PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Diego Rojas (ranked 9571 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Smith (ranked 6487 p4p, 0 weight class). Diego Rojas has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rojas
vs
Smith

207 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Diego Rojas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Smith!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Vladimir Khabensky and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rojas leaves Smith with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rojas seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rojas wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Smith swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rojas moves into the clinch.

Smith pulls guard successfully.
Rojas tries to stand but Smith is controlling from the bottom.
Smith looking to control but Rojas passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rojas seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rojas lands a nice short elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rojas is working away from the top position though.
Rojas performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rojas will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rojas is keen to just control but Smith is a slippery customer.
Smith tries to roll over but Rojas keeps him under control.

Smith is defending against the submission attempts here by Rojas.
Rojas wants to stand up but Smith has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's two 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.
Smith keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Rojas prevents Smith from improving his position.
Rojas is figuring out what he wants to do next.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Smith holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rojas takes one to the chin there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Rojas.
Rojas is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Diego Rojas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Smith.
Smith drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rojas gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Smith is trying to push Rojas away but Rojas has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rojas fails to pull guard.
Smith is looking to break free of the clinch but Rojas has double underhooks.

Smith jumps guard and drags Rojas to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Smith is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rojas defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rojas wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rojas showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rojas chips away with some ground and pound.
Rojas is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Smith manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Rojas decides to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Smith will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Smith darts in and clinches Rojas up against the cage.
Rojas pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Rojas tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.
Rojas fails to pull guard.
Rojas is pressed up against the cage. Smith has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rojas down to the mat. Rojas avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Smith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rojas tries to avoid it but Smith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rojas to the ground. Rojas escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Smith dives in for a single leg takedown but Rojas sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rojas drops down looking for a counter takedown but Smith sprawls and moves away.
Diego Rojas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Smith.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith shoots for a takedown but Rojas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rojas stuffs the takedown attempt from Smith. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Rojas seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses with a double jab

and Rojas counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Rojas prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rojas tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.
Rojas really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Rojas pulls Smith into guard.
Rojas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Rojas is trying to keep Smith in close.

Smith stands and steps away. Rojas gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rojas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
Rojas looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Smith blocks a head kick by Rojas.

Smith drives through and clinches with Rojas against the cage.
Rojas is trying to pull guard but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Smith managing to block the knees to the body from Rojas.
Smith content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Rojas tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.
Rojas keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Smith's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rojas tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.

Smith manages to pull guard.
Smith wants to sweep here but Rojas controlling him for the moment.
Rojas trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
John Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith wants to sweep here but Rojas controlling him for the moment.
Smith has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Rojas has passed into side control.
The ground and pound from Rojas seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Smith has one of Rojas's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Smith's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Smith is looking for a sweep.
Rojas wants to stand but Smith is controlling his arm.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith looks to move to half guard but instead Rojas has passed into mount! Damn!
Smith tries to hold on but Rojas postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Rojas dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Smith shoots in but Rojas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Smith misses with a two punch combination.

Smith fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rojas, pushing him back against the cage.
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rojas tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Rojas has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Smith uses from the top position.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rojas keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith pushes down on Rojas's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith stands up out of the half guard.

Smith pushes Rojas up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith looking for a takedown.
Rojas fails to pull guard.
A short right from Smith.

Rojas pulls guard effortlessly.
Smith is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rojas keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Rojas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rojas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Smith drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rojas looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rojas looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rojas!

Rojas tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Rojas trying to control the position but Smith is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith struggling a bit here.
Rojas trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith taking a bit of punishment here - Rojas scoring with strikes.

Rojas decides to stand back up.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rojas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
Rojas attempts a counter takedown but Smith avoids it well and moves away.
Diego Rojas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rojas avoids the head kick by Smith.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt - Rojas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rojas tries to counter with a takedown but Smith is quick to defend against it.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
As Smith tries to get set, Rojas tries to push him back and clinch up but Smith manages to avoid the attempt.
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rojas is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, Rojas circles away and we're back to standing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith darts in looking for a takedown but Rojas gets double underhooks and turns Smith into the cage.
Rojas is looking to counter the offense by Smith and move into the clinch.
Rojas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Diego Rojas.
I think Rojas 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diego Rojas!