PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rigoberto Lamas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Koli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lamas comes to the cage accompanied by Brazilian National Anthem. Sam Koli will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Lamas
vs
Koli

170 cm
20
186 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
196 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rigoberto Lamas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sam Koli!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Winston Alpacca and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koli moves out of range as Lamas strikes.
Koli looks to land a left hand but Lamas moved out of range nicely.
Koli swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lamas wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Lamas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Koli shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
We've been hearing reports that Lamas has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Koli steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lamas.
Lamas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Koli.
Lamas slips a jab and a cross from Koli.
Lamas doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Koli to counter with a crisp jab.
Lamas throws a looping overhand right but Koli ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lamas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Koli is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lamas.
Lamas tries for a takedown but Koli circles away easily
and Koli counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rigoberto Lamas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lamas loads up on a big right hand but Koli slips the punch.
Lamas takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rigoberto Lamas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Koli slips a jab from Lamas.
Lamas wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Lamas misses with a looping right.
Lamas misses with a hook. Koli ducked under it nicely.
Koli uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lamas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lamas catches Koli with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Lamas just misses with a punch to the body.
Lamas moves out of range of the strikes.
Lamas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Koli sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lamas somewhat.
Lamas fails with a takedown attempt.
Lamas takes a swing at Koli's ribcage but misses.

Lamas shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Koli napping and manages to drive through into side control!
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!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Koli is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koli keeps trying to improve his position.

Lamas looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lamas working away.
Koli is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lamas tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lamas has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Lamas trying to control the position but Koli is working away.

Lamas working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Koli can do anything to dispel that myth.

Lamas looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rigoberto Lamas dominated that round.
That's time! Lamas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Lamas drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Lamas trying to control the position from guard on top but Koli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lamas drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lamas jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koli tries to stand but Lamas is controlling from the bottom.
Koli really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lamas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Koli postures up.
Koli wants to control from the top but Lamas keeps moving.
Koli slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Koli wants to get up but he can't break Lamas's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Koli must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Sam Koli has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Lamas tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Koli swivels and escapes.
Lamas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Koli sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lamas somewhat.
Lamas rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Koli counters with a left and a right that stings Lamas.
Nice straight punches there by Lamas. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Lamas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lamas defending well as Koli loads up on a big left hand.
Sam Koli is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lamas misses with a hook to the body
and Koli counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A telegraphed right hand from Lamas misses the target.
Koli ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lamas moves away.
Lamas misses the shot to the body.
A big left from Koli misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lamas fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rigoberto Lamas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lamas uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Koli.
Lamas throws a hook to the side of Koli's head but Koli sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lamas throws a body punch but Koli moves out of range.
Koli throws a jab when Lamas was well out of range.
Koli looks to land a combination but Lamas avoids it well.
Koli throws a poor cross that misses

and Lamas counters with a nice double leg into side control. Koli won't be happy with that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lamas has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Koli is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Lamas yanks on the arm and Koli is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Lamas.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rigoberto Lamas!
After the fight, Rigoberto Lamas was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.