PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Morrison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Steve Sampson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Sampson
vs
Morrison

175 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Sampson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jack Morrison!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, John Mangel and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morrison avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sampson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sampson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Morrison's waist but Morrison gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sampson off to one side.
Sampson shoots in looking for a takedown. Morrison tries to sprawl out of it but Sampson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Morrison manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sampson misses with a two punch combination.
Morrison on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Sampson closes the distance and clinches up with Morrison, looking for a takedown. Sampson pushes Morrison against the ropes but Morrison circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Sampson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sampson tries to clinch up.
Morrison moves out of range as Sampson throws a body kick.
Steve Sampson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sampson swinging wilding here.
Nice sprawl there from Morrison as Sampson shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morrison blocks the body kick.
Sampson lands a body shot.
Sampson has a takedown stuffed.
Morrison shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Sampson wants to clinch up but Morrison keeps it at a distance.
Sampson shoots in for a double leg but Morrison sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sampson lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sampson shoots in for a takedown but Morrison shows good takedown defense.
Morrison looks for a takedown but Sampson sprawls well.
Sampson misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sampson misses with a takedown
enabling Morrison to counter with a crisp jab.
Sampson is breathing heavily.
Sampson has his takedown stuffed
and Sampson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sampson thows a leg kick but Morrison checks it

and Morrison decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sampson's guard.
Morrison trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Morrison wants to control from the top but Sampson keeps moving.
Morrisonis looking to pass into half guard but Sampson pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Sampson is in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrison bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sampson's guard.
Sampson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Morrison throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sampson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Morrison 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.
Sampson is pulling down on Morrison's head. It's preventing any offense from Morrison, at least for the moment.
Morrison trying to control but Sampson is working from the bottom.

Morrison drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sampson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Morrison has Sampson in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson postures up.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Sampson content to stall in guard here.
Morrison throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Morrison escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sampson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sampson trying to control the position from guard on top but Morrison is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sampson won't allow Morrison to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jack Morrison will probably get the nod.
That's time! Sampson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sampson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Morrison misses with a few strikes there.
Sampson tries for a takedown but Morrison circles away easily

and Morrison counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Sampson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Morrison blocks a head kick by Sampson.
Sampson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Morrison counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sampson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sampson misses with the body kick
and Morrison counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sampson misses with a takedown attempt

and Morrison counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Sampson!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sampson tries to hold on but Morrison pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morrison trying to control but Sampson is having none of it.
Sampson looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Morrison controls the action.
I really don't envy Sampson right now.

Morrison looking for the choke from the back.

Sampson is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Morrison gets his way!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morrison is persistently looking for the submission but Sampson is defending it well.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Sampson preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Morrison.

Sampson won't enjoy being in this position. Morrison looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Sampson is tapping - it's over boys! Morrison picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Jack Morrison!