PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Huo Samja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pablo Ja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Samja
vs
Ja

180 cm
25
181 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

200 cm
25
180 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Huo Samja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pablo Ja!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Samja is looking to clinch.
Samja tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ja swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ja scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Samja fails in his attempt to clinch.
Samja takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ja scores with a one two! Samja had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Samja keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
No luck for Ja with that takedown attempt.
Ja misses with a looping left.
Ja misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ja scores with a shot to the body.
Ja looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Ja tries to keep at a distance but Samja has taken the fight into the clinch.
Samja tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Samja has a couple of punches blocked by Ja.

Ja jumps into guard, dragging Samja to the mat.
Ja wants to sweep here but Samja controlling him for the moment.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ja manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Samja manages to get himself to full guard.
Ja stops Samja from standing up.
Ja wants to control from the top but Samja keeps moving.
Ja wants to stand and escape but instead Samja has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Ja is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Samja slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Samja stands up and beckons Ja to join him on the feet.
Ja avoids the head kick by Samja.
Samja tries to close the distance and clinch but Ja swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ja throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Huo Samja is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ja lands a nice hook to Samja's body. Samja takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ja fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Samja misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Samja throws a hook but Ja blocks it.
A right-left combo lands from Ja.

It looks like Huo Samja has been cut.

Ja has Samja up against the cage in a clinch.
Ja is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Samja misses with a punch to the body.
Ja tries to pull guard but Samja won't allow it.
Huo Samja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pablo Ja.
Samja tries to circle away but Ja has him pinned against the cage.
Samja is trying to break the clinch but Ja is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ja.

Samja's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ja scores with a body shot.
Samja throws a jab when Ja was well out of range.
Nice body kick from Samja.
Samja misses with a combination
and Ja connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ja displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Samja tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ja throws a right and a left that both miss.
Samja takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Samja is breathing heavily.
Samja avoids a punch combination nicely.
Samja misses with a jab to the body

and Ja counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ja is trying to control. Samja wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ja takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samja pushes Ja off looking to stand but Ja dives back in and keeps control.
Ja seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ja is keen to just control but Samja is a slippery customer.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Samja is looking to escape.
Ja working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ja is controlling the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ja is looking to stall here but Samja recovers full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Ja dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Huo Samja's cut.
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.

Ja rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Samja moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A swing and a miss from Samja.
Samja tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ja counters with a nice body shot.
Ja closes this distance looking for a takedown but Samja circles away.
Ja digs a good hook to Samja's body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ja. Samja does a little dance to reset his feet.
Samja takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Huo Samja seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Samja gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ja throws a head punch that misses.
Ja is looking to break free of the clinch but Samja has double underhooks.

Samja manages to break the clinch.
Samja tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ja paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pablo Ja seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Samja tries to clinch up
and Ja counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ja ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Samja moves away.
Ja is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ja decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Samja manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Ja punishes Samja's body with a nice straight punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ja fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Samja on the side of the head.
Nice takedown defense from Samja. No joy for Ja on that attempt.
A shot to the liver by Ja. Beautiful body shot.
Ja throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Samja avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ja misses with a jab, cross combination.
Samja throws a series of punches but Ja avoids them all with ease.
A head kick misses from Samja.
Ja shoots in for a takedown but Samja shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Huo Samja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pablo Ja.
Samja looks to clinch
and Ja counters with a straight right hand.
Ja misses with a wild body shot.
Ja tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Samja paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samja throws a series of strikes that have Ja backpedaling.
Samja lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ja circles away quickly and effectively.
Samja swats away the attempt to clinch by Ja.
Ja is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Samja rather than just go for the knockout.
Ja jabs at Samja's body.
Samja closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Ja to counter with a crisp jab.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ja lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Samja scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Pablo Ja has been cut.
Samja tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Ja counters by moving into the clinch.
Ja is trying to break the clinch but Samja is controlling him.
Ja tries to pull guard but Samja holds him up against the cage and eventually Ja drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Samja breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ja lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Samja circles away quickly and effectively.
Ja circles away from the clinch attempt
letting Ja counter with a right hand.
Ja misses with a combination

and Samja holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Samja manages to break the clinch.
Nice shot lands for Ja.
Ja misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Samja.
Samja darts in trying to clinch
and Ja counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ja lands a jab to Samja's midsection.
Samja fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ja scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ja misses with a wild combination.
Ja ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Samja moves away.
Ja has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Ja takes a kick to the side of the head.
Ja swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Samja.
Ja tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Samja was well out of range. Poor timing from Ja.
Samja throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ja's head.
Ja misses with a wild body shot.
Ja ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Ja shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Samja manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ja is looking to stand up but Samja won't let him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Samja is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Ja showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Samja bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Samja tries to clinch but Ja moves away
and Ja counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Samja thinking.

Ja closes the distance and pushes Samja back into the cage.

Samja escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Samja avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ja fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Samja on the side of the head.
Samja keeps the fight on the outside.
Ja shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ja circles away from the clinch attempt

and Ja moves into the clinch.
Samja lands a body punch in the clinch.
Samja scores with a shot to the side of Ja's head.
Samja working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Ja takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A short right from Samja.
Samja misses with a body punch.
Samja doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Samja pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Samja keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ja thuds a left hand into Samja's body.
Samja lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Samja connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Ja has managed to clinch.
Ja is working for takedown but Samja is calmly controlling the position for now.
Samja presses Ja against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Ja struggles to land a body shot inside as Samja controls his hands.
Samja fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Samja fails to land.

Samja breaks from the clinch.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Samja.
Ja shoots in looking for a takedown. Samja tries to sprawl out of it but Ja keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Samja manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Huo Samja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pablo Ja.
Samja clinches but Ja breaks the clinch

and Ja moves into the clinch.

Samja breaks from the clinch.
Ja dodges the punch combination from Samja.
Samja throws a nice looking combination but Ja bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samja fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ja cracks a nice hook into Samja's ribs.
Samja ducks under a wild hook from Ja.
Samja is looking to clinch but Ja is avoiding it.

Ja feints and as Samja raises his hands in defense, Ja changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Samja wants to stand up but Ja is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Samja has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Ja off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Ja clinches with his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ja effectively controlling the action here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ja.
Ja tries to break the clinch but Samja is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ja wants to stall.
Nice body punch from Samja - that landed with a thud.

Samja breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Samja tries to clinch but Ja moves away
and Ja counters with a left to the body.
Samja throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Ja lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Samja fails in his attempt to clinch.
Samja ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ja moves away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ja is defended easily by Samja.

Samja drives through and clinches with Ja against the cage.
Samja lands a body shot.
Samja doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Samja breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Huo Samja is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Samja tries to clinch there but Ja circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samja doesn't manage to clinch there - Ja circles away.
Ja lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Samja doesn't manage to clinch there - Ja circles away.

Ja closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Samja breaks the clinch.
Ja cracks Samja with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Huo Samja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pablo Ja is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Samja tries to clinch up

and Ja counters by clinching up.
Samja wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Samja working aggressively here.
Samja misses with some punches.
Ja can't get the takedown.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Samja throws a head punch that misses.
Samja misses with a punch on the inside.
Samja misses with a body punch.

Ja pulls guard successfully.
Samja trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pablo Ja comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ja has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pablo Ja!