PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Samuels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akio Hideyoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akio Hideyoshi will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Samuels
vs
Hideyoshi

188 cm
24
212 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

194 cm
24
215 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

LHK Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sam Samuels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akio Hideyoshi!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hideyoshi misses with a head kick.
Samuels misses with a straight right.
Hideyoshi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Hideyoshi pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Hideyoshi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Samuels stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hideyoshi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Samuels slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hideyoshi keeping moving, preventing Samuels from controlling successfully.
Samuels looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hideyoshi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samuels looking to sit in guard and control but Hideyoshi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Samuels is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hideyoshi wants to control from the top but Samuels keeps moving.
Hideyoshi stopping the sweep attempt from Samuels.
Hideyoshi trying to control but Samuels is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Hideyoshi pushes Samuels up against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Hideyoshi fails to land.
Hideyoshi misses with a hook from the clinch.

Samuels jumps guard and drags Hideyoshi to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Hideyoshi trying to control but Samuels is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Samuels is looking for a triangle but Hideyoshi pushes his legs off easily.
Hideyoshi stopping the sweep attempt from Samuels.
Hideyoshi is stalling in the full guard.
Hideyoshi trying to control but Samuels is working from the bottom.
Samuels has control of Hideyoshi's left arm, preventing Hideyoshi from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hideyoshi controlling from the top position.
Hideyoshi trying to control the position from guard on top but Samuels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samuels trying to control the position.
Hideyoshi passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hideyoshi trying to control the action but Samuels is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Samuels's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hideyoshi controls the position.
Samuels manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hideyoshi's best efforts.
Hideyoshi tries to pass to full mount but Samuels defends it.
Samuels is looking to improve his position.

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.
Samuels is trying is best to control the position here.

Samuels looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hideyoshi trying to control the action but Samuels is working from the bottom.
Samuels keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Hideyoshi trying to pass the guard but Samuels defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Samuels lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hideyoshi at a distance.

Samuels looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Samuels dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Samuels has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Sam Samuels has been cut.
Samuels drops Hideyoshi with a right and a left! Samuels comes rushing in but Hideyoshi regains his composure and manages to keep Samuels in guard.

It looks like Akio Hideyoshi has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hideyoshi trying to control the position.

Samuels is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Samuels trying to control but Hideyoshi is working from the bottom.
Samuels pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hideyoshi is keeping the position for now.
Samuels preventing the sweep.
Hideyoshi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Samuels manages to get himself to full guard.
Hideyoshi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hideyoshi controlling from the top position.
Hideyoshi stopping the sweep attempt from Samuels.
Hideyoshi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hideyoshi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Samuels wants to sweep here but Hideyoshi controlling him for the moment.
Samuels is trying to control the position but Hideyoshi postures up.

Samuels is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

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.
Hideyoshi wants to pass the guard but Samuels is keeping the position.

Samuels throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Hideyoshi escapes and throws Samuels's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Hideyoshi trying to control the position but Samuels is working away.
Samuels being controlled for a moment.
Hideyoshi trying to control the action but Samuels is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samuels struggling a bit here.
Hideyoshi controlling the position from side mount.
Samuels is looking for a sweep.
Samuels can't do much from the bottom here.
Hideyoshi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Samuels keeps working.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A telegraphed right hand from Samuels misses the target.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hideyoshi.
A slow jab from Samuels misses its intended target.
Hideyoshi falls off balance throwing a combination
and Samuels connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samuels swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hideyoshi pivots, looking for a leg kick but Samuels is out of range and Hideyoshi settles back down.
Hideyoshi thuds a left hand into Samuels's body.
Samuels circles away from the clinch attempt

and Samuels decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hideyoshi's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hideyoshi can't keep his opponent in guard - Samuels advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hideyoshi tries to get to full guard but Samuels has control of the leg.
Samuels seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hideyoshi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Samuels wants to pass to mount but Hideyoshi is defending the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Samuels dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Samuels's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Samuels lands the left hand.
Samuels throws a looping overhand right but Hideyoshi ducks down to avoid it.
Samuels takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A slapping body kick lands there for Hideyoshi.
Sam Samuels is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hideyoshi lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Hideyoshi clinches up with Samuels and pushes him back against the cage.
Hideyoshi unloads a knee to the mid-section. Samuels lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A short uppercut from Hideyoshi.
Hideyoshi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Samuels's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Samuels jumps guard but Hideyoshi stands there with Samuels around his waist. Samuels gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Samuels tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Samuels is trying to break the clinch but Hideyoshi has him pressed against the cage.
Hideyoshi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Samuelss head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hideyoshi throws a head punch that misses.
Hideyoshi misses with a knee strike.
Samuels managing to block the knees to the body from Hideyoshi.
Hideyoshi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Samuels backwards.
Hideyoshi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hideyoshi misses with a punch on the inside.
Hideyoshi lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Samuels or not.
Hideyoshi can't find room to land a body shot as Samuels controls the action.
Hideyoshi tries a body shot but Samuels blocks it.
Hideyoshi tries a knee to the head but Samuels blocks it.
Hideyoshi misses with a punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from Hideyoshi - that landed with a thud.
Hideyoshi landing knees to the body.
Samuels tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hideyoshi just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Samuels. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hideyoshi tries to land a knee to the head but Samuels blocks with his arms.
Samuels on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Samuels managing to block the knees to the body from Hideyoshi.
Hideyoshi throws a punch but it's blocked by Samuels.
Samuels is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hideyoshi gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hideyoshi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short left from Hideyoshi.
Hideyoshi misses with some punches.
Hideyoshi looking to throw knees to the head but Samuels is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samuels is looking to control Hideyoshi's arms but Hideyoshi gets an underhook and turns him. Now Samuels has his back to the cage.
Hideyoshi misses with a hook from the clinch.

Samuels pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Samuels lands a nice looking body shot.
Hideyoshi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hideyoshi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Samuels lands a right hook to the body.
Samuels getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Hideyoshi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Samuels moves away.
Sam Samuels is winning the standup battle so far.
Samuels connects with a right hand. Hideyoshi shakes it off.
Samuels lands a body shot.

Samuels closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Samuels lands in his opponent's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hideyoshi keeping moving, preventing Samuels from controlling successfully.
Samuels is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hideyoshi is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Akio Hideyoshi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sam Samuels is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hideyoshi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Samuels is controlling him.
Samuels looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Samuels trying to control the position from guard on top but Hideyoshi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hideyoshi controls Samuels momentarily but Samuels frees himself.
Samuels looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four 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.
Samuels advances position into side control!

Samuels is trying to get an arm triangle but Hideyoshi is defending well.
Hideyoshi can't do much from the bottom here.
Hideyoshi is not content to let Samuels control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hideyoshi wants to control but Samuels postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akio Hideyoshi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Samuels 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Samuels!