PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rodney Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Romario Gomez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Romario Gomez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Smith
vs
Gomez

173 cm
18
158 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

187 cm
23
157 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rodney Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Romario Gomez!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Andrew Berry and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Gomez counters with a left and a right that stings Smith.
Smith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gomez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gomez is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Gomez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gomez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Gomez stuffs the takedown attempt from Smith. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Gomez avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is putting a hurting on Gomez here, landing some big shots from side control.
Gomez defending against the ground and pound.
Smith in side control, throwing shots but Gomez defends.
An elbow from Smith crashes against the mat.
Smith in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Smith working the ground and pound but Gomez is defending the strikes.
Smith working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Smith working the ground and pound but Gomez is defending the strikes.
Smith connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Gomez some visible discomfort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ground and pound from Smith seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Gomez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The strikes coming from Smith are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Smith seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Smith tries to score with some ground and pound. Gomez controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The ground and pound from Smith seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Gomez looks winded!

Smith tries for a kimura but Gomez is defending well.

Smith looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Smith in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith working the body and head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith grinds an elbow into Gomez's temple.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gomez avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Smith.
Smith in side control, throwing shots but Gomez defends.
Smith fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Gomez dodges the ground and pound from Smith.
Smith lands an elbow.
Gomez avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Smith.
We've been informed that Gomez has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Smith looks up at the clock and then as Gomez takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Smith smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Smith is chipping away with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomez dodges the ground and pound from Smith.
Smith sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Gomez is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Smith throws an elbow but Gomez slips to the side and avoids it well.
Gomez parries the strikes from Smith easily there. Smith is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Gomez to escape.

Smith tries for a kimura but Gomez is defending well.
An elbow from Smith crashes against the mat.
Smith is putting a hurting on Gomez here, landing some big shots from side control.
Smith misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Smith scoring with punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smith is trying to pull guard but Gomez turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
I was talking to Smith's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Smith drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gomez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Smith looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Smith pushes off an throws an elbow but Gomez leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Smith looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodney Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Smith tries for a takedown but Gomez manages to get underhooks.
Gomez blocks an elbow strike from Smith.
Smith wants a takedown but no success here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Smith pushes off an throws an elbow but Gomez leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Gomez is pressed up against the cage. Smith has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gomez down to the mat. Gomez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Smith is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gomez can do to turn this around?
Smith tries to clinch there but Gomez circles away.
Gomez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Smith tries for a takedown but Gomez circles away easily
and Gomez counters with a two punch combo.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gomez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Smith tries to clinch there but Gomez circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a takedown
and Gomez counters with a straight right hand.
Romario Gomez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt - Gomez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gomez is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Smith shoots in but Gomez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Smith sets himself, and Gomez steps forward looking for the clinch! Smith avoids it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomez keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Gomez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smith looks to clinch
and Gomez counters with a series of strikes. Smith will be more careful next time no doubt.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith dives in and grabs Gomez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gomez pushes down on Smith's head and hops out.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gomez steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Smith.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Gomez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Gomez shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Romario Gomez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gomez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith moves to clinch but Gomez breaks away
and Gomez counters with a two punch combo.
Smith looks to clinch
and Gomez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith closes the distance looking to clinch
and Gomez counters with a left and a right that stings Smith.
Smith moves to clinch but Gomez breaks away
and Gomez counters with a three punch combo that has Smith backing up. Smith nods at Gomez to acknowledge the strikes.
Smith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Gomez counters with a one-two to the body.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gomez is looking for the big counter here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith with a poor takedown
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodney Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Smith tries to clinch up
and Gomez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smith lands in his opponent's guard.
Smith chips away with some ground and pound.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Gomez blocks nicely.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rodney Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.
Gomez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Smith has hold of Gomez's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Gomez seems comfortable defending it but Smith has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Gomez is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Gomez is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Smith couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rodney Smith!
Rodney Smith seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.