PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Katsuro Kazuhiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sampson
vs
Kazuhiro

175 cm
26
185 lbs
9 - 6 - 1

185 cm
24
192 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Boomerang! Costume Shop ($12 Fun Gear)

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 9 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Sampson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Katsuro Kazuhiro!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Summer Carpenter and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sampson rushes Kazuhiro and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kazuhiro tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sampson smiles and moves away.
Kazuhiro fails to land with a series of punches.
Sampson checks a leg kick.
Nice sprawl there from Sampson as Kazuhiro shoots in.
Kazuhiro blocks the body kick.
Sampson lands with a shot to the body.
Sampson slaps away a takedown attempt from Kazuhiro, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Steve Sampson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Katsuro Kazuhiro.
Kazuhiro lands with a hook. Sampson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Katsuro Kazuhiro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sampson stuffs the takedown.
A lazy left from Kazuhiro finds it's target.
Sampson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kazuhiro tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Sampson moves into the clinch.
Kazuhiro tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sampson smiles and moves away.
Sampson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazuhiro misses with an attempted mid kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kazuhiro.

Kazuhiro gets a takedown into half guard.
Sampson won't allow Kazuhiro to pass to mount.
Kazuhiro working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Sampson's thigh. Sampson counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Kazuhiro pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sampson is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazuhiro slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Kazuhiro is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sampson has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sampson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kazuhiro on the ground.
Sampson is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kazuhiro tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kazuhiro has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Kazuhiro is trying to get an arm triangle but Sampson is defending well.
Kazuhiro looks gassed!

Kazuhiro thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

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.

Kazuhiro wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sampson, who protects the arm well.

Kazuhiro tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kazuhiro has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Kazuhiro is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sampson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Sampson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sampson moves forwards but Kazuhiro connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Kazuhiro drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kazuhiro trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sampson has control of Kazuhiro's left arm, preventing Kazuhiro from doing any damage.
Kazuhiro tries to free his leg and advance position but Sampson is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazuhiro trying to move into half guard but instead Sampson has managed to sweep!
Sampson stopping the sweep attempt from Kazuhiro.
Kazuhiro is pulling down on Sampson's head. It's preventing any offense from Sampson, at least for the moment.
Kazuhiro wants to sweep here but Sampson controlling him for the moment.
Kazuhiro is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kazuhiro circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sampson throws a nice outside leg kick.

Sampson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Sampson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sampson landing strikes, looking to finish!
Kazuhiro is breathing heavily.
Kazuhiro is squirming around, avoiding Sampson's attempts to control the action.
Kazuhiro is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sampson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kazuhiro working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazuhiro tries to lock up and control but Sampson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kazuhiro is looking to get to half guard.
Sampson wants to control the pace but Kazuhiro is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kazuhiro is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kazuhiro is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sampson tries to control but Kazuhiro wriggling away.
Kazuhiro is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kazuhiro is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sampson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kazuhiro is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Sampson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sampson lands a nice looking body shot.
Steve Sampson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kazuhiro looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kazuhiro looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sampson gets full guard.
Kazuhiro looking to pass the guard.

Sampson pushes Kazuhiro off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazuhiro has a takedown stuffed.
Sampson connects with a jab.
Kazuhiro misses with a takedown attempt - Sampson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kazuhiro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sampson throws the kick towards the body but Kazuhiro avoids it.
Sampson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Kazuhiro blocks the body kick.
Kazuhiro throws a solid leg kick but Sampson takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kazuhiro.
Kazuhiro rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sampson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kazuhiro will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Steve Sampson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Katsuro Kazuhiro.

Sampson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kazuhiro trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Sampson manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazuhiro looking for a sweep. Not yet Kazuhiro, not yet.
Kazuhiro looking to control.
Sampson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kazuhiro is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sampson won't allow Kazuhiro to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sampson misses with a double jab.
Kazuhiro shoots in for a takedown but Sampson shows good takedown defense.
Sampson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kazuhiro misses with a takedown

and Sampson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kazuhiro!
Sampson trying to control but Kazuhiro is having none of it.
Sampson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sampson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Steve Sampson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazuhiro is trying to escape the mount.
Kazuhiro tries to hold on but Sampson pushes him away.
Sampson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kazuhiro really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Katsuro Kazuhiro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kazuhiro is squirming around, avoiding Sampson's attempts to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Sampson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sampson 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Sampson!