PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Samuels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocky Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stone has chosen THROW MONEY as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Samuels
vs
Stone

188 cm
27
212 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

191 cm
27
221 lbs
17 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Heavy handed

- The Red Eye - Q158 for $100
- The Red Eye - Q158 for $100

Conviction
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sam Samuels!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rocky Stone!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Hirohito Nitta and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Samuels lands a slapping body shot.
Stone looks to land a left hand but Samuels moved out of range nicely.
Samuels uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stone.
Samuels is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stone.
Samuels scores with a crisp jab that stopped Stone in his tracks.
Samuels ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Stone takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Stone misses with a hook to the body
and Samuels counters with a stiff right hand.
Stone throws a hook to the side of Samuels's head but Samuels sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Stone slips under a jab.
Stone throws a predictable looking body shot
and Samuels counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Stone connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Stone throws a lazy right hand but Samuels sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Samuels shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Stone is trying to defend but Samuels finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Samuels throwing shots but Stone is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samuels seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stone does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Stone is defending against the submission attempts here by Samuels.
Samuels is trying to control the action in half guard but Stone is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Samuels is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Stone is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Samuels thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stone is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Samuels is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

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

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Samuels shoots in but no luck this time.
Samuels staying out of range there.
Stone misses with a shot to the body
and Samuels counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Samuels scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Stone manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Stone seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Samuels does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Samuels has a hand on Stone's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Stone takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Stone controlling the pace for now.
Stone prevents Samuels from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samuels tries to lock up and control but Stone gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Samuels is looking to improve his position but Stone isn't that keen on the idea.
Samuels is squirming around, avoiding Stone's attempts to control the action.
Stone looking to control and managing it successfully.
Samuels tries to hold on but Stone postures up.
Stone controlling from the full mount.
Samuels is desperately trying to improve his position but Stone has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Stone controlling his opponent.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stone wants to control the pace but Samuels is squirming around nicely.
Samuels can't escape the position.
Samuels gets back to half guard.
Stone trying to control the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rocky Stone.
Samuels lands with a shot to the body.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Stone misses with a hook. Samuels ducked under it nicely.
Samuels swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stone throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Samuels sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A jab from Stone misses.
Samuels misses the body punch
and Stone counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Stone throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Samuels counters with a single leg into guard. Stone didn't expect that.
Samuels keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stone's head.
Stone trying to keep a closed guard but Samuels is proving a slippery customer.
Samuels forces his way into half guard.

Samuels is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Samuels wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stone keeps working.
Samuels trying to mount his opponent but Stone defends it.
Stone moves into full guard.
Samuels trying to control but Stone is working from the bottom.
Stone looking to hit a scissor sweep but Samuels is one step ahead there.
Samuels looking to sit in guard and control but Stone gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Samuels wants to sweep but no luck.
Stone content to stall in guard here.
Samuels looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stone is one step ahead there.
Stone tries to stand but Samuels is controlling from the bottom.

Samuels is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stone defends well.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Stone wanted to stand there but Samuels had control of the position.

Samuels has his foot on Stone's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stone works his way back into a safe position though.

Samuels working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stone doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stone manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Stone got a little sloppy there for a moment and Samuels has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stone has managed to get both his arms back between Samuels's legs - danger averted.
Samuels keeping moving, preventing Stone from controlling successfully.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Samuels has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stone can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Samuels had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stone defends it easily.
Samuels is trying to control the position but Stone postures up.
Samuels looking for a sweep. Not yet Samuels, not yet.
Stone trying to control but Samuels is working from the bottom.
Samuels manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Stone tries to hold on but Samuels postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Samuels dominated that round.
That's time! Samuels's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stone throws a left and a right that both miss
and Samuels counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Stone waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Samuels.
Samuels misses with a telegraphed body shot
enabling Stone to counter with a crisp jab.
A shot to the body from Stone misses

and Samuels counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Samuels is looking to work some ground and pound but Stone has wrist control.
Samuels slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Samuels looking to sit in guard and control but Stone gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Stone would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Samuels looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stone is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stone stands and steps away. Samuels gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Stone lands with a nice combination. Samuels backs away looking to recover.
Samuels throws a hook to the side of Stone's head but Stone sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Samuels misses with a hook.
Stone waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Samuels.

Samuels drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Samuels throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stone works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Samuels postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Samuels passes Stone's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Samuels is looking for a kimura but Stone is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Samuels to get the leverage.
Samuels is looking to take a break and control but Stone is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Samuels working Stone over with strikes.
Stone keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Samuels misses with a head shot. Stone uses the momentum to regain guard.
Stone can't keep his opponent in guard - Samuels advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samuels is looking to pass Stone's guard but actually Stone recovers to full guard.
Samuels trying to control but Stone is working from the bottom.
Stone working a defensive guard here.
Stone keeping moving, preventing Samuels from controlling successfully.
Samuels stopping the sweep attempt from Stone.

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.
Samuels loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Samuels wants to pass the guard but Stone is keeping the position.
Stone controlling the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stone closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Stone moves away from the strike by Samuels.
Stone takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Stone takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Samuels misses with a body shot.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Stone throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rocky Stone is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stone throws a predictable looking body shot
and Samuels counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Stone takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Stone throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Samuels wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Stone throws a hook but Samuels avoids it easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Samuels.
Samuels takes a little break here. Stone wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Samuels wants to control but Stone is keeping him busy.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Stone regains half guard there - taking advantage of Samuels's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

Samuels is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Samuels trying to control from half guard but Stone is working away.
Samuels moves nicely into side control.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Samuels throwing strikes but Stone manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
You can see the frustration on Samuels's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Samuels tries to buck Stone off but Stone is having none of it.
Stone content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Samuels is trying to improve his position.
Stone is looking to take a break and control but Samuels is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Samuels tries to buck Stone off but Stone is having none of it.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Samuels looks to move to half guard but instead Stone has passed into mount! Damn!
Samuels is wriggling around trying to escape.
Samuels is squirming around, avoiding Stone's attempts to control the action.
Samuels wants to control but Stone is having none of it.
Samuels is desperately trying to improve his position but Stone has a good base and remains in mount.
Stone looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Samuels bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Samuels throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stone trying to keep a closed guard but Samuels is proving a slippery customer.

Samuels is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Stone is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Stone has escaped and now he's on top!
Samuels looking for a sweep. Not yet Samuels, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Samuels dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Stone will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stone throws a lazy right hand but Samuels sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Stone misses the jab.
Samuels takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Stone takes one to the chin there.

Samuels darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Stone is refusing to be controlled, as Samuels sits in half guard.
Stone won't allow Samuels to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samuels throws a strike but Stone avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Samuels throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stone works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stone seems keen to control Samuels's posture.

Samuels drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Stone dives on top into guard.

Samuels is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stone is aware though and is defending well.
Sam Samuels overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Stone decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Samuels, up you get!
Samuels swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Stone counter with a right hand.
Samuels moves away from the strike by Stone.
Stone misses with a telegraphed body shot
enabling Samuels to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Samuels coming out on top.
Stone pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Samuels swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Samuels takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stone scores with a hook.
Samuels slips a straight right by Stone.
Stone misses with a hook to the body
and Samuels counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Samuels misses with a shot to the body
and Stone counters with a series of strikes. Samuels will be more careful next time no doubt.
Samuels throws the left hand but Stone avoids the punch easily.
Stone leaves Samuels with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Stone misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone connects with a jab.
Samuels misses with a jab to the body
and Stone counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Stone misses with a looping left.
Stone throws a shot from downtown. Samuels moves away and avoids it.
Samuels slips a straight right by Stone.
Samuels ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stone moves away.
Stone takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Stone takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Samuels throws a jab but it's blocked by Stone.
Samuels takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Samuels shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Samuels showed some decent athleticism there.
Samuels is looking to take a break and control but Stone is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Samuels 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.
Stone trying to control from the bottom.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Samuels seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stone does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Samuels missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Samuels thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stone's head.
Samuels wants to take a breather but Stone is having none of it.
Samuels wants to advance to full mount but Stone doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Samuels throws a lazy right hand but Stone sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rocky Stone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stone swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Samuels counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Samuels misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Stone counters with a straight right hand.
Stone misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Samuels.

That's six 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.
Stone scores with a nice strike.
Samuels looks to land a left hand but Stone moved out of range nicely.
Stone scores with a jab. Samuels acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Stone swings for the body but Samuels moves out of range.
Samuels lands with a shot to the body.
Nice shot lands for Samuels.
Stone dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Stone blocks a jab.
Stone swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Samuels counters with a nice body shot.
Samuels misses the body punch
and Stone counters with a nice uppercut.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Samuels slips a jab from Stone.
Samuels dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Samuels takes a jab right on the kisser.
Samuels is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stone.
Stone stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stone wants it to stay on the feet.
Samuels scores with a shot to the body.
Samuels fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stone manages to avoid it.

Samuels shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Samuels was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Samuels moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Stone has worked his arm free - good work by Stone!

Samuels working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Stone on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Samuels in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Samuels in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Stone tries to improve position but can't.
Samuels advances to full mount.
Samuels wants to control the pace but Stone is squirming around nicely.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Stone in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Samuels throwing strikes here but Stone is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Samuels takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Stone wants to control but Samuels is having none of it.

Samuels goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Stone is on top in guard.
Stone wanted to stand there but Samuels had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Sam Samuels did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Samuels walks into a straight right hand from Stone.
Samuels misses the body punch
and Stone counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Samuels misses with a takedown
and Stone counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Samuels misses with an uppercut.
Stone bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Stone throws a right and a left that Samuels avoids nicely.
Samuels scores with a sloppy right hand. Stone should have avoided that one.
Stone misses with a body punch

and Samuels counters with a nice double leg into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Samuels accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samuels trying to control the position from guard on top but Stone is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Samuels working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Samuels throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stone works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Samuels throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stone works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stone managing to control the position.
Samuels trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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.
Stone misses with a body shot.
Samuels ducks under a wild hook from Stone.
Stone throws an overhand right that lands on Samuels's shoulder, as Samuels tries to avoid the shot.
Samuels throws a looping overhand right but Stone ducks down to avoid it.
Good exchange - Stone coming out on top.
Stone slips under a jab from Samuels.
Samuels misses with a wild body shot.
Samuels misses with a body shot
and Stone counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Stone comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Good exchange - Samuels coming out on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Samuels was well out of range. Poor timing from Stone.
Samuels scores with a body shot.
Samuels swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Stone counters with a nice uppercut.
Stone looks to score with a jab to the body but Samuels is just out of range.
Samuels looks for a takedown but Stone sprawls well.
Samuels is looking to wear down Stone with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Samuels throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stone sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Samuels thows a body shot but no joy.
Stone lands a nice shot to the body.
Stone wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Stone misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Samuels counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Stone thinking.
Stone waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Samuels.
Stone takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Stone scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Samuels doesn't seem bothered though.
A shot to the body from Samuels misses
and Stone counters with a nice uppercut.
Samuels changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rocky Stone seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Samuels misses with a jab to the body
and Stone counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Stone throws a predictable looking body shot
and Samuels connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Stone moves forwards but Samuels connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Stone misses with a body shot
and Samuels counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Samuels tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stone was well out of range. Poor timing from Samuels.
Samuels on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Stone swings away with a body shot that misses

and Samuels counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Stone is looking to improve his position.
Samuels throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Samuels passes the guard and advances to mount!
Stone is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

Samuels looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Samuels goes for an armbar but Stone turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Stone.
Stone wants to get up but he can't break Samuels's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Samuels looking for a sweep. Not yet Samuels, not yet.
Stone wants to control from the top but Samuels keeps moving.
Samuels not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Stone wants to stand but Samuels has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Stone preventing the sweep.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Samuels looking for a triangle here. Stone is fighting it but it looks tight! Samuels pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Stone is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 7:24 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Sam Samuels!
Sam Samuels retains his light heavyweight title!