PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Samoa Joe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Louis Freese (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Samoa Joe could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Louis Freese's chin.

Joe
vs
Freese

179 cm
25
195 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

183 cm
26
185 lbs
7 - 5 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Samoa Joe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Louis Freese!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Dillan Fox and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Joe shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Joe showed some decent athleticism there.

Joe decides to stand up.
Freese keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A slow jab from Joe misses its intended target.
Freese with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Joe to score with a decent uppercut.
Joe tries to clinch but Freese is having none of it.
Joe tries to score a power double leg takedown but Freese sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Joe somewhat.
Joe looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Freese is fending him off so far but Joe persists. Nope, Freese circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samoa Joe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Joe attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Freese scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Samoa Joe has been cut.

Joe drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Freese tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Joe wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freese sneaks back into half guard.

Freese looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Freese looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Joe in particular looking to stall.
Freese makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Freese.
Joe stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Freese swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Joe 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Freese working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Joe doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Joe manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Joe trying to control the position from guard on top but Freese is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Freese had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Joe defends it easily.
Freese looks gassed!
Joe wants to pass the guard but Freese is keeping the position.

Freese is looking for a triangle but Joe pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Joe postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Joe trying to control but Freese is working from the bottom.

Joe gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Freese closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Joe shoots in for a takedown but Freese shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Joe shoots for a double leg takedown but Freese sprawls well. He's pushed Joe's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Joe shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Freese but Freese pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe shoots in for a takedown but Freese shows good takedown defense.
Joe fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Freese comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Freese fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Freese misses with a jab, cross combination.
Joe throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Freese's waist but Freese gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Joe off to one side.
Joe shoots in looking for a takedown. Freese tries to sprawl out of it but Joe keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Freese manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Joe needs to keep his hands up - Freese had a free shot at his head there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freese connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Joe slips a jab and a cross from Freese.
Samoa Joe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Freese bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Joe misses with a takedown attempt - Freese sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Freese misses with a double jab.
Freese scores with a one two! Joe had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Joe has a takedown stuffed.
Freese fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Freese throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Freese lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Freese rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Joe moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Louis Freese dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Samoa Joe's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Joe tries to move into range but Freese moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Joe closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Freese managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Joe.
Joe trying to control the position but Freese is working away.
Freese regains half guard.

Joe 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.
Freese moves into full guard.

Freese pushes a forearm under Joe's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Joe is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Louis Freese!