PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jackson Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oz Rapp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Sampson
vs
Rapp

185 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

170 cm
22
190 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jackson Sampson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Oz Rapp!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Eliza Hachem and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rapp gets the takedown into side control.

Rapp thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sampson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rapp wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sampson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Sampson tries to roll over but Rapp keeps him under control.
Sampson is trying is best to control the position here.

Rapp is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sampson is just riding it out for now. Rapp eventually gives up the hold.
Rapp looks winded!
Sampson is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson wants to improve his position but Rapp is controlling well.
Sampson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sampson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sampson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sampson keeping moving, preventing Rapp from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sampson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sampson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rapp slips nicely into half guard.
Sampson is looking for a sweep. Rapp is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sampson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rapp's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rapp's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sampson wants to control but Rapp is keeping busy.

Sampson has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Sampson working for a choke but Rapp is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
I really don't envy Rapp right now.
Sampson lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Rapp is keeping busy.
I really don't envy Rapp right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson looking to hold on to the position here but Rapp rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Sampson trying to control the position from guard on top but Rapp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rapp is looking for a triangle but Sampson pushes his legs off easily.
Rapp keeping moving, preventing Sampson from controlling successfully.
Sampson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rapp is keeping the position for now.
Sampson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sampson trying to control but Rapp is working from the bottom.
Rapp being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jackson Sampson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sampson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Sampson wants to control but Rapp is keeping him busy.
Rapp is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sampson scores with a couple of nice shots.

Sampson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rapp doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sampson.
Sampson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sampson wants to control but Rapp is keeping him busy.

Sampson is looking for a kimura here.
We've been informed that Rapp has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rapp is breathing heavily.
Rapp is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rapp is trying to stand back up but Sampson is controlling him
Sampson passes the guard and advances to mount!
Sampson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rapp flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sampson trying to control but Rapp is having none of it.
Sampson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Sampson looking to control but Rapp is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sampson throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Jackson Sampson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sampson wants to control the pace but Rapp is squirming around nicely.
Rapp is looking to get to half guard.
Rapp is bucking up trying to escape but Sampson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Sampson tries to control but Rapp wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rapp is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Sampson looking to control but Rapp is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rapp regains half guard.
Sampson is trying to control the action in half guard but Rapp is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rapp can do anything to dispel that myth.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sampson in particular looking to stall.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jackson Sampson just wasn't active enough.
Sampson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rapp manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sampson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rapp pinned against the cage. Rapp gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rapp scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rapp wants to stand but Sampson is controlling his arm.
Sampson manages to get back to half guard.
Sampson trying to control here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sampson wants to improve his position but Rapp is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jackson Sampson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rapp decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Sampson is in trouble now - Rapp has advanced to mount!
Sampson is trying to reverse the position but instead Rapp has taken his back - oops!
Sampson rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Sampson trying to control from the bottom.
Sampson wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Sampson is defending against the submission attempts here by Rapp.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rapp is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sampson is just riding it out for now. Rapp eventually gives up the hold.

Rapp seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Rapp wants to work for an arm triangle but Sampson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Rapp is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Sampson still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Sampson has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Rapp seems a little lost for a moment, as Sampson dominates the positioning.
Sampson wants to control but Rapp is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rapp defending against the ground and pound.
Sampson wants to control but Rapp is keeping him busy.
Rapp takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Sampson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rapp keeps working.
Sampson lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Sampson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson happy to just control the position for now.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sampson throws a strike aimed at the side of Rapp's head but Rapp avoids it well.
Sampson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Sampson trying to control the action but Rapp is working from the bottom.
Sampson taking a breather here.
Sampson trying to control the action but Rapp is working from the bottom.
Oz Rapp has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jackson Sampson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jackson Sampson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sampson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jackson Sampson!