PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elder Joao Benedito Arsenio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benedito Arsenio has chosen Carmina Burana as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Elder Joao Benedito Arsenio will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Sampson
vs
Joao Benedito Arsenio

175 cm
27
185 lbs
11 - 6 - 1

186 cm
19
195 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Sampson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Elder Joao Benedito Arsenio!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Summer Carpenter and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benedito Arsenio tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sampson swats away the attempt to clinch by Benedito Arsenio.
Horrible takedown by Benedito Arsenio or perhaps it was just good defense by Sampson which made him look bad.
Benedito Arsenio shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sampson sprawls well. Sampson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Benedito Arsenio gets slowly back to his feet.
Sampson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Benedito Arsenio fails with the takedown.
Steve Sampson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elder Joao Benedito Arsenio.
Sampson tried to score with a low kick but Benedito Arsenio checks it.
Benedito Arsenio shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sampson as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benedito Arsenio avoids the body shot from Sampson.
Benedito Arsenio misses with a takedown attempt - Sampson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sampson stuffs the takedown attempt from Benedito Arsenio. Benedito Arsenio gets slowly back to his feet.
Benedito Arsenio looks for a takedown but Sampson sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedito Arsenio needs to keep his hands up - Sampson had a free shot at his head there.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sampson.
Sampson throws a chopping leg kick but Benedito Arsenio manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Sampson drives through and clinches with Benedito Arsenio against the cage.
Sampson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Benedito Arsenio tries for a takedown but Sampson manages to get underhooks.
Benedito Arsenio looks gassed!
Sampson scores with a hook to the body.
Benedito Arsenio taking a breather.
Benedito Arsenio is working for takedown but Sampson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sampson presses Benedito Arsenio against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nice body punch from Sampson.
Sampson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Sampson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Benedito Arsenio.
A short uppercut from Sampson.
Sampson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Benedito Arsenio or not.
Benedito Arsenio has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sampson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sampson works on Benedito Arsenio's body with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Sampson.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sampson just leaning against Benedito Arsenio, taking a breather.
Sampson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Sampson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Benedito Arsenio's defenses.
Sampson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Sampson.
Sampson controlling the action here for a moment.
A short right from Sampson.
A right hook to the body lands for Sampson.
A short body shot lands from Sampson as the two fighters clinch.
A short uppercut from Sampson.
Sampson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Benedito Arsenio backwards.
Benedito Arsenio trying to stall but Sampson improves his position.
Sampson gets through Benedito Arsenio's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sampson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Benedito Arsenio.
Sampson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Benedito Arsenio or not.
Sampson is working Benedito Arsenio over against the cage.
Benedito Arsenio takes a shot to the head.
Sampson landing knees to the head.
Sampson cracks Benedito Arsenio with a nice body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sampson.
Come on Sampson - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Benedito Arsenio wants a takedown but no success here.

Sampson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Sampson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sampson lands a body shot in the clinch.

Sampson works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Benedito Arsenio working for a triangle but Sampson defends it easily.
Sampson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Benedito Arsenio is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sampson is aware though and is defending well.
Sampson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Benedito Arsenio is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sampson controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sampson tries to move to mount but Benedito Arsenio blocks the move with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Sampson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sampson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sampson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Steve Sampson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sampson moves into the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Benedito Arsenio.
Benedito Arsenio looking for a takedown.
Benedito Arsenio tries for a takedown but Sampson manages to get underhooks.
Steve Sampson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elder Joao Benedito Arsenio.
Benedito Arsenio taking a breather.
Sampson landing knees to the body.
Benedito Arsenio tries a knee to the head but Sampson blocks it.
Sampson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Benedito Arsenio's face.
Benedito Arsenio looking for a takedown.
Sampson scores with a knee to the head.
Benedito Arsenio wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Sampson lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Sampson lands with a punch from half guard.
Benedito Arsenio is breathing heavily.
Sampson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedito Arsenio is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Sampson jumps into side control!
Benedito Arsenio is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Sampson is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Benedito Arsenio tries to reverse the position but Sampson maintains control.
Sampson controlling from the full mount.
Sampson raining down shots from the mount!
Sampson controlling his opponent.

Sampson looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

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.
Benedito Arsenio wants to control but Sampson is having none of it.
Benedito Arsenio is desperately trying to improve his position but Sampson has a good base and remains in mount.
Sampson content just to control the position here.
Sampson with good strikes from the mount here!
Benedito Arsenio really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Benedito Arsenio is persisting with the attempt to improve his 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.
Benedito Arsenio tries to lock up and control but Sampson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sampson controlling the position easily from mount.
Benedito Arsenio is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Benedito Arsenio is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sampson manages to capitalize on a mistake by Benedito Arsenio to take his back!
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Benedito Arsenio wants to escape the position but for the time being he's just trying to control the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sampson doesn't have the hooks in and Benedito Arsenio manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Sampson dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sampson shoots in and bounces Benedito Arsenio off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Benedito Arsenio keeping full guard, as Sampson tries to pass.
Benedito Arsenio wants to sweep here but Sampson controlling him for the moment.
Benedito Arsenio will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Benedito Arsenio wants to sweep but no luck.
Benedito Arsenio takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson passes Benedito Arsenio's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Benedito Arsenio has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sampson is working away from the top position though.

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

Sampson instigates a clinch.
Benedito Arsenio has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sampson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Benedito Arsenio is fighting off a takedown attempt but Sampson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Benedito Arsenio to the mat. Benedito Arsenio regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Sampson preventing the sweep.
Sampson wants to stand but Benedito Arsenio has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Benedito Arsenio wants to sweep here but Sampson controlling him for the moment.
Sampson trying to control but Benedito Arsenio is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benedito Arsenio looking to control.
Benedito Arsenio seems keen to control Sampson's posture.
Benedito Arsenio keeping moving, preventing Sampson from controlling successfully.
Sampson preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Benedito Arsenio fails with the takedown

and Sampson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Benedito Arsenio tries to throw a body punch but Sampson avoids it by throwing Benedito Arsenio back against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sampson lands a left hand.
Benedito Arsenio tries for a takedown but Sampson manages to get underhooks.
Steve Sampson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elder Joao Benedito Arsenio.
Benedito Arsenio drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sampson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sampson.

Sampson rushes Benedito Arsenio and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Benedito Arsenio has Sampson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sampson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sampson controlling the action here for a moment.
Sampson lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Sampson has Benedito Arsenio pressed against the cage.
Sampson keeps control of Benedito Arsenio as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Benedito Arsenio seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Sampson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Benedito Arsenio can do to turn this around?
Benedito Arsenio jumps guard but Sampson stands there with Benedito Arsenio around his waist. Benedito Arsenio gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benedito Arsenio tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sampson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Sampson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Benedito Arsenio.
Sampson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Benedito Arsenio or not.

Sampson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sampson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Benedito Arsenio looks to clinch

and Sampson counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sampson is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Benedito Arsenio controls the position for a moment.
Benedito Arsenio is looking to regain half guard here but Sampson keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Sampson clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Benedito Arsenio with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sampson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Benedito Arsenio tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sampson avoids it.
Sampson managing to block the knees to the body from Benedito Arsenio.
Sampson tries to land knees in the clinch but Benedito Arsenio avoids the damage to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Benedito Arsenio.
Benedito Arsenio trying to land knees to the body.

Sampson has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Benedito Arsenio regains guard immediately.
Sampson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Benedito Arsenio is trying to escape the position but Sampson is controlling the position.
Sampson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Benedito Arsenio keeps working.
Benedito Arsenio tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sampson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Benedito Arsenio keeps working.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedito Arsenio is trying to improve his position.
Benedito Arsenio is not content to let Sampson control the position.
Benedito Arsenio tries to improve position but can't.

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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Benedito Arsenio looks to clinch

and Sampson counters by clinching up.
Benedito Arsenio tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sampson struggles to land a body shot inside as Benedito Arsenio controls his hands.
Stalling in the clinch from Benedito Arsenio.

Sampson has picked Benedito Arsenio up - he's going for a ride! Sampson dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Steve Sampson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sampson is looking to advance position but Benedito Arsenio won't allow it.
Sampson is looking to take a break and control but Benedito Arsenio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Benedito Arsenio is trying to get back to full guard.
Benedito Arsenio wants to control but Sampson is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedito Arsenio is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sampson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sampson's back!

Benedito Arsenio tightening his grip on Sampson, looking for the choke.
Benedito Arsenio thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

Benedito Arsenio is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Sampson is defending well though. Benedito Arsenio let's go of the attempt for now.
Sampson manages to scramble and ends up in full guard, under a barage of strikes . Great composure from Sampson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson looking to control.
Sampson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Benedito Arsenio.
Benedito Arsenio tries to free his leg and advance position but Sampson is retaining full guard.

Benedito Arsenio has gone for a leg lock! Sampson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Benedito Arsenio's guard.
Sampson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Benedito Arsenio keeping moving, preventing Sampson from controlling successfully.
Benedito Arsenio bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sampson's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Sampson had his way with Elder Joao Benedito Arsenio in that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice straight punches there by Sampson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sampson.
Benedito Arsenio shoots and misses

and Sampson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sampson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Benedito Arsenio drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sampson gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Sampson jumps guard.
Sampson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Benedito Arsenio throwing strikes but missing.

Benedito Arsenio is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sampson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sampson has escaped and now he's on top!
Sampson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sampson forces his way into half guard.
Benedito Arsenio is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Benedito Arsenio does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Benedito Arsenio moves into full guard.
Sampson wants to control from the top but Benedito Arsenio keeps moving.
Sampson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Benedito Arsenio manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Benedito Arsenio has control of Sampson's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Sampson regains control of the situation pretty easily.

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.
Benedito Arsenio working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Sampson slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Benedito Arsenio not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Benedito Arsenio is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Elder Joao Benedito Arsenio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benedito Arsenio looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Benedito Arsenio is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sampson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Benedito Arsenio.
Steve Sampson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four 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.
Benedito Arsenio thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Sampson to regain full guard.
Sampson looking for a sweep. Not yet Sampson, not yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Benedito Arsenio trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Benedito Arsenio working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 50:44
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 50:44
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 50:44

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Sampson!
Steve Sampson retains his middleweight title!