PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Soule (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franklin Bitter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Soule
vs
Bitter

180 cm
20
220 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

200 cm
23
250 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sam Soule!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Franklin Bitter!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bitter closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Soule to the mat! Soule manages to get full guard.

Bitter drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bitter jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Bitter avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Bitter drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Soule dives on top into guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Bitter is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Soule wants to pass the guard but Bitter is keeping the position.
Bitter keeping moving, preventing Soule from controlling successfully.

Soule drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bitter looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bitter looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bitter!
Soule manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soule working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Bitter's thigh. Bitter counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Soule could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Soule stopping the sweep attempt from Bitter.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Soule postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Bitter is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Soule, into his guard.
Bitter preventing the sweep.

Bitter got a little sloppy there for a moment and Soule has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bitter has managed to get both his arms back between Soule's legs - danger averted.
Soule is trying to control the position but Bitter postures up.

Bitter drops back looking for a leg! Soule is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Soule manages to kick Bitter off! Bitter jumps back into Soule's guard.

Bitter thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bitter looks gassed!

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.

Soule looking for a guillotine here but Bitter defends easily.

Bitter is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Soule is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Soule has escaped and now he's on top!
Soule wants to pass the guard but Bitter is keeping the position.

Soule drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Soule jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soule pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bitter is keeping the position for now.

Soule 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.
Soule trying to control but Bitter is working from the bottom.
Soule looking to pass the guard.
Soule trying to control the position from guard on top but Bitter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Soule closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Soule lands in his opponent's guard.

Soule drops back looking for a leg! Bitter is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bitter manages to kick Soule off! Soule jumps back into Bitter's guard.
Soule sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Bitter is trying to control the position but Soule postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Soule throws a combination. Bitter tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Bitter misses with a takedown

and Soule counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Soule tries to free his leg and advance position but Bitter is retaining full guard.
Bitter keeping moving, preventing Soule from controlling successfully.

Soule drops back looking for a leg! Bitter is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bitter manages to kick Soule off! Soule jumps back into Bitter's guard.
Bitter being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bitter looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Bitter is breathing heavily.
Soule manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Soule looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Soule might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Soule looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Soule works his way to full guard. Good work.

Bitter 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.

Soule looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Soule has his feet on Bitter's thighs here. He's pushed Bitter off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Bitter screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Sam Soule!
Sam Soule retains his heavyweight title!