PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Valentijn Sammens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zenon Styper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Sammens might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to PRIDE FC - Opening. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sammens
vs
Styper

188 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
195 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Gilop®

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Valentijn Sammens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zenon Styper!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Daniel Blasius and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sammens lands a front kick.
Sammens scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Styper throws an off balance right hand

and Sammens counters with a flying knee that sends his opponent to the canvas! Sammens looking to finish!

Styper is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Styper preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Styper is still in real trouble! Can Sammens finish him?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sammens working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sammens accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Styper seems to have recovered his senses.
Sammens loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Styper keeping moving, preventing Sammens from controlling successfully.
Styper really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sammens. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sammens throwing strikes but missing.
Sammens throws and elbow that misses. Styper uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sammens's guard. Nice move by Styper!
Sammens is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Styper 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zenon Styper was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Sammens looks for the body kick but Styper saw that one coming.
Sammens lands with a nice body kick.
Styper looks gassed!
Styper has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Sammens.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sammens connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sammens throws a sloppy head kick and Styper moves out of range easily.
Styper takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

It looks like Zenon Styper has been cut.
Styper takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sammens pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Zenon Styper is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Sammens lands a big shot that drops Styper! Can he finish him?
Sammens thows a big elbow that misses.
Sammens with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sammens trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Styper utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sammens loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Styper avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sammens is looking to work some ground and pound but Styper has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sammens drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sammens jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sammens postures up in Styper's guard and throws a big left but Styper blocks it.
Sammens with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sammens trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Styper utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sammens stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Styper swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Styper utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four 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.
Sammens in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sammens with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sammens loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sammens working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sammens pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Styper is keeping the position for now.
Sammens is looking to work some ground and pound but Styper has wrist control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Styper avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sammens postures up in Styper's guard and throws a big left but Styper blocks it.
Sammens working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentijn Sammens dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zenon Styper's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sammens fails with the takedown.
Sammens explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Sammens throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Sammens misses with the body kick
and Sammens takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Styper takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Styper throws a series of strikes that have Sammens backpedaling.
Styper moves out of range as Sammens throws a body kick.
Styper steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Sammens. That one must have hurt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sammens throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Styper.
Sammens is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Styper can do to turn this around?
Sammens scores with a push kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Danga de danga de dang - Sammens scores with a four punch combination!
Styper has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Sammens.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sammens.
Sammens stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Sammens goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sammens lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sammens falls off balance throwing a combination
and Styper counters with a stiff right hand.
Styper displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Sammens listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sammens lands with a kick to the ribs.
A big right from Sammens misses.
Sammens throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sammens misses with a straight right.
A combination from Styper does no damage.
Sammens throws a head kick that Styper semi-blocks.
Styper throws a nice looking combination but Sammens bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Styper misses with a combination
and Sammens counters with a body kick that stops Styper in his tracks momentarily.
Sammens throws a body kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sammens misses with a body kick.
Valentijn Sammens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch combination from Styper misses.
Sammens throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Sammens lands with a kick to the ribs.
Sammens uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Styper.
Styper swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Crunch! Sammens slams his shin into Styper's torso.
Styper falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sammens counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Sammens scores with a kick to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sammens.
Sammens throws a right hand that Styper ducks under and follows up with a left that Styper also avoids with ease.

Styper gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Styper's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Styper stalling.
Styper tries to break free but Sammens pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Styper looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Styper managing to block the knees to the body from Sammens.
Sammens using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Styper has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Styper blocks the elbow strike.
Styper avoids a wild elbow strike from Sammens.
Sammens tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Styper jumps into guard, dragging Sammens to the mat.
Sammens throws a strike but Styper rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Sammens bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Styper's guard.
Styper wants to get back to his feet but Sammens is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sammens trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Styper keeping full guard, as Sammens tries to pass.
Sammens throwing strikes from guard but Styper blocks nicely.
Sammens trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sammens accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentijn Sammens dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Zenon Styper's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sammens throws a right hand that Styper ducks under and follows up with a left that Styper also avoids with ease.
Styper throws a series of strikes that have Sammens backpedaling.
Sammens lands with a nice body kick.
Sammens lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Styper circles away quickly and effectively.
Styper steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sammens.
Valentijn Sammens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sammens lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sammens misses with a left hand

and Styper counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Styper lands a shoulder strike.
Sammens using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Styper has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sammens is trying to break free.
Styper avoiding damage as Sammens throws knees to the body.
Sammens tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Styper avoids it.

Styper escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sammens fakes the leg kick and cracks Styper in the body.
Sammens swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Styper counters with a left and a right that stings Sammens.
Styper swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sammens lands with a slapping head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Styper tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sammens thows a leg kick but Styper checks it
and Styper counters with a left and a right that stings Sammens.
Sammens throws a combination that misses

and Styper counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Styper.

Styper breaks from the clinch.
Styper throws a series of punches but Sammens avoids them all with ease.
Sammens moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Styper tries to clinch there but Sammens circles away.
Sammens looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A head kick by Sammens misses

and Styper counters by moving into the clinch.
Sammens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Styper is defending well for now.

Styper breaks the clinch.

Styper moves into range and clinches up with Sammens.
Sammens misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Styper.
Styper managing to block the knees to the body from Sammens.

Styper's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sammens throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Styper rushes Sammens and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Styper's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sammens throws a sloppy head kick and Styper moves out of range easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Styper.
Styper moves in looking to clinch but Sammens pushes him off.
Sammens throws a head kick but Styper moves out of range.
Sammens looks for the body kick but Styper saw that one coming.
Styper tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sammens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Styper is looking to clinch.
Styper tries to close the distance and clinch but Sammens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No joy there for Styper, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sammens connects with a body shot that sends Styper's belly button to the back.
Sammens throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Styper's head.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Sammens. Styper shrugs it off though.
Valentijn Sammens is winning the standup battle so far.
A combination from Sammens does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Styper will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sammens throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Styper misses with a series of wild punches.
Sammens moves away from the strike by Styper.
Sammens misses with a body kick.
Sammens misses with a head kick.
Sammens is looking to land body kicks.
Styper's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Styper duly obliges.
Sammens connects with a jab.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Sammens.
Left hook, right uppercut from Styper.
Sammens dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Styper. That did some damage!

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.
Sammens throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Styper counters with a left and a right that stings Sammens.
Sammens cracks Styper with an open hand slap.
Styper tries to close the distance and clinch but Sammens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Styper throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sammens makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Styper throws a right hand that Sammens ducks under and follows up with a left that Sammens also avoids with ease.
Styper stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sammens.
A thudding body kick lands there by Sammens!
Styper fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sammens is looking to slow Styper down with leg kicks.
Sammens throws a push kick but Styper slaps the foot to one side.
Valentijn Sammens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sammens lands a front kick.
Styper misses with a double jab
and Sammens counters with a two punch combo.
Sammens throws a shot from downtown. Styper moves away and avoids it.
Zenon Styper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sammens misses with an uppercut
and Styper counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Valentijn Sammens.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sammens, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valentijn Sammens!