PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Turner Samson (ranked 7920 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thali Kaya (ranked 25054 p4p, 0 weight class). Turner Samson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Samson
vs
Kaya

165 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

165 cm
25
130 lbs
1 - 9 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Prefers standup

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Turner Samson !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 9 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Thali Kaya!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Daniel Franklin and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kaya pushes Samson up against the cage in a clinch.

Samson breaks from the clinch.
Kaya's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Samson connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kaya scrambles back to his feet.
Kaya shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Samson as he avoids it easily.
Samson missing with a left hand there. Kaya was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Thali Kaya seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kaya has managed to clinch.
Samson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Samson displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kaya up against the cage.

Samson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kaya closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kaya lands in his opponent's guard.

Samson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kaya passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaya is thwarting Samson 's attempts to control the position.
Kaya wants to stand but Samson has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Samson trying to control from the bottom.
Samson wants to get back to his feet.

That's two 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.
Samson trying to control but Kaya postures up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kaya is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Samson misses with a straight right.
Samson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Samson wants it to stay on the feet.
Kaya tries to close the distance and clinch up but Samson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A jab from Samson misses.
A little jabbing left from Kaya on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Samson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kaya.

Kaya drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samson is trying to keep Kaya in close.

Samson throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Kaya escapes and throws Samson 's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Samson wants to control but Kaya postures up.
Samson is trying to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Samson 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Samson is looking to reverse the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Samson tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Samson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Samson tries to get out of the position.
Samson squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Samson tries to reverse the position but Kaya maintains control.

Kaya is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Samson slaps away a takedown attempt from Kaya, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Samson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Turner Samson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thali Kaya.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kaya will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Samson throwing a counter right hand but Kaya manages to avoid it.
A head kick by Kaya misses
and Samson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Turner Samson will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Samson throws out a loose jab but Kaya uses good head movement to avoid it.
Samson avoids the head kick by Kaya.
Kaya fails with a takedown attempt.
Samson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Samson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kaya counters with a left and a right that stings Samson .

Kaya feints and as Samson raises his hands in defense, Kaya changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Samson wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Kaya manages to pass to side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Samson trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Kaya manages to pass to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kaya is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Samson is trying to escape the mount.
Samson tries to lock up and control but Kaya gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Samson is looking to get to half guard.
Samson looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Samson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Samson is trying to escape the mount.
Kaya manages to capitalize on a mistake by Samson to take his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samson tries to escape the position.
Kaya is trying to stand.
I would not like to be Samson right now.
Samson tries to roll but Kaya sticks to his back.

Kaya decides to stand up, even though he's got his opponent's back.
Kaya throws a head kick but Samson moves out of range.

That's four 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.

Samson drops Kaya with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Kaya looks back up at him and smiles so Samson waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Kaya is rocked!

It looks like Thali Kaya has been cut.
Kaya misses with a wild body shot.
Kaya is still on wobbly legs! Can Samson finish him?
Kaya moves to clinch but Samson breaks away
and Samson counters with a straight right hand.
Kaya tries for a takedown but Samson circles away easily
and Samson counters with a massive hook, right on the button! He's out cold! Damn, that was naaaaaasty! Hopefully he'll be OK.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Turner Samson !