PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between ivan navarro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Sams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

navarro
vs
Sams

178 cm
22
198 lbs
4 - 10 - 0

188 cm
18
211 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, ivan navarro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Sams!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Gregory Folan and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
navarro looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sams is fending him off so far but navarro persists. Nope, Sams circles away and we're back to standing.
navarro looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Sams defends well against a solid takedown attempt from navarro.
A swing and a miss from Sams.
navarro takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Sams misses with a takedown attempt

and navarro counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
navarro trying to control but Sams is working from the bottom.
Sams wants to stand up but navarro is controlling him.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sams holds on and takes a little breather.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sams looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
navarro won't allow Sams to get back to his feet.
Sams has his hands on navarro's head, controlling the position.

Sams throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sams wriggles free and stands up.
Sams throws a leg kick

and navarro counters with a takedown into side control.
Sams can't do much from the bottom here.
Sams is trying to improve his position.
Sams wants to control but navarro postures up.
Sams manages to get back to half guard.
Sams missing with punches from the bottom.

Sams looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sams wants to control but navarro is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
navarro works his way into side control.
Sams tries to escape but navarro is in control.
navarro scores with a couple of short elbows.
Sams prevents navarro from improving position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sams wants to get back to his feet.

navarro working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
navarro in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
navarro working away.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
navarro has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sams finds it's way round the side to connect with navarro's head.
Sams throws a lazy right hand but navarro sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sams throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sams scores with a jab.
Sams tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and navarro counters with a shoot takedown. Sams fights it but they end up in guard.
navarro wants to control from the top but Sams keeps moving.
Sams is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sams looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
navarro content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
navarro postures up in Sams's guard and throws a big left but Sams blocks it.
navarro with a flurry of punches that miss.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sams scores with a three punch combo!
navarro slips a jab from Sams.
Sams with a nice cross.
Sams misses with a looping left.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sams fakes high and swings low for a body shot but navarro manages to avoid it.
navarro takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Sams looks to land a combination but navarro avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that ivan navarro will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

navarro bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
navarro tries to score with some ground and pound. Sams controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sams wants to control but navarro postures up.
Sams is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sams wants to control but navarro postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sams is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on navarro's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sams controlling the position for now.

navarro is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sams is refusing to be controlled, as navarro sits in half guard.
Sams controlling the position for now.
Sams wants to control but navarro is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sams might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control navarro kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Despite being in the dominant position, Matt Sams just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sams misses with a straight left.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from navarro is defended easily by Sams.
navarro takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

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.
navarro blocks a jab.
Sams misses with a series of wild punches.
Sams moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sams might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Sams is looking to chop away at navarro's legs.
Sams looks to land a combination but navarro avoids it well.
A swing and a miss from Sams.

navarro closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
navarro tries to advance to mount but Sams denies him.
Sams is not content to let navarro control the position.
Sams is trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sams is trying to control navarro's posture but navarro avoids it.
navarro trying to control the action but Sams is working from the bottom.
Sams wants to control but navarro postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A nice combination there by Sams.
Sams throws a right and a left that navarro avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

navarro closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - navarro lands in his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as navarro accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
navarro throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sams works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
navarro is looking to work some ground and pound but Sams has wrist control.

Sams pushes navarro off and scrambles back to his feet.
Sams wants to land a leg kick but navarro is out of range.
A low kick from Sams misses

and navarro decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sams's guard.
navarro is in close to Sams's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sams is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sams wants to stand but navarro is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

ivan navarro dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sams connects with the punch.
ivan navarro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sams throws a hook but navarro avoids it easily.
Sams falls off balance throwing a combination

and navarro counters with a shoot takedown. Sams fights it but they end up in guard.

Sams escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. navarro gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sams wants to sweep here but navarro controlling him for the moment.
navarro landing with the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Sams is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sams is trying to control the position but navarro postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
navarro keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sams's head.
Sams wants to stand but navarro is controlling the position.

Sams working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. navarro doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. navarro manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
navarro won't allow Sams to get back to his feet.
navarro working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
navarro missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sams throws the left hand but navarro avoids the punch easily.
Sams connects with the punch.
A slow jab from Sams misses its intended target.

That's two 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.
Sams misses with a straight left.
navarro takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Sams lunges at navarro with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by navarro's hand.
Sams fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sams thows a leg kick but navarro checks it

and navarro decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sams's guard.
navarro makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Sams manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Sams throws a lazy right hand but navarro sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sams throws a jab when navarro was well out of range.
Sams connects with a single shot there.
navarro staying out of range there.
Sams pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
navarro slips a jab from Sams.
navarro defending well as Sams loads up on a big left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

navarro throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sams was covering up waiting for the punch and navarro finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sams looking to control.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting navarro here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Sams has control of navarro's left arm, preventing navarro from doing any damage.
Matt Sams has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sams looking to control.
navarro makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sams preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
ivan navarro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

navarro drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and navarro jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
navarro missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A combination from Sams does no damage.
Sams misses with a straight right.

navarro shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sams manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
navarro lands a couple of elbows.
navarro wants to control from the top but Sams keeps moving.

Sams is looking for a triangle but navarro pushes his legs off easily.

Sams escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. navarro gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sams throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
navarro distracts Sams with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

And that's the end of the fight!
ivan navarro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for navarro, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... ivan navarro!