PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gross Erock (ranked 2538 p4p, 246 weight class) and Darin Smith (ranked 3005 p4p, 276 weight class). Erock comes to the cage accompanied by Cosmo Canyon. The crowd seem to be enjoying Smith's choice of entrance music: Long Live the Chief- Jidenna. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Erock
vs
Smith

169 cm
23
159 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

170 cm
26
156 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

Dark Knight Nutrition
Condemned

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gross Erock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Darin Smith!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Erock.
Smith misses with the body kick
and Erock counters with a good low kick that Smith was not able to check.
Smith throws a head kick but Erock moves out of range.
Erock thinks about countering with a head kick.
Smith throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Erock.
Smith misses with a kick to the body

and Erock counters with a shoot takedown. Smith fights it but they end up in guard.
Erock wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
Smith can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Erock controls the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith keeping full guard, as Erock tries to pass.
Smith is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Erock's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erock seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Smith for as long as he can get away with.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Smith lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Smith throws a right hand that Erock ducks under and follows up with a left that Erock also avoids with ease.
Erock looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Erock throws a low kick but Smith avoids it.
Smith rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Erock moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Erock circles away from the clinch attempt.
Darin Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erock throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Smith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Erock manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Erock pushes him off.
Smith moves out of range as Erock throws a body kick.
Smith tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Erock swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Smith closes the distance looking to clinch

and Erock counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Smith!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Erock happy to just control the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erock's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Erock continues to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith is trying to buck Erock off.
Smith has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Erock controls the position.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Smith prevents Erock from improving position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Erock is staying tight to Smith's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Erock working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Erock controlling the position.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Erock is dominant here and he's now got Smith's back!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith is trying to get back to his feet but Erock has full control of the position and if anything, Smith has just worked his way into a worse spot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gross Erock dominated that round.
That's time! Erock's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Erock throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.

Smith gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Smith wants to stand but Erock is controlling the position.
Erock controlling from the top position.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Erock is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erock controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've been hearing that Erock has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Erock forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erock content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Smith looks like he's trying to stand up.
Erock looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Smith pushes Erock off looking to stand but Erock dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two 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 throws a series of punches but Erock avoids them all with ease.
Smith takes a swing at Erock's ribcage but misses.
Smith misses with a body kick.
Erock changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Erock throws a low kick but Smith avoids it.
Erock is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Erock on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Darin Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erock keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Erock tried to counter with a leg kick but Smith avoided it.
Erock throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Smith.

It looks like Darin Smith has been cut.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Erock paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
Erock blocks a head kick by Smith.
Erock lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Erock shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Smith napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Erock prevents Smith from escaping the position.
Smith gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Smith prevents Erock from taking his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erock takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Erock has hold of Smith's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Smith manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Erock tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Erock looking to isolate an arm here. Smith doesn't see it coming and as Erock extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Erock!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Gross Erock!
Gross Erock decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.