PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Samoa Joe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wilhelm Reich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reich has chosen Wilhelm Reich in Hell as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Joe
vs
Reich

160 cm
24
146 lbs
11 - 2 - 1

170 cm
24
138 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Granite chin

GMMA Supplements 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Samoa Joe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Wilhelm Reich!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Radbod Blank and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reich has a takedown stuffed.
Reich changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Joe tries to avoid it but Reich manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Joe to the ground. Joe escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Samoa Joe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circling - Joe throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Joe fails in his attempt to clinch.
Reich chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Joe can pounce on him.
Reich uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Joe.
Reich displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Joe throws out the jab.

Joe is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Reich's half guard.
Joe is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Joe throws a strike but Reich avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Reich working a defensive guard here.
Joe postures up in Reich's guard and throws a big left but Reich blocks it.
Joe postures up and lands a big shot to Reich's brow.
Reich trying to control the position.
Joe won't allow Reich to sweep him here.
Joe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe lands a couple of digs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Reich is keeping the position for now.
Joe is working Reich over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Reich wants to sweep but no luck.
Joe with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Joe throwing strikes but missing.

Reich 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 throws a strike but Reich rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Reich wants to pass the guard but Joe is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reich trying to control the position from guard on top but Joe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Joe is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Wilhelm Reich was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Reich shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Joe as he avoids it easily.
Samoa Joe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wilhelm Reich.
Joe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Joe wants it to stay on the feet.
Reich drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Reich.
Joe throws a hook to the side of Reich's head but Reich sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Joe with a nice cross.
Joe with a nice cross.
Joe misses with a left hand

so Reich counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Joe not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Joe pulls Reich in to control the position.
Joe is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Samoa Joe.

Joe clinches up with Reich and pushes him back against the cage.
A short right from Joe.
Reich has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Joe.
Joe looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Joe lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Reich is trying to break the clinch but Joe has him pressed against the cage.

Joe turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Joe manages to end up in side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Joe working the ground and pound but Reich is defending the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joe misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Joe tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Joe looks up at the clock and then as Reich takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Joe smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Joe working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Joe is breathing heavily.
Joe tries to score with some ground and pound. Reich controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Joe throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Reich works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Joe throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Reich avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Joe.
Joe missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samoa Joe dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Reich shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Joe manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Joe wants to improve his position but instead Reich has moved into half guard.
Reich prevents Joe from improving his position.
Joe is working hard here to advance position.
Reich controlling the pace.

Joe is defending against the submission attempts here by Reich.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joe regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reich trying to control but Joe is working from the bottom.
Reich not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Joe wants to sweep but no luck.
Joe pulls Reich in close to prevent any damage.
Reich wants to control from the top but Joe keeps moving.
Joe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Reich is one step ahead there.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Wilhelm Reich hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Reich fails with the takedown.
Reich shoots in and drives through. Joe sprawls well.
Joe misses with a left hand

so Reich counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reich passes into half guard.
Reich tries to pass to full mount but Joe defends it.
Joe is pressing down on Reich's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Reich trying to control but Joe is working from the bottom.
Reich looking to pass the guard.
Joe wants to sweep here but Reich controlling him for the moment.
Joe controlling Reich's posture.
Reich thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe controlling the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Samoa Joe wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Horrible takedown by Reich or perhaps it was just good defense by Joe which made him look bad.
Samoa Joe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wilhelm Reich.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Joe.
Joe throws a big shot that misses.
Joe lands with a shot to the body.
Reich tries to score a power double leg takedown but Joe sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Reich somewhat.
Nice takedown defense from Joe. No joy for Reich on that attempt.
Reich keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Joe.
Joe defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Reich.
Reich shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Joe as he jumps to the side.
Reich is breathing heavily.

Joe gets the takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reich is trying to get back to half guard.
Joe scoring with punches and elbows.
Joe lands a decent elbow from side control.
Joe fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Reich takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Joe throwing shots but missing, from side control.
You can see the frustration on Reich's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Joe working the strikes but Reich uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Reich is pressing down on Joe's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Reich is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Samoa Joe will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Joe closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Reich to the mat! Reich manages to get full guard.
Joe wants to pass the guard but Reich is keeping the position.
Joe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Reich trying to keep a closed guard but Joe is proving a slippery customer.
Reich is controlling Joe's posture.
Joe content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Samoa Joe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Reich controls Joe momentarily but Joe frees himself.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Wilhelm Reich wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nice sprawl there from Joe as Reich shoots in.
Reich takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Reich takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Joe lands a nice shot that snaps Reich's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reich shoots in for a double leg but Joe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Reich on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Joe throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Reich scores a takedown into full mount!
Joe is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Reich controlling the pace for now.
Joe really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Joe tries to hold on but Reich postures up.
Reich trying to control but Joe is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joe is working to get back to half guard.
Reich looking to control but Joe is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Joe is trying to escape the mount.
Reich wants to control the pace but Joe is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reich pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Reich looking to control but Joe is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Joe tries to hold on but Reich postures up.
Reich throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Joe because Reich loaded up on that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Reich tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Joe is controlling an arm, preventing Reich from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Joe holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Reich tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Reich is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Joe is surviving well by controlling Reich's body position as best he can.
Joe wants to control but Reich is having none of it.
Wilhelm Reich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joe is trying to escape the mount.
Reich controlling from the full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Wilhelm Reich.
Well Joe 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Samoa Joe!