PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cedrick Newton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Salih Sam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cedrick Newton has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Newton
vs
Sam

159 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

188 cm
19
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Cedrick Newton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Salih Sam!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Saam Ante and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sam misses with a jab to the body

and Newton counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Newton in particular looking to stall.
Sam wants to control but Newton is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Newton stalling.
Newton wants to control but Sam is keeping him busy.
Newton drops an elbow to the side of Sam's head.

Newton decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Sam swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sam shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Newton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Newton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sam has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Newton is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newton keeping moving, preventing Sam from controlling successfully.
Sam wanted to stand there but Newton had control of the position.
Sam won't allow Newton to sweep him here.

Newton uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Sam drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Newton really is a fat lump.
Sam trying to control the position from guard on top but Newton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sam won't allow Newton to get back to his feet.
Newton is pulling down on Sam's head. It's preventing any offense from Sam, at least for the moment.
Sam stops Newton from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sam trying to control the position from guard on top but Newton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Newton throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Sam tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Newton is in Sam's guard.

Sam pushes Newton off and scrambles back to his feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Newton enables Sam to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Newton manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sam trying to control but Newton is working from the bottom.
Newton is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Sam trying to control the position from guard on top but Newton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newton wants to sweep but no luck.
Sam engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Newton is adopting a defensive guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Newton keeping moving, preventing Sam from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sam lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Cedrick Newton has been cut.

Sam manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Newton on his heels. He'll look to pass Newton's guard now, I'm sure.
Newton is looking to stand up but Sam isn't so interested in that idea.
Sam wants to control from the top but Newton keeps moving.
Sam sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Newton's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sam is just content to waste time from the top position. Newton takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Sam won't allow Newton to get back to his feet.
Sam must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newton bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sam's guard.

Newton wants to control from the top but Sam keeps moving.
Newton preventing the sweep.
Newton slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Newton's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Sam has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Newton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Newton slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Sam.
Sam tries to get to full guard but Newton has control of the leg.
Sam is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Newton is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sam is just riding it out for now. Newton eventually gives up the hold.
Sam trying to hold on to Newton's head to control him but Newton postures up.
Newton is just content to waste time from the top position. Sam takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Newton tries to stand but Sam is controlling from the bottom.
Sam trying to keep a closed guard but Newton is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sam can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Newton controls the pace.
Newton wants to control from the top but Sam keeps moving.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sam working a defensive guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Sam bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sam working away.
Newton sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Newton moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Newton has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Sam has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Newton pulls guard.
Sam tries to free his leg and advance position but Newton is retaining full guard.
Newton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sam is one step ahead there.
Sam is working Newton over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Newton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Newton wants to stand up but Sam is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Cedrick Newton will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Cedrick Newton's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Newton enables Sam to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Newton manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Newton is adopting a defensive guard.
Sam trying to control but Newton is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sam looking to sit in guard and control but Newton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newton trying to control the position from guard on top but Sam is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sam really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Newton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sam is trying to keep Newton in close.
Newton sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Newton is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sam is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sam has escaped and now he's on top!

Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sam's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Newton controlling the position.
Sam makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sam trying to control but Newton is working from the bottom.
Sam controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Newton keeping full guard, as Sam tries to pass.
Sam is looking to work some ground and pound but Newton has wrist control.
Newton is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sam controls from within his opponent's guard.
Sam trying to control the position from guard on top but Newton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sam moves into the clinch successfully.
Sam is stalling here.

Sam has Newton pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Sam pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Newton tumbling to the mat - Sam dives into Newton's guard.
Sam takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Newton is looking to stand up but Sam isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newton wants to sweep here but Sam controlling him for the moment.
Newton is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sam trying to hold on to Newton's head to control him but Newton postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Newton escapes and gets back to his feet.

Sam is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Newton's half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Salih Sam comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sam has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Salih Sam!