PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hayate Mizurugi Samuelsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sys Rq (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Samuelsson comes to the cage accompanied by Cryin Like a Bitch - Godsmack. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mizurugi Samuelsson
vs
Rq

171 cm
31
157 lbs
15 - 10 - 1

174 cm
28
152 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Hayate Mizurugi Samuelsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sys Rq!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Samuelsson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rq avoids it really well and circles away.
Samuelsson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rq circles away.
Samuelsson shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hayate Mizurugi Samuelsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Samuelsson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rq circles away.
Rq throws a body punch but Samuelsson moves out of range.
Samuelsson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rq defends it nicely.
Samuelsson shoots in and drives through. Rq sprawls well.
Samuelsson shoots for a takedown but Rq saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Samuelsson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Rq!

Samuelsson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samuelsson fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Rq is trying to control Samuelsson's posture but Samuelsson avoids it.

Samuelsson is trying to get an arm triangle but Rq is defending well.

Samuelsson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Samuelsson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Samuelsson misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samuelsson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Rq down.
Rq on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Samuelsson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rq has escaped the position, nice work there.
Samuelsson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Samuelsson tries to advance position but instead Rq slips a leg back in to half guard.
Samuelsson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rq's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samuelsson with the ground and pound but Rq uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Samuelsson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rq looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rq looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rq!
Samuelsson is looking to reverse the position.
Samuelsson gets back to half guard.

Samuelsson looking for submissions off his back.
Samuelsson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rq is working away from the top position though.
Rq really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Samuelsson. 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 four minutes gone in the round.
Samuelsson wants to improve his position but Rq is controlling well.
Rq looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Samuelsson tries to get to full guard but Rq has control of the leg.
Samuelsson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hayate Mizurugi Samuelsson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rq ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Samuelsson moves away.

Rq gets caught flat footed, as Samuelsson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Samuelsson throws an elbow that misses. Rq uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Samuelsson's guard. Nice move by Rq!
Samuelsson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hayate Mizurugi Samuelsson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Samuelsson has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Rq is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Samuelsson.
Samuelsson tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samuelsson sneaks back into half guard.
Rq wants to stand up but Samuelsson manages to regain full guard.
Samuelsson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rq is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Samuelsson has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Rq has passed into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samuelsson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Samuelsson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Samuelsson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rq pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samuelsson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rq controlling the action here.
Rq prevents Samuelsson from improving his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Samuelsson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rq must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rq won't allow Samuelsson to sweep him here.
Samuelsson is trying to keep Rq in close.
Samuelsson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Samuelsson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Samuelsson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Samuelsson is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Rq can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hayate Mizurugi Samuelsson dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Samuelsson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rq ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Samuelsson moves away.
Samuelsson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rq as he avoids it easily.
Rq connects with a body shot.
Samuelsson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hayate Mizurugi Samuelsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Samuelsson fails to land the takedown.
Samuelsson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Samuelsson dives in and grabs Rq's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rq pushes down on Samuelsson's head and hops out.
Samuelsson shoots in but no luck this time.
Hayate Mizurugi Samuelsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Samuelsson has a takedown stuffed.
Samuelsson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Samuelsson scores with a takedown into Rq's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rq is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Samuelsson postures up in Rq's guard and throws a big left but Rq blocks it.
Rq is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Samuelsson works over Rq with some ground and pound from guard.
Rq not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Samuelsson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rq works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Samuelsson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Samuelsson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sys Rq has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rq avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Samuelsson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Samuelsson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Samuelsson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Samuelsson scoring with punches to the head and body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rq utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Samuelsson postures up in Rq's guard and throws a big left but Rq blocks it.
Rq has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Samuelsson throwing strikes from guard but Rq blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samuelsson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Samuelsson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rq preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Samuelsson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Samuelsson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Samuelsson throws a strike but Rq rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Samuelsson trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samuelsson looking for a sweep. Not yet Samuelsson, not yet.
Samuelsson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rq stopping the sweep attempt from Samuelsson.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Samuelsson looking for subs off his back but Rq has passed one foot through into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hayate Mizurugi Samuelsson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Samuelsson 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hayate Mizurugi Samuelsson!
Hayate Mizurugi Samuelsson very nearly forgot to thank Torment Fightwear amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.