PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Stevie Ray Samson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh May (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Ray Samson
vs
May

185 cm
18
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Stevie Ray Samson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh May!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Samson misses with a looping left.
Samson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
May tries to close the distance and clinch but Samson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Samson swinging wilding here.
Nice defenses there by May.
Samson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but May moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nice takedown defense from Samson. No joy for May on that attempt.
Samson looks to land a right hand but May moved out of range.
Samson throws a sloppy head kick and May moves out of range easily.
May doesn't manage to clinch there - Samson circles away.
May tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Samson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Samson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. May is trying to defend but Samson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Samson wants to lay and pray for a moment but May keeps working.
Samson wants to advance to full mount but May doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
May not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Samson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
May wants to stand but Samson is controlling the position.

Samson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
May tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Samson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
May tries to clinch up.
Samson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Samson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
May lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
May fails with the takedown.
Samson falls off balance throwing a combination
and May finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

Samson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
May looks gassed!

Samson gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Samson looks to land a combination but May avoids it well.
Stevie Ray Samson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Samson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
May shoots in for a takedown but Samson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stevie Ray Samson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh May.
A lazy body kick from Samson
and May counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Samson misses with a double jab
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
May tries to clinch there but Samson circles away.
Samson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Samson with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nice defenses there by May.

Samson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in May's half guard.
Samson trying to advance position but May counters by regaining guard.
Samson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Samson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. May swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
May keeping moving, preventing Samson from controlling successfully.
Samson looking to pass the guard.
Samson pushing down on May's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
May wants to improve his position but Samson is controlling well.

Samson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Samson trying to mount his opponent but May defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stevie Ray Samson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Samson throws a head kick that misses
and May counters with a nice body kick.
Samson falls off balance throwing a combination

and May counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
May trying to control the position from guard on top but Samson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
May throwing strikes from guard but Samson blocks nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Samson wants to stand and escape but May is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
May trying to control the position from guard on top but Samson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Samson seems keen to control May's posture.
Samson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. May manages to get himself to full guard.
Samson passes May's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Samson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Samson works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Samson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as May is looking to escape.
May wants to hold on but Samson pushes him away.
Samson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Samson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish May?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
May wants to try and get back to his feet.
Samson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for May on the ground.
Samson with a couple of short strikes.
The referee warns May that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Samson stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Samson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming May to the mat! May manages to get full guard.
Samson wants to control from the top but May keeps moving.
Samson is pushing down on May's leg trying to pass to half guard. May is fighting to maintain full guard but Samson has managed to sneak the leg through.
May wants to get back to full guard.
May wants to control but Samson is keeping busy.
Samson trying to control the action but May is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Samson is controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stevie Ray Samson 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!

Samson pushes May up against the cage in a clinch.
Samson wants a takedown but no success here.
May has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Samson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
May looking for a takedown.

Samson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Samson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but May paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Samson gets a takedown into half guard.

Samson seems to be working for a kimura but May defends the submission attempt.
Samson prevents May from improving his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
May trying to hold on to Samson's head to control him but Samson postures up.
Samson working May over with strikes.
Samson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
May wants to get back to full guard.
Samson tries to pass the half guard into mount. May knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Samson throws a body punch but May moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Samson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. May sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Samson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and May counters with a low kick, right behind Samson 's knee.

Samson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Samson postures up.
Samson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Samson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
May wants to stand but Samson is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samson looking to pass the guard.
Stevie Ray Samson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Samson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Samson trying to control the position from guard on top but May is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Samson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
May trying to remain calm as Samson controls from the top position.

Samson tries for a kimura but May is defending well.
Samson avoids the strikes from the bottom by May.

That's four 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.
Samson is looking to take a break and control but May is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
May is trying to control Samson's posture but Samson avoids it.
Samson passes to full mount! That's big trouble for May!
Josh May has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Samson is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Samson throws a series of punches but May moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stevie Ray Samson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Samson 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stevie Ray Samson!