PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and EF Hutton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sampson
vs
Hutton

175 cm
23
185 lbs
4 - 2 - 1

186 cm
21
185 lbs
4 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 4 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Sampson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, EF Hutton!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Eliza Hachem and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Hutton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sampson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Hutton closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hutton throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hutton takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sampson wants to get back to his feet.
Sampson trying to control here.

Hutton decides to return to a standing position.
Hutton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sampson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sampson keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hutton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Sampson drives through and clinches with Hutton against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hutton turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Hutton manages to end up in side control.
Hutton throwing strikes but Sampson manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Hutton is trying to buck Sampson off.
Sampson is looking to take a break and control but Hutton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hutton is looking for a sweep.
Hutton throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Hutton is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Sampson blocks the strikes from Hutton.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sampson taking a breather here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sampson throws a head kick but Hutton moves out of range.
Hutton tries to clinch but Sampson moves away

and Sampson counters with a shoot takedown. Hutton fights it but they end up in guard.
Hutton looking for a sweep. Not yet Hutton, not yet.
Hutton wants to stand up but Sampson is controlling him.
Hutton tries to strike from the bottom.
Sampson 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.
Hutton wants to stand up but Sampson is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hutton pushes Sampson off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Sampson moves out of range as Hutton throws a body kick.
Hutton tries for a takedown but Sampson circles away easily
and Sampson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hutton looks gassed!
Hutton tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sampson counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Hutton is lucky that one didn't land flush.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
A head kick misses from Sampson.

Sampson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sampson won't allow Hutton to sweep him here.
Sampson works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hutton tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Sampson manages to move to mount!
Hutton swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Hutton is looking to get to half guard.
Hutton is squirming around, avoiding Sampson's attempts to control the action.
Sampson avoids the attempt from Hutton to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sampson looking to control but Hutton is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hutton keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hutton wants to clinch

and Sampson moves into the clinch.
Hutton with a knee to the head.
Hutton lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sampson backwards.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Sampson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hutton tries to clinch
and Sampson counters with a nice body kick.

Hutton tries to keep at a distance but Sampson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Hutton with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sampson taking a breather.
Hutton stalling against the cage.
Hutton lands a nice elbow.
Hutton is trying to break free.
Sampson lands an elbow just above Hutton 's eye.
Hutton gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hutton lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hutton slowing the pace effectively.
Hutton misses with a knee to the head.
Hutton blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hutton lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hutton lands a hook to the side of the head.

Sampson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hutton tries to land a front kick but Sampson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hutton throws a series of punches but Sampson moves out of range.
Hutton is breathing heavily.
Hutton darts in trying to clinch

and Sampson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sampson wants to control from the top but Hutton keeps moving.
Hutton throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sampson postures up.
Hutton is looking to stand back up but Sampson counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Hutton.
Hutton regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sampson won't allow Hutton to get back to his feet.
Hutton wants to get back to his feet but Sampson passes into half guard.
Hutton is trying to control but can't.
Sampson wants to control but Hutton is keeping him busy.
Sampson passes the guard and advances to mount!
Sampson wants to control the pace but Hutton is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hutton wants to try and get back to his feet.
Sampson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hutton has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hutton is trying to escape the mount.
Sampson avoids the attempt from Hutton to control.
Hutton is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sampson controlling his opponent.
Steve Sampson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hutton trying desperately to get to his feet.
Sampson looking to control but Hutton is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hutton wants to try and get back to his feet.
Hutton is trying desperately to improve position.
Hutton is squirming around, avoiding Sampson's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Sampson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hutton fails with a takedown attempt.
Hutton closes the distance looking to clinch

and Sampson counters with a takedown into side control.
Sampson wants to control but Hutton is keeping him busy.
Hutton is trying to buck Sampson off.
Hutton tries to buck Sampson off but Sampson is having none of it.
Hutton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sampson is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Hutton will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Hutton tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sampson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hutton is trying to escape the position but Sampson is controlling the position.
Hutton tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Sampson gets his hands free as Hutton looks to control.
Hutton wants to get back to his feet.
Hutton is really stuck here.

Sampson has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Hutton is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Sampson off. It looks like it's working - Sampson slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Hutton displaying calm under pressure there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sampson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Sampson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hutton's guard.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Hutton 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.
Hutton tries to strike from the bottom.
Hutton wants to stand but Sampson is controlling the position.

Hutton kicks Sampson off and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sampson tries to clinch up.
Steve Sampson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hutton tries to clinch

and Sampson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hutton's guard now.
Hutton striking off his back but it's not causing Sampson any problems.
Sampson preventing the sweep.
EF Hutton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hutton is trying to keep Sampson in close.
Sampson is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Sampson prevents Hutton from getting back to his feet.
Sampson controlling from the top position.
Steve Sampson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sampson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Hutton pushes Sampson off and scrambles back to his feet.
Hutton throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Sampson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hutton wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sampson wants to pass the guard but Hutton is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Sampson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sampson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27

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