staggers backwards, shaken.
Smalling lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Smalling looks to land a combination but Daga avoids it well.
Smalling throws a series of strikes that have Daga backpedaling.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smalling throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smalling dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Daga slips a jab and a cross from Smalling.
Smalling connects with a body shot that sends Daga's belly button to the back.
Smalling moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Smalling looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smalling moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Smalling stuns Daga with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Smalling scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
A punch combination from Smalling misses.
Smalling rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Daga moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Smalling scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Daga doesn't seem bothered though.
Smalling changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Smalling scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Daga shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Smalling napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Daga controls the position.

Daga has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Smalling scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Daga doesn't seem bothered though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smalling cracks a nice hook into Daga's ribs.
Smalling keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dondi Daga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Daga takes a jab right on the kisser.
Smalling cracks Daga with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Smalling!
Dondi Daga is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smalling throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Daga counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Daga.
Daga seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Smalling wants to stand up but Daga is controlling him.
Daga pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smalling is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smalling wants to stand up but Daga is controlling him.
Daga tries to free his leg and advance position but Smalling is retaining full guard.
Daga wants to control from the top but Smalling keeps moving.

We're going to have a standup here because Dondi Daga wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Smalling throws a right and a left that Daga avoids nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smalling swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nice body punch from Smalling.
Smalling throws a series of punches but Daga avoids them all with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Smalling showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Smalling scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Smalling lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Daga throws a leg kick that misses.
Smalling stalks Daga and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Daga's face. Daga staggers backwards, shaken.
Smalling misses with a series of wild punches.

Daga moves into range and clinches up with Smalling.
Smalling has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Smalling is trying to break the clinch but Daga is controlling him.
Smalling wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Daga has him pressed against the cage.

Daga breaks the clinch.
Daga takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Smalling misses with a two punch combination.
Some wild striking there from Smalling.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smalling's corner calls for a 1-2. Smalling obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Rob Smalling seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smalling misses with a wild combination.
Smalling throws a right hand that Daga ducks under and follows up with a left that Daga also avoids with ease.
Rob Smalling seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Smalling jabs at Daga's body.
Smalling throws out a powerful jab.
Decent striking displayed by Smalling there.
Smalling throws a right hand that Daga ducks under and follows up with a left that Daga also avoids with ease.
Smalling fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smalling displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Daga explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

Daga scores with a takedown into Smalling's guard.

Daga gets to his feet - Smalling follows without any prompting.
Smalling throws a right and a left that Daga avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smalling looks to land a combination. Daga sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Smalling cracks Daga with a right hand to the side of the head.
Daga looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Smalling throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smalling looks to land a combination but Daga avoids it well.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Smalling enables Daga to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Smalling manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Daga's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Smalling is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Daga dives into side control.
Smalling tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Daga somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smalling is trying to stand back up.
Daga missing with strikes.
Smalling holding both Daga 's hands and preventing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Daga controlling from the back.
Smalling controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Daga just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Smalling is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Daga softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Smalling prevents Daga from getting a body triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dondi Daga showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Daga has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dondi Daga!