PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Snooker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Scapolo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Snooker
vs
Scapolo

195 cm
24
275 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

195 cm
26
250 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Can Moonwalk

Decent wrestler
Brawler

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sam Snooker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Leo Scapolo!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Scapolo instigates a clinch.
Scapolo blocks a body shot from Snooker.

Snooker has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Scapolo clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
You can see the frustration on Scapolo's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Snooker looking for the choke but no joy.
Scapolo tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Scapolo can do anything to dispel that myth.
Scapolo is looking to get to half guard.
Snooker wants to control the pace but Scapolo is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Scapolo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Snooker is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Scapolo can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Scapolo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Snooker. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scapolo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Scapolo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Scapolo gets back to half guard.
Snooker thows a huge punch but Scapolo dodges it nicely.
Scapolo tries to roll over but Snooker keeps him under control.

Snooker is working for a kimura but Scapolo is defending it quite comfortably.

Snooker is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Scapolo has managed to free his arm - good work.

Scapolo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Snooker not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Scapolo is looking to improve his position.
Scapolo flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Scapolo is trying to stand back up but Snooker is controlling him
Scapolo is looking for a sweep. Snooker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Snooker is thwarting Scapolo's attempts to control the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Leo Scapolo hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Scapolo drives through with a takedown into guard.
Scapolo stands and throws Snooker's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Scapolo postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Scapolo in side control, throwing shots but Snooker defends.
The ground and pound from Scapolo seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Snooker takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Scapolo stands up.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Snooker scores with a takedown into Scapolo's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Snooker 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.
Snooker is breathing heavily.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Snooker wants to control from the top but Scapolo keeps moving.
Snooker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Scapolo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Scapolo throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Scapolo looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Scapolo dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Scapolo closes the distance and pushes Snooker back into the cage.
Scapolo tries to land knees in the clinch but Snooker avoids the damage to the body.
Scapolo wants a takedown but no success here.
Scapolo is trying to pull guard but Snooker turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Scapolo turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Scapolo is trying to get an arm triangle but Snooker is defending well.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Scapolo. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Snooker managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Scapolo.
Snooker is trying to control Scapolo's posture but Scapolo avoids it.
Scapolo controls the position from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Snooker defending against the ground and pound.
Snooker can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Scapolo working the head and body with strikes.
Snooker is trying to control Scapolo's posture but Scapolo avoids it.
Scapolo is looking to take a break and control but Snooker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Scapolo lands a decent elbow from side control.
Snooker taking punishment in the form of punches.
Scapolo landing strikes.
Leo Scapolo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Scapolo creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Snooker tries to bench press Scapolo off him but Scapolo keeps the position.
Snooker being controlled for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Snooker tries to escape but Scapolo is in control.
Scapolo is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Snooker's shoulder. That is not cool.
Scapolo working the strikes but Snooker uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Scapolo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Scapolo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Ground and pound from Scapolo.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Scapolo decides to return to a standing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Scapolo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Scapolo decides to stand back up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Snooker on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Scapolo gets a takedown into half guard.
Scapolo tries to pass to full mount but Snooker defends it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Scapolo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Scapolo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Scapolo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Scapolo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Scapolo is controlling the pace.

Snooker is defending against the submission attempts here by Scapolo.
Scapolo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Snooker defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scapolo controlling the action here.
Scapolo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Scapolo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Scapolo with the ground and pound but Snooker uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Scapolo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Scapolo throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Scapolo stands up over Snooker, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Scapolo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Snooker not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Scapolo looking to pass the guard.
Scapolo trying to control the position from guard on top but Snooker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Scapolo landing some decent shots from guard.
Scapolo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scapolo tries to free his leg and advance position but Snooker is retaining full guard.
Scapolo is stalling in the full guard.
Snooker keeping moving, preventing Scapolo from controlling successfully.
Leo Scapolo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Leo Scapolo has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Snooker tries to sprawl but Scapolo drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Snooker is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Scapolo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Scapolo's back!

Scapolo manages to escape to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Scapolo gets the takedown into side control.
Scapolo in side control, throwing shots but Snooker defends.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Snooker parries the strikes from Scapolo easily there. Scapolo is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Snooker to escape.
Scapolo cracks Snooker with a big elbow.
Scapolo fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Scapolo stands up and beckons Snooker to his feet.
Leo Scapolo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Scapolo gets a double leg takedown into Snooker's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Scapolo is working Snooker over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sam Snooker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Scapolo controlling from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leo Scapolo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Scapolo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leo Scapolo!
During a confident post fight interview, Leo Scapolo thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.