PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gail English (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

English
vs
Sampson

187 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Gail English!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ben Sampson!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Daniel Bishop and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
English blocks a head kick by Sampson.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sampson.
English is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sampson is looking to take a break and control but English is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
English sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
English gets back to full guard.
English looking for a sweep. Not yet English, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson wants to control from the top but English keeps moving.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Sampson is looking to work some ground and pound but English has wrist control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Sampson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Sampson stopping the sweep attempt from English.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sampson wants to control from the top but English keeps moving.

English is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
English will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
English keeping moving, preventing Sampson from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
English striking from his own guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sampson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sampson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sampson wants to control from the top but English keeps moving.
English will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
English looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sampson is one step ahead there.

English is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
English keeping moving, preventing Sampson from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson looking to sit in guard and control but English gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
English postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sampson is trying to keep English in close.
English wanted to stand there but Sampson had control of the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
English really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
English fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Sampson 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 dodges the punch combination from English.

Sampson gets a takedown into half guard.
Sampson is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
English throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
English is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. English connects with a nice short shot to Sampson's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
English misses with a head shot. Sampson uses the momentum to regain guard.
English postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

English gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

English clinches up against the cage.
English is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sampson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
English tries to score a body lock takedown but Sampson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Sampson pulls guard.

Sampson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. English gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

English is sitting in close to Sampson's body. Sampson has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! English is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, English is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Sampson.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Ben Sampson!