PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shon York (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and AJ Sampz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shon York has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

York
vs
Sampz

150 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

225 cm
25
147 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Shon York!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, AJ Sampz!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sampz throws a right hand that York ducks under and follows up with a left that York also avoids with ease.
Sampz pushes York away with a front kick.
Nice body kick there by Sampz.
York really is a fat lump.
Sampz takes a swing at York's ribcage but misses.
Sampz uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before York has time to react.

Sampz shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
York tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Sampz manages to move to mount!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
York tries to lock up and control but Sampz gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampz lands with some vicious ground and pound - can York hang on?
York is in all sorts of trouble here.

Sampz stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

York tries to sprawl but Sampz drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Sampz content to control rather than advance.
Sampz thows a huge punch but York dodges it nicely.
Sampz trying to mount his opponent but York defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
York is refusing to be controlled, as Sampz sits in half guard.
York is positioning himself well to prevent Sampz advancing to mount.

Sampz looking for a submission but York manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Sampz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
York working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
York wants to sweep but no luck.

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

Sampz scores with a takedown into York's guard.
York seems keen to control Sampz's posture.
York is trying to keep Sampz in close.
York keeping full guard, as Sampz tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
York keeping moving, preventing Sampz from controlling successfully.
York has Sampz pulled in close to control his posture.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

York takes the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Sampz dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sampz closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. York did well to prevent Sampz getting side control.
York moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sampz sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sampz trying to control but York is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sampz wants to pass the guard but York is keeping the position.
Sampz prevents York from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampz slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
York wants to sweep here but Sampz controlling him for the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Sampz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

York has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Sampz is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Sampz has hold of one of York's legs. York is fighting the takedown attempt but Sampz gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

York has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Sampz off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sampz throws a leg kick

and York counters by clinching up.
York is stalling here.
The referee calls for Sampz to work.

Sampz pulls guard.
Sampz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from York.
York works over Sampz with some ground and pound from guard.
York showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
York postures up and lands a big shot to Sampz's brow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sampz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. York gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sampz is breathing heavily.
York postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
York stopping the sweep attempt from Sampz.
York controlling from the top position.

That's four 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.

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

Sampz shoots in and bounces York off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
York has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shon York dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Sampz feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to York's calf.

Sampz feints and as York raises his hands in defense, Sampz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

York manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
York tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Sampz jumps into guard, dragging York to the mat.
York won't allow Sampz to sweep him here.

Sampz is working an open guard so York takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Sampz clobbers York with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
AJ Sampz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sampz shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. York is trying to defend but Sampz finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

York has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Sampz is on him like a limpet, forcing York back against the cage.
Sampz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Sampz has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics York uses from the top position.
York trying to control the position from guard on top but Sampz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sampz wants to control the position but York says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Sampz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with York. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
York throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

York is looking for a kimura but Sampz is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for York to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
York throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
AJ Sampz has got the better of the ground game so far.
York is nestled in close to Sampz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sampz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sampz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

York seems to be looking for submissions.
Sampz trying to control from the bottom.

York is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sampz is just riding it out for now. York eventually gives up the hold.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
York blocks the strikes from Sampz.
Sampz trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but York manages to pass to mount!
Sampz is looking to get to half guard.
Sampz tries to lock up and control but York gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sampz is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
York landing strikes from the mount.
York working Sampz over with strikes here.

York working for a guillotine from mount but Sampz is in no mood to give up.
York can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sampz is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shon York showed his dominance in that final round.
I think York has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shon York!