PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Willie Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mick Johansson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Willie Sampson had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Sampson
vs
Johansson

169 cm
22
177 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

190 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Willie Sampson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mick Johansson!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Gwen Towbar and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johansson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Sampson tries to roll over but Johansson keeps him under control.
Johansson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Johansson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Johansson is working for a submission of some sort.
Sampson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sampson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sampson looking for a sweep. Not yet Sampson, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sampson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Johansson preventing the sweep.
Johansson wants to control from the top but Sampson keeps moving.
Johansson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Johansson throwing strikes from guard but Sampson blocks nicely.
Johansson preventing the sweep.
Johansson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sampson looking for a sweep. Not yet Sampson, not yet.
Sampson being controlled here, momentarily.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sampson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Johansson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Johansson pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Johansson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Sampson!
Johansson trying to control the action but Sampson is working from the bottom.
Sampson regains half guard, as Johansson was trying to land strikes.
Sampson is pressing down on Johansson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Johansson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sampson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sampson looking for a sweep. Not yet Sampson, not yet.
Johansson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johansson is looking to advance position but Sampson has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Johansson tries to reverse the position but Sampson maintains control.
Sampson connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Johansson working to try and regain half guard.
Johansson tries to hold on but Sampson postures up.
Sampson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson lands a big elbow.
Johansson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Johansson squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Sampson takes Johansson's back.
Johansson is in bad spot here.
Johansson looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Johansson defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
I really don't envy Johansson right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mick Johansson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sampson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Johansson shoots in and gets a takedown into Sampson's guard.
Johansson postures up in Sampson's guard and throws a big left but Sampson blocks it.
Johansson preventing the sweep.
Johansson passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Sampson wants to get back to full guard.

Johansson is looking for a kimura but Sampson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Johansson to get the leverage.
Johansson with the ground and pound but Sampson uses the opportunity to regain guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sampson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johansson.
Sampson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johansson is one step ahead there.
Johansson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson can't keep his opponent in guard - Johansson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sampson wants to get back to full guard.
Well, if Johansson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Johansson decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Mick Johansson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A clash of legs there as Sampson blocks the low kick.
Sampson feinted with a counter takedown.
Mick Johansson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johansson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sampson is wriggling around but Johansson manages to pass to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Johansson postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Sampson to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johansson looking to score a takedown here. Sampson is defending well but Johansson drives through and ends up in Sampson's guard.
Sampson is looking to sweep but instead, Johansson has passed into half guard.
Johansson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Johansson prevents Sampson from improving his position.
Johansson with the ground and pound but Sampson uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johansson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Johansson wants to control from the top but Sampson keeps moving.
Johansson is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson trying to control the position from guard on top but Sampson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johansson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Sampson is looking for a triangle but Johansson pushes his legs off easily.

Sampson looking for subs off his back but Johansson has passed one foot through into half guard.

Johansson is trying to work for a kimura but Sampson is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sampson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sampson wants to improve his position but instead Johansson has moved into half guard.
Johansson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Johansson is working for a kimura but Sampson is defending it quite comfortably.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Still in half guard, Johansson seems content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mick Johansson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Johansson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Johansson trying to control the action but Sampson is working from the bottom.
Johansson wants to free his trapped foot but Sampson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Mick Johansson has got the better of the ground game so far.
It looks like Johansson is going to stand back up.
Sampson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Johansson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sampson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johansson is taking a breather. Sampson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Johansson looks to land a strike but Sampson avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Johansson throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sampson wants to stand up but Johansson is controlling the position.
Johansson wants to improve his position but Sampson is controlling well.
Sampson lands strikes from half guard.
Johansson is looking for a sweep. Sampson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sampson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Johansson is looking to improve his position.
Johansson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sampson is working away from the top position though.
Sampson lands strikes from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sampson lands a nice short elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson keeps control of the position for the meantime.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sampson lands with a punch from half guard.

Sampson is trying to work for a kimura but Johansson is defending well.
Sampson working the head and body with strikes.
Johansson is pressing down on Sampson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sampson throws a big elbow that misses.
Johansson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Johansson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sampson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Johansson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sampson is working Johansson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sampson throws a big right hand that misses.

Johansson has his foot on Sampson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sampson works his way back into a safe position though.
Sampson postures up.

Johansson is looking for a triangle but Sampson pushes his legs off easily.
Sampson postures up and lands a big shot to Johansson's brow.
Sampson postures up and lands a big shot to Johansson's brow.
Sampson preventing the sweep.
Johansson has momentary wrist control but Sampson slips an elbow through the middle.
Sampson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sampson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sampson throws a big right hand that misses.
Sampson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sampson lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson stays in close to Johansson's body and controls the position.
Sampson trying to control but Johansson is working from the bottom.
Sampson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sampson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Sampson connects with a couple of short punches.
Sampson lands a couple of elbows.
Sampson is in close to Johansson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sampson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sampson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sampson trying to control but Johansson is working from the bottom.
Willie Sampson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mick Johansson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sampson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
Willie Sampson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johansson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mick Johansson!