PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Willie Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Bell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Bell will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Sampson
vs
Bell

169 cm
23
177 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

175 cm
21
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 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, Mike Bell!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Robert Twigg and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bell feints and as Sampson raises his hands in defense, Bell changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sampson keeping moving, preventing Bell from controlling successfully.
Sampson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bell stands up over Sampson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sampson looking for a sweep. Not yet Sampson, not yet.
Sampson keeping full guard, as Bell tries to pass.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sampson is on top in guard.

Sampson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Bell's head.
Bell can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sampson controls the pace.
Bell not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sampson is working Bell over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sampson lands a couple of digs.
Sampson postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson preventing the sweep.
Bell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sampson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bell is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bell looking to control.
Sampson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bell's head.
Sampson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Bell trying to keep a closed guard but Sampson is proving a slippery customer.
Sampson won't allow Bell to sweep him here.
Sampson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Bell wants to stand and escape but Sampson is having none of it.
Sampson with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sampson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sampson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Bell swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bell connects with a high kick.

It looks like Willie Sampson has been cut.

Bell clinches up against the cage.

Bell lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sampson wants to improve his position but Bell is controlling well.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sampson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bell's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bell's back!
Bell tries to roll but Sampson sticks to his back.
Bell looks winded!
Sampson is working the ground and pound. Can Bell escape?
Bell trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Bell is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

Bell preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Sampson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sampson landing with strikes.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Sampson controlling the positon.
Sampson is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Sampson gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Sampson gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Sampson apologises and we restart here on the feet.

Bell closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bell lands in his opponent's guard.
Bell won't allow Sampson to sweep him here.
Sampson is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bell trying to keep a closed guard but Sampson is proving a slippery customer.
Bell has momentary wrist control but Sampson slips an elbow through the middle.

Sampson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sampson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sampson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Bell looking for a guillotine here but Sampson defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Willie Sampson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Willie Sampson's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bell shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Sampson tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Bell manages to circle out of the way.
Mike Bell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Bell looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sampson wants to sweep but no luck.

Sampson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bell doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bell manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bell tries to stand but Sampson is controlling from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sampson is on top in guard.

Willie Sampson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sampson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sampson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bell throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson wants to control from the top but Bell keeps moving.

Sampson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sampson content to stall in guard here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sampson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sampson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sampson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bell's guard.
Bell working a defensive guard here.
Bell being controlled here, momentarily.
Sampson working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Bell looking for a sweep. Not yet Bell, not yet.
Bell is controlling Sampson's posture.
Let's hope that Bell has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Sampson stays in close to Bell's body and controls the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sampson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Bell closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sampson's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sampson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sampson is keeping the position for now.
Sampson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bell is breathing heavily.
Bell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sampson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Bell is looking for a triangle but Sampson pushes his legs off easily.
Sampson postures up in Bell's guard and throws a big left but Bell blocks it.
Sampson controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson cracks Bell with a solid left hand.
Sampson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sampson prevents Bell from getting back to his feet.
Sampson working some strikes from top position.
Sampson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Sampson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Bell dives on top into guard.

Sampson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bell manages to get himself to full guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sampson postures up and lands a big shot to Bell's brow.
Bell has momentary wrist control but Sampson slips an elbow through the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Willie Sampson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Willie Sampson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sampson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bell swivels and escapes.
Bell throws a leg kick

and Sampson counters by moving into the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Bell.

Bell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Bell drives through with a takedown into Sampson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sampson is on top in guard.

Sampson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bell working a defensive guard here.
Bell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson postures up.
Bell has momentary wrist control but Sampson slips an elbow through the middle.

Sampson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bell, up you get!
A punch combination from Bell misses.
Sampson seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Bell moves into the clinch.

Sampson pulls guard effortlessly.
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 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.
Bell wants to stand but Sampson is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sampson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bell is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sampson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bell manages to get himself to full guard.

Sampson 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.
Sampson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bell working a defensive guard here.
Sampson throws a big right hand that misses.
Bell wants to sweep but no luck.

Bell looking for a guillotine here but Sampson defends easily.

Bell has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sampson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sampson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bell, up you get!

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

Sampson pushes Bell off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Sampson drives through with a takedown into Bell's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sampson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sampson is in close to Bell's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sampson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Sampson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sampson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson is working Bell over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Sampson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Sampson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Bell jumps guard.
Sampson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bell can do to turn this around?
Sampson's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Bell working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sampson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sampson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sampson distracts Bell with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sampson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mike Bell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Willie Sampson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sampson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Willie 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

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