PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Boyd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sampson has chosen "Off the Chain" by Serg Salinas as his entrance music. Rick Sampson looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Boyd
vs
Sampson

187 cm
20
238 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
27
252 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alex Boyd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rick Sampson!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Boyd gets a double leg takedown into Sampson's guard.
Boyd sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Alex Boyd has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Sampson fails with a takedown attempt.
We've been hearing reports that Boyd has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Sampson looks winded!
Sampson with a lazy takedown attempt

and Boyd counters with a single leg into guard. Sampson didn't expect that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Boyd controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Boyd has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Boyd working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Boyd looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alex Boyd wasn't doing enough on the ground.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Boyd prevents Sampson from breaking the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Boyd as Sampson tries to tie him up.
Boyd tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sampson's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sampson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Boyd has him pressed against the cage.
Boyd is looking to take this one to the mat.
Come on Boyd - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Sampson is trying to pull guard but Boyd turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Alex Boyd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Sampson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sampson is looking to break free of the clinch but Boyd has double underhooks.

Boyd breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sampson with a poor takedown

and Boyd moves into the clinch.
Boyd jumps guard but Sampson stands there with Boyd around his waist. Boyd gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Boyd looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boyd wants to take the fight to the mat but Sampson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Boyd tries to pull guard but Sampson holds him up against the cage and eventually Boyd drops back down to his feet.
Boyd is looking for a takedown.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sampson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by Boyd.
Sampson is trying to escape the position but Boyd is controlling the position.
Boyd seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Sampson for as long as he can get away with.
Boyd has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sampson is looking for a sweep.
Boyd controlling from side mount.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Alex Boyd just wasn't active enough.

Boyd looking to score a takedown here. Sampson is defending well but Boyd drives through and ends up in Sampson's guard.
Sampson is breathing heavily.
Sampson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Boyd is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Boyd seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alex Boyd wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sampson has a takedown stuffed.
Rick Sampson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boyd fails in his attempt to clinch.
Boyd moves in looking to clinch but Sampson pushes him off.

Boyd shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Boyd keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boyd wants to pass to mount but Sampson is defending the position.
Boyd looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

We're going to have a standup here because Alex Boyd wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Boyd will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Sampson has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Boyd is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Boyd looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Sampson!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A lull in the action here.
Sampson struggling a bit here.
Boyd could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boyd controls the position from side control.
Sampson stops Boyd from passing to mount.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alex Boyd wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sampson checks the leg kick nicely there.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sampson.

Boyd fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Sampson to the ground. Boyd is now in Sampson's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boyd's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alex Boyd wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sampson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Alex Boyd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Sampson.

Boyd drives through with a takedown into Sampson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Boyd engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Boyd is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Boyd dominated that second round.
That's time! Boyd's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Boyd has Sampson up against the cage in a clinch.
Sampson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Sampson throws a punch but it's blocked by Boyd.
Boyd has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sampson after a bit of a struggle.
Sampson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sampson tries to circle away but Boyd has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson is looking to break free of the clinch but Boyd has double underhooks.
Boyd jumps guard but Sampson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Boyd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boyd is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sampson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sampson tries to circle away but Boyd has him pinned against the cage.
Sampson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Boyd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boyd drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sampson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Boyd's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sampson breaks from the clinch.
Sampson misses with a takedown attempt
and Boyd cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boyd is looking for a takedown.
Sampson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rick Sampson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boyd has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sampson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sampson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sampson can't break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Alex Boyd.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Boyd, 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Boyd!