‘Njokuani vs. Smith’ Play-by-Play: RFA 22 Results & Updates

Joey Eisenbraun vs. Kevin Gray

Round 1

A double-leg by Gray successfully opens the bout, but Eisenbraun stands back up using the fence. Gray reshoots and gets his man back down. After a bit of posturing up against the cage, Eisenbraun gets back up the fence again. A nice switch kick from Gray lands. He closes the distance, lands some knees in the clinch and takes the fight back down to the mat. Eisenbraun throwing elbows to the ribs from the bottom, this turns into him standing back upright, but Eisenbraun is having some trouble getting his back off the cage. Big knee to the body from Gray drops Eisenbraun right back to the floor, Gray shows killer instinct, immediately locking in a guillotine and forcing Eisenbraun to tap.

The Official Result

Kevin Gray def. Joey Eisenbraun via Submission (Guillotine Choke) R1 3:49

David Yomi Heredia vs. Dominic Montoya

Round 1

Heredia misses with a leg kick to start the fight, Montoya paws at his opponent with a left jab and then moves to press Heredia against the cage. Heredia fights out of it well, circling out, throwing a head kick then enters the clinch with Montoya. Both men are fighting inside, Montoya throws a knee that lands before the belt. Heredia takes a moment to recuperate and they re-engage. Spinning back kick from Heredia narrowly misses its mark. Heredia rushes Montoya, slowing the pace and pressing against the cage. Montoya has none of it, immediately circling out and taking the legs out from under Heredia, scoring the first takedown of the fight. A scramble ensues, Heredia lands a couple hammerfists before latching onto the neck as they stand. Heredia lands three right hands, they separate, but just as the round expires, Montoya picks Heredia up and scores a second takedown.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Montoya
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Montoya
C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Montoya

Round 2

There's not much action in the first minute of the second round, with both men tentative to throw. Heredia lunges with an overhand right, changes levels and shoots for the single-leg takedown. After some commitment to the maneuver, Heredia scores the takedown. Montoya quickly stands back up, but eats a right and left hook before they separate. Heredia presses his opponent against the cage, both men jostling for position, but no strikes are thrown. Heredia’s hands are down at his sides, Montoya moves in for the takedown, picks Heredia up over his head but Heredia slides free. Heredia takes Montoya down, then goes to town, throwing hammerfists to the sides of the head of his opponent. Heredia looking to finish the fight here, Montoya eats a big knee. Wild sequence from Heredia, who goes all out looking to end the fight with heavy punches and more knees, but Montoya survives.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Heredia
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Heredia
C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Heredia

Round 3

A leg kick from Heredia is checked. Montoya shoots for a takedown, fails and winds up pressing Heredia against the cage. Montoya walking Heredia down, Heredia throws a side kick. Montoya with a two punch combination. Montoya takes the back of Heredia, looking for the rear-naked choke. Heredia writhing free, transitions into mount, but Montoya isn’t down for long, scrambling up to his feet. With two minutes remaining, Heredia is backing all the way across the cage from Montoya. A leg kick from Montoya is checked. A right punch from Montoya connects with Heredia’s chin. Both men showing signs of tiring here late. Montoya looks for a takedown, gets Heredia to the floor, but Heredia again escapes and takes Montoya down instead. Heredia pounds momentarily, then backs away from his opponent once more as the fight comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Heredia (29-28 Heredia)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Heredia (29-28 Heredia)
C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Montoya (29-28 Montoya)

The Official Result

Dominic Montoya def. David Yomi Heredia via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) R3 5:00

Prentice Ingram vs. Josh Huber

Round 1

Ingram with a push kick, then goes high with a roundhouse kick upstairs to start the bout. Ingram showing good movement as Huber walks him down. A two-punch combination from Huber misses its mark. Huber gets inside, lands two punches and then ends the sequence with a knee. Huber looking to load up on his left hand. Ingram connects with a head kick. Huber attempts a Superman punch, but he misses and the fight winds up against the cage with Ingram securing a bodylock. Ingram is controlling the pace of the contest now. Huber pulls down on the neck of his opponent as he tries to circle off the cage, but Ingram is maintaining his position well. A knee from Ingram lands in the groin area, so referee Tom Johnson steps in and gives Huber takes a moment to recover. Ingram throwing kicks from a distance on the restart, Huber trying to walk inside of these strikes. Huber presses Ingram against the cage, then lifts up and scores a takedown as the first round expires.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Huber
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Huber
C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Huber

Round 2

Two push kicks from Ingram to start the second frame. Huber comes back with the Superman punch he used in the first round, which he parlays into a takedown. Huber moves through the guard of Ingram, gaining the full mount. Ingram writhes out of the mount, but eats a stiff elbow. Huber briefly looks for a mounted guillotine, but gives up on it. Ingram is busted open from the strike, and Huber moves to the back of his opponent, sensing the opportunity, he sinks in the rear-naked choke. Ingram looking to escape for a moment, but the hold is just in too deep and he is forced to tap.

The Official Result

Josh Huber def. Prentice Ingram via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R2 1:55

Alvin Robinson vs. Ricky Musgrave

Round 1

Robinson takes Musgrave to the mat immediately. Robinson looks for a guillotine choke but Musgrave escapes. Robinson postures up for a moment, dropping right and left punches. Robinson going all out, putting Musgrave in danger, but Musgrave is weathering the storm. Musgrave throwing elbows off his back, slowing down the offensive output of Robinson. An armbar attempt from Robinson, Musgrave escapes and takes the back of Robinson. Musgrave going to town now with punches to the temple of Robinson, who is just eating these shots, not doing anything to escape. The UFC veteran slowly moves away from the strikes, gets back to his feet, but eats a perfectly timed knee from Musgrave that drops him right back to the mat. Musgrave again goes for the kill, throwing punches in the hopes of earning a stoppage. Musgrave throwing repeated right and left punches to a flattened out Robinson. Robinson's not doing much, but the punches aren't of real consequence. Nonetheless, referee Don Thais steps in to stop the bout, giving Musgrave the victory, leaving Robinson in disbelief.

The Official Result

Ricky Musgrave def. Alvin Robinson via TKO (Punches) R1 3:55

Mark Dickman vs. Donald Sanchez

Round 1

Dickman, who came in 10 pounds overweight, comes out as the aggressor early, landing a right hook. Sanchez counters with a right hook of his own. “Tricky” Dickman shoots for a takedown, which he scores with ease. Dickman makes it into side control, looking to secure the left arm of Sanchez. Dickman pacing himself, but is slowly wrenching the arm of Sanchez back in a kimura. Dickman gets a loose triangle over Sanchez's head and is wrenching. Sanchez almost seemingly waiting to tap, as it’s a formality at this point. Dickman gets his shoulder wrenched a little further to force the tap and referee Tim Mills is on it in a hurry.

The Official Result

Mark Dickman def. Donald Sanchez via Submission (Kimura) R1 1:37

Vacant RFA Welterweight Championship
Chidi Njokuani vs. Gilbert Smith

Round 1

The vacant RFA welterweight title is only on the line for Gilbert Smith, due to Njokuani coming in five pounds overweight. Smith bobbing and weaving to start the fight, he then throws a quick leg kick that misses. Njokuani lunges inside with a right punch, Smith throws a two punch combination of his own. Smith shoots for a takedown but Njokuani knees him on the entry. The strikes seems to rock Smith’s world, but he continues looking for the single-leg takedown. Smith grabs the other leg of Njokuani and after a few seconds is able to take Njokuani to the mat. Smith lays on top of Njokuani, who manages to kick Smith off for a brief second. Njokuani is unable to create separation, as Smith immediately takes the fight back down to the floor. Small hammerfists from Smith, scoring points but not doing significant damage. Njokuani kicks Smith away and stands, but can't free himself before the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Smith
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Smith
C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Smith

Round 2

Both welterweights not engaging after 90 seconds of the second round, drawing the ire of the Colorado audience. Njokuani switching between his stances, Njokuani working the jab and it’s getting through. “The Specialist” seems a bit wobbly on his feet after a jab connects. Njokuani sprawls a takedown attempt from Smith, then the former UFC fighter misses wildly with a second attempt. Njokuani rejects a third takedown try from Smith, this time around the fight winds up against the cage. Smith doing his best to just keep the scrap here, nullifying the reach advantage of Njokuani. Smith succeeds in getting the fight to the mat, but after standing upright Njokuani grazes the head of Smith with a head kick.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Njokuani
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Njokuani
C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Njokuani

Round 3

Njokuani lands a right hand flush. “Chidi Bang Bang” narrowly misses with another head kick. Smith goes back to the well and shoots for the takedown but it’s unsuccessful. Smith using his weight to press Njokuani against the cage, Smith tries to lift Njokuani off his feet but fails. The Colorado native is eating elbows as he continues to stall against the cage. After what seems like an eternity, referee Tom Johnson finally restarts the fight in the center of the cage. Njokuani continues using his jab when he can, Smith continuing to shoot for the takedown at every opportunity. Kick to the body from Njokuani scores. Smith half falls, half shoots for a takedown as the round expires and completely whiffs. Both men look absolutely gassed.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Njokuani
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Njokuani
C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Njokuani

Round 4

Smith punches his way inside, again looking for a takedown. Njokuani scores with a kick to the thigh. Another leg kick from Njokuani drops Smith to the mat. Instead of standing back up, Smith allows Njokuani to secure top control. Njokuani pushing the head of Smith down as the Team Victory member slowly attempts to get on top. Smith manages to briefly gain top control, but Njokuani is able to stand, landing more of the elbows to the body. Smith again pressing Njokuani against the cage, after a lull, referee Tom Johnson splits them up. Njokuani immediately comes back with three jabs and a head kick to close out the frame.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Njokuani
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Njokuani
C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Njokuani

Round 5

The two fighters embrace to open the fifth and final round. Front kick from Njokuani hits its mark. Njokuani circling to his right, throwing the jab in the process. Flying knee from Njokuani seems to land, but Smith remains standing. Njokuani comes right back with a sweep of the legs and secures side control. Njokuani drops two elbows to the head of Smith. Njokuani’s elbow remain directly above Smith, he lands three more quick strikes. Smith grabs ahold of a leg and gets Njokuani off him, but the Las Vegas native comes back with a nasty kick to the ribs and goes to work from the mount. Njokuani trying to finish this fight here, upping his offensive output as Smith attempts to hold on for dear life. Short elbows from Njokuani, Johnson imploring Smith to try and fight back. Njokuani launches a flying knee that cracks Smith in the chin, rocking him back to the fence, then goes flying at him with another knee that lands flush before the bout ends. Anthony Njokuani is going to win a decision here, but the RFA welterweight title will remain vacant.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Njokuani (49-46 Njokuani)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-8 Njokuani (49-45 Njokuani)
C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Njokuani (49-46 Njokuani)

The Official Result

Anthony Njokuani def. Gilbert Smith via Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) R5 5:00