PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ray Je (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Samuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Je comes to the cage accompanied by I Can't Decide. Samuel is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Imma Do It. Ray Je could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to George Samuel's chin.

Je
vs
Samuel

165 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
165 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ray Je!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, George Samuel!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Jorge Garcia and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Je throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Samuel fails with a takedown attempt.
Samuel tries to clinch up but Je circles away and keeps his distance.
Samuel tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Je swivels and escapes.

Samuel has taken the fight to the clinch.

Samuel wants the takedown. Je is fighting it off but Samuel persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Je's guard against the cage.
Samuel thows a big elbow that misses.
Samuel throwing strikes from guard but Je blocks nicely.
Je has momentary wrist control but Samuel slips an elbow through the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Je utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Je is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Samuel is controlling him.
Samuel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Je might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Samuel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Je on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Je tries to get out of the position.
Samuel is looking to work some ground and pound but Je has wrist control.
Je wants to stand up but Samuel is controlling him.
Samuel throwing strikes from guard but Je blocks nicely.

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.
Samuel postures up in Je's guard and throws a big left but Je blocks it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Je clinches but Samuel breaks the clinch

and Samuel counters with a shoot takedown. Je fights it but they end up in guard.
Je is breathing heavily.
Samuel is looking to work some ground and pound but Je has wrist control.
Samuel throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Samuel thows a big elbow that misses.
Samuel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samuel trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Je is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Samuel is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Samuel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Je knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Samuel on the ground.
Samuel throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Samuel scores a takedown into full mount!
Je avoids a series of strikes thrown by Samuel.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samuel dominating with strikes here.
Samuel misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Samuel postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Je looks a forlorn figure.
BOOM! Samuel connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Je takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Je is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Samuel punishing his opponent with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Samuel dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Samuel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Je as he avoids it easily.
Samuel shoots in for a takedown but Je shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Je misses the jab.
Samuel shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ray Je has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Samuel.
Samuel doesn't manage to clinch there - Je circles away.
Samuel shoots for a double leg takedown but Je sprawls well. He's pushed Samuel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Samuel cracks Je with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Samuel throws a leg kick but Je sees it coming and moves out of range.
Je keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Samuel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samuel throws a right and a left that Je avoids nicely.
Samuel blocks the body kick.
Je throws a sloppy head kick and Samuel moves out of range easily.
Samuel shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Je as he jumps to the side.
Samuel fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Je scores with a punch to the head.
Ray Je is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Samuel closes this distance looking for a takedown but Je circles away.

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.
Je moves in looking to clinch but Samuel pushes him off.

Samuel drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
George Samuel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Samuel working the head and body with strikes.
Je is pushing Samuel's head away, looking to escape. Samuel manages to hold on to the position though.
Samuel cracks Je with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Sloppy strikes there by Samuel.
Samuel in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samuel grinds an elbow into Je's temple.
Samuel tries to score with some ground and pound. Je controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Je wants to get back to his feet.
The strikes coming from Samuel are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Je is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Samuel lands a nice forearm strike.
Samuel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samuel working the body and head with strikes.
Samuel working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Samuel misses with the ground and pound.
Je takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Samuel landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Samuel.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Samuel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Samuel fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Samuel shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Je sprawls well. Je wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Samuel gets slowly back to his feet.
Je closes the distance but Samuel moves to the side

and Samuel counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Samuel.
Knees to the body from Je.
Samuel controlling the action here for a moment.

Samuel works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Samuel lands a couple of digs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Samuel throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samuel content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Je utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Je working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Samuel.
Samuel wants to pass the guard but Je is keeping the position.
Samuel throwing strikes from guard but Je blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Samuel in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Samuel postures up in Je's guard and throws a big left but Je blocks it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Samuel throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Je's waist but Je gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Samuel off to one side.
Ray Je has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Samuel.
Nice sprawl there from Je as Samuel shoots in.
Je stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Je wants it to stay on the feet.
Samuel throws a sloppy head kick and Je moves out of range easily.
Je throws a head kick that misses

and Samuel counters with a nice double leg into side control. Je won't be happy with that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samuel with the ground and pound but Je regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Samuel moves nicely into side control.
Samuel with the ground and pound but Je regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Je avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Samuel.

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.
Samuel thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Je's head.
Samuel throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Samuel scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Je keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Samuel is nestled in close to Je, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Samuel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Samuel missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Samuel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Samuel winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 26:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Samuel!