PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Samuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Samuel comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Let The Rain Fall kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Jon Samuel told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Lee
vs
Samuel

200 cm
21
245 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
19
255 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, James Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jon Samuel!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Sam Margolis and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Samuel fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lee avoids it really well and circles away.

Samuel scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Lee defending against the ground and pound.
Lee holds on to Samuel's head and controls the position momentarily.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Samuel trying to control the action but Lee is working from the bottom.

Samuel wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lee, who protects the arm well.
Lee is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Lee's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Samuel tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Lee is looking to regain half guard here but Samuel keeps moving and retains side control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Samuel closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Samuel throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Lee prevents Samuel from improving position.
Lee manages to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Samuel is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lee is just riding it out for now. Samuel eventually gives up the hold.
Lee is not content to let Samuel control the position.
Lee regains full guard. Nicely done.
Samuel stands up over Lee, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Samuel trying to control but Lee is working from the bottom.
Samuel might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Lee kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Lee looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samuel advances to half guard.

Lee looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Samuel sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Lee looks like he's trying to stand up.
Samuel prevents Lee from improving his position.
Lee is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Samuel slips a nice elbow through Lee's hands, connecting with Lee's forehead.
Samuel seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lee does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Samuel is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Lee is staying active underneath Samuel, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Samuel shoots in for a double leg but Lee sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Samuel closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Samuel dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Samuel leaves Lee with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lee tries to score a power double leg takedown but Samuel sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lee somewhat.
Samuel fails with the takedown

and Lee counters with a shoot takedown. Samuel fights it but they end up in guard.
Lee has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Samuel working for a triangle but Lee defends it easily.

Samuel pushes Lee off and scrambles back to his feet.

Lee closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee drops down looking for an ankle pick but Samuel pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Lee. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Samuel fails with the takedown

and Lee counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Samuel's guard now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Samuel is trying to keep Lee in close.
Lee slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Lee tries to stand but Samuel is controlling from the bottom.
Samuel managing to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samuel keeping moving, preventing Lee from controlling successfully.
Samuel bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lee's guard.

Samuel thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Samuel thows a big elbow that misses.
Samuel trying to control but Lee is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Lee wants to sweep here but Samuel controlling him for the moment.
Lee keeping moving, preventing Samuel from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Samuel with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lee counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Samuel gets the takedown into side control.
Samuel working away.

Samuel is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lee has escaped the position, nice work there.
Lee tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Samuel tries for a kimura but Lee is defending well.
Lee prevents Samuel from moving into mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Lee dominated that second round.
That's time! Lee's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lee scores with a one two! Samuel had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Samuel with a lazy takedown attempt

so Lee counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Samuel has momentary wrist control but Lee slips an elbow through the middle.
Lee postures up.
Lee working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Samuel has an active guard here but Lee has managed to pass into half guard.
Lee is looking to advance position but Samuel won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Lee is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee prevents Samuel from improving his position.
Samuel is trying to maintain the position but Lee is very close to passing his half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Samuel with a poor takedown

and Lee counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Lee.
Lee won't allow Samuel to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee is stalling in the full guard.
Lee looking to pass the guard.
Lee trying to control but Samuel is working from the bottom.

Samuel looking for a guillotine here but Lee defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee preventing the sweep.
Samuel is looking to stand up but Lee isn't so interested in that idea.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Lee gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Lee escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Samuel tries for a takedown but Lee circles away easily
and Lee counters with a head kick. That will keep Samuel thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
James Lee has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Samuel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lee drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Samuel has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Lee is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Samuel.
James Lee overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Samuel pushes Lee away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Lee gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Samuel avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Lee.
Samuel tries to improve position but can't.
Samuel is being controlled here.

Lee stands up.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Lee showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lee 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 29:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Lee!