PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nicky Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zene Zamora (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zene Zamora will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Sampson
vs
Zamora

172 cm
20
162 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

183 cm
20
158 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nicky Sampson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Zene Zamora!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Colin Fray and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zamora pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zamora fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sampson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Zamora pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sampson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Zamora.
Sampson walks forward, straight into a front kick from Zamora.
Sampson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zamora circles away.
Zamora throws a series of punches but Sampson moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sampson is defended easily by Zamora.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicky Sampson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sampson shoots in looking for a takedown. Zamora tries to sprawl out of it but Sampson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zamora manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Zamora stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zamora throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sampson misses with a takedown attempt - Zamora sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Zamora moves into the clinch.
Zamora has Sampson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sampson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Zamora's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sampson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zamora counters with a head kick.
Sampson throws a series of punches but Zamora avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zamora tries to clinch but Sampson is having none of it.

Zamora gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Zamora changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sampson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Zamora closes the distance and clinches up with Sampson, looking for a takedown. Zamora pushes Sampson against the cage but Sampson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Horrible takedown by Sampson or perhaps it was just good defense by Zamora which made him look bad.

Sampson has closed the distance and engaged Zamora in a clinch.

Zamora breaks the clinch.
Zamora tries to clinch but Sampson moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sampson dives in for a single leg takedown but Zamora sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zamora's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zamora throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sampson.

Zamora forces Sampson back against the cage and clinches.
Sampson is working for takedown but Zamora is calmly controlling the position for now.

Zamora breaks from the clinch.
Sampson darts in looking for a takedown but Zamora gets double underhooks and turns Sampson into the cage.
Sampson being controlled against the cage.
Zamora looks winded!
Zamora wants a takedown.
Zamora gets through Sampson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Zamora looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson stops a takedown attempt from Zamora.
A right hand to the body from Sampson.

Sampson manages to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Sampson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Sampson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Zamora postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sampson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Zamora, into his guard.
Sampson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zamora can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sampson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zamora is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zene Zamora dominated that round.
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.

Sampson shoots in but Zamora avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zamora shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sampson but Sampson pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Sampson closes the distance and clinches.

Zamora breaks the clinch.
Sampson tries to bum rush Zamora with a series of wild strikes but Zamora uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Left hook, right uppercut from Zamora.
Nicky Sampson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sampson has his takedown stuffed
and Zamora counters with a thumping low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zamora displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sampson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicky Sampson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zamora throws a head kick but Sampson moves out of range.
Sampson shoots for a takedown but Zamora saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Zamora misses with a series of wild punches.
Zamora is breathing heavily.
Sampson throws a series of punches but Zamora moves out of range.
Sampson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zamora but Zamora pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nicky Sampson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Zamora darts in and clinches Sampson up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zamora manages to break the clinch.
Zamora throws a combination that misses

and Sampson counters by moving into the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Zamora breaks the clinch.
Zamora is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sampson.
Nice takedown defense from Zamora. No joy for Sampson on that attempt.

Sampson closes the distance and clinches.

Zamora's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sampson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zamora sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zamora lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Zamora fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sampson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sampson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Sampson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zamora's waist but Zamora gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sampson off to one side.

Sampson instigates a clinch.
Zamora tries to throw a body punch but Sampson avoids it by throwing Zamora back against the cage.
Sampson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sampson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zamora gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sampson is working for takedown but Zamora is calmly controlling the position for now.

Zamora tightens his grip and picks Sampson up, before dumping him to the ground. Sampson manages to land in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sampson holds on and takes a little breather.
Zamora looking to sit in guard and control but Sampson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sampson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zamora pushes Sampson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Sampson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sampson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Zamora is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Sampson asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Zamora bucks up and tries to throw Sampson off but instead Sampson has got his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Zene Zamora will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sampson clinches with his opponent.

Zamora escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A jab from Zamora misses.
Some wild striking there from Zamora.
A combination from Zamora does no damage.
Sampson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Sampson darts in looking for a takedown but Zamora gets double underhooks and turns Sampson into the cage.
Zamora trying to control the position but instead, Sampson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zamora into the cage.
Zamora takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zamora changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sampson fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sampson moves into the clinch.
Zamora is looking for a takedown.

Sampson breaks the clinch.

Zamora shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Sampson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Sampson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sampson gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sampson pushes Zamora off and gets back to his feet.
Sampson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zamora sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Sampson has closed the distance and engaged Zamora in a clinch.
Zamora stops a takedown attempt from Sampson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicky Sampson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sampson is trying to stall.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zamora has Sampson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sampson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sampson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Zamora after a bit of a struggle.

Sampson manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Zamora. No joy for Sampson on that attempt.
Zamora throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sampson shoots in looking for a takedown but Zamora manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sampson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sampson. Zamora does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zamora moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Sampson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zamora, pushing him back against the cage.

Zamora breaks from the clinch.
Sampson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sampson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Zamora.
Zamora throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sampson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Zamora tries to keep at a distance but Sampson has taken the fight into the clinch.

Sampson manages to pull guard.

Zamora drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sampson dives on top into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sampson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nicky Sampson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zene Zamora is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Zamora wants to get back to his feet but Sampson passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicky Sampson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zamora has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zene Zamora!