PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Uri Romanov (ranked 4384 p4p, 5785 weight class) and Ryan Sampson (ranked 383 p4p, 449 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Romanov
vs
Sampson

172 cm
25
146
3 - 2 - 0

167 cm
25
142
2 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

PEAK

Caveman clothing

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Uri Romanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryan Sampson!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Russell Pearce and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romanov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sampson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Romanov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sampson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Romanov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sampson is trying to hold Romanov in close to prevent damage but Romanov has managed to pass into half guard.
Romanov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Sampson looking for submissions off his back.

Sampson looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romanov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Romanov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Romanov wants to pass the guard but Sampson is defending well.
Romanov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Romanov passes the guard and advances to mount!
Sampson manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Romanov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sampson defends it well.

Sampson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Romanov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sampson is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Romanov wants to take Sampson's back here but Sampson is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Sampson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Sampson trying to control the position from guard on top but Romanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Romanov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sampson's guard.
Sampson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Romanov lands a couple of elbows.
Romanov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Sampson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Romanov defends well.
Sampson keeping moving, preventing Romanov from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romanov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sampson controls Romanov momentarily but Romanov frees himself.
Romanov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Romanov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Romanov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Sampson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sampson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Uri Romanov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sampson is looking to clinch but Romanov is avoiding it.
Sampson fails with a takedown attempt.
Sampson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Sampson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Romanov tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Sampson is in Romanov's guard.
Romanov pulls Sampson in to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romanov keeping moving, preventing Sampson from controlling successfully.
Romanov trying to strike off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Romanov goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Sampson has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Romanov but great work by Sampson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanov is pushing Sampson's head away, looking to escape. Sampson manages to hold on to the position though.
Romanov is looking to regain half guard here but Sampson keeps moving and retains side control.
Romanov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sampson can do to turn this around?
Romanov is trying to control Sampson's posture but Sampson avoids it.
I wouldn't like to be where Romanov is right now.

Sampson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Romanov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sampson trying to control the action but Romanov is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Romanov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sampson trying to control the action but Romanov is working from the bottom.
Romanov is looking for a sweep.
Sampson trying to control the action but Romanov is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanov tries to bench press Sampson off him but Sampson keeps the position.
Romanov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Romanov winds up and cracks Sampson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Romanov controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sampson looking for submissions off his back.
Romanov prevents Sampson from improving his position.

Sampson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Romanov wants to stand up but Sampson is controlling the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Romanov working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Uri Romanov will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sampson fails with a takedown attempt.

Romanov looking to score a takedown here. Sampson is defending well but Romanov drives through and ends up in Sampson's guard.
Sampson keeping full guard, as Romanov tries to pass.
Romanov pushes down on Sampson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Romanov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sampson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Romanov pulls his head out easily.
Romanov is looking to advance position but Sampson won't allow it.
Romanov controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanov trying to mount his opponent but Sampson defends it.

Romanov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Romanov tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Sampson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Romanov is keen to just control but Sampson is a slippery customer.
Sampson misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Romanov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sampson trying to control but Romanov postures up.
Uri Romanov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Romanov is taking a breather. Sampson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Sampson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Romanov looking to pass the guard.

Sampson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Romanov defends well.
Sampson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Romanov controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanov forces his way into half guard.
Romanov working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Romanov trying to control the action but Sampson is working from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Romanov.
Sampson taking some punishment here, with Romanov in his half guard.

Sampson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sampson is trying to control but can't.
Romanov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Romanov is trying to control the action in half guard but Sampson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Romanov there.
Romanov is trying to control. Sampson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Sampson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sampson is trying to get back to full guard.
Sampson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Sampson looking for submissions off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Romanov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Uri Romanov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Romanov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Uri Romanov!