PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rick Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Simmons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sampson kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is "Off the Chain" by Serg Salinas. Tony Simmons has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rick Sampson's chin.

Sampson
vs
Simmons

179 cm
33
252 lbs
0 - 18 - 0

185 cm
27
235 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rick Sampson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tony Simmons !
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Sampson as Simmons shoots in.
Sampson looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Simmons has closed the distance and engaged Sampson in a clinch.

Sampson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Simmons scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Simmons thows a huge punch but Sampson dodges it nicely.
Simmons is controlling the pace.
Simmons is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simmons in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Simmons gets to his feet. Sampson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Simmons .

Simmons clinches up with Sampson and pushes him back against the cage.
Simmons leaning his opponent against the cage.
Simmons tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rick Sampson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Simmons .
Sampson is pressed up against the cage. Simmons has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sampson down to the mat. Sampson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sampson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Simmons counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Simmons jabs at Sampson's body.
Sampson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Simmons clinches with his opponent.
Simmons can't get the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sampson keeps control of Simmons as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Simmons will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sampson up against the cage.
Simmons is stalling here.
Simmons goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sampson prevents it.
Simmons working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simmons is trying to pull guard but Sampson has him pressed against the cage.
Simmons can't get the takedown.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Simmons as Sampson tries to tie him up.
Sampson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Simmons tries to pull guard but Sampson won't allow it.
Simmons has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sampson after a bit of a struggle.
Simmons fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Simmons jumps guard but Sampson stands there with Simmons around his waist. Simmons gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Simmons lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Simmons is looking for a kimura here.
Simmons performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simmons not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Simmons works his foot free and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Simmons takes the fight into the clinch.
Simmons looking for a takedown.
Simmons is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sampson to keep the fight standing.
Simmons wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Simmons jumps guard but Sampson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Rick Sampson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Simmons .
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sampson stops a takedown attempt from Simmons .
Simmons fails to pull guard.
Sampson stops a takedown attempt from Simmons .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simmons drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Simmons changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sampson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sampson lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Tony Simmons has been cut.
Simmons is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sampson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Simmons fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simmons fails to land the takedown.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Simmons fails with a takedown attempt.
As Simmons looks to move away, Sampson throws a big counter combo bu Simmons just gets out of the way.
Sampson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Simmons sprawls well. Simmons wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sampson gets slowly back to his feet.

Simmons looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Simmons perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Simmons thows a huge punch but Sampson dodges it nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sampson is concentrating on defense, preventing Simmons from advancing position.
Tony Simmons has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simmons is controlling the pace.
Simmons sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sampson defending well though.
Simmons throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Simmons stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Sampson to get to his feet.

Simmons gets the takedown into side control.
Sampson tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

Simmons working for a choke but Sampson is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sampson is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Simmons has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Simmons has good solid back control here.
Sampson covering up well under a barage of strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Simmons is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Sampson knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Sampson for a finish.

Sampson is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Simmons gets his way!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tony Simmons will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tony Simmons 's cut.
That's time! Sampson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Sampson as Simmons shoots in.
Sampson misses with a double jab.
Simmons pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sampson is out of range and Simmons settles back down.

Simmons scores with a takedown into Sampson's guard.
Simmons sitting in guard here, content to control.

Simmons gets to his feet. Sampson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Simmons scores with a takedown into Sampson's guard.
Simmons is looking to work some ground and pound but Sampson has wrist control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simmons in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Simmons wants to pass the guard but Sampson is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simmons passes into half guard.
Simmons thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Simmons sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sampson defending well though.
Simmons sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sampson defending well though.

Simmons stands up and beckons Sampson to join him on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Sampson as Simmons shoots in.
Sampson seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Simmons looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Well, if Simmons 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.
Sampson won't allow Simmons to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simmons keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Simmons is looking for a kimura here.
Sampson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Simmons moves into full mount! Sampson won't be happy about that!
Simmons controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simmons misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Sampson avoids a series of strikes thrown by Simmons .
Sampson is looking to get to half guard.
Sampson is working hard here to advance position.
Simmons thowing shots but they're missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Simmons controlling his opponent.
Sampson avoids a series of strikes thrown by Simmons .
Simmons lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sampson hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simmons controlling from the full mount.
Simmons thowing shots but they're missing.
Simmons is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Rick Sampson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Simmons looking to control and managing it successfully.
Simmons thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Simmons takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Simmons comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Simmons winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Simmons !