PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sambo Sam (ranked 5739 p4p, 4694 weight class) and Yan Schvetkil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sambo Sam has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sam
vs
Schvetkil

185 cm
18
168
1 - 1 - 0

174 cm
25
156
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Sambo Sam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yan Schvetkil!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Sam Margolis and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sam wants to clinch.
Sam throws a low kick but it's checked well by Schvetkil.
A leg kick checked by Schvetkil.
Sam shoots in and drives through. Schvetkil sprawls well.
Schvetkil misses with a jab, cross combination.

Schvetkil drives through and clinches with Sam against the cage.
Schvetkil keeps control of Sam as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sam fails to pull guard.
Sam tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Schvetkil just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sambo Sam. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Schvetkil has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Sam regains guard immediately.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sam wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sam controls Schvetkil momentarily but Schvetkil frees himself.
Schvetkil is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Schvetkil decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sam, up you get!
Sam fails with the takedown
and Schvetkil counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Schvetkil throws a body kick that misses.
Sam tries to clinch but Schvetkil moves out of range.
Sam closes this distance looking for a takedown but Schvetkil circles away.
Schvetkil lands a head kick!

It looks like Sambo Sam has been cut.
Sam tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Sam.
Schvetkil throws a series of punches but Sam avoids them all with ease.
Schvetkil throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Schvetkil closes the distance and pushes Sam back into the cage.
Sam looking to slow down the pace here.
Sam takes a shot to the head.
Sam fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sam tries to throw a body punch but Schvetkil avoids it by throwing Sam back against the cage.
Sam tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Schvetkil smiles and moves away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sam gets a double leg takedown into Schvetkil's guard.

Sam drops back looking for a leg! Schvetkil is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Schvetkil manages to kick Sam off! Sam jumps back into Schvetkil's guard.

Sam has gone for a leg lock! Schvetkil slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sam's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sam working for a triangle but Schvetkil defends it easily.

Sam working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Schvetkil has passed into half guard!
Sam is looking to control Schvetkil's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sam avoid being mounted?

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.
Sam tries to roll over but Schvetkil keeps him under control.
Sam keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Schvetkil prevents Sam from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sam looking for submissions off his back.
Sam is looking for a sweep. Schvetkil is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yan Schvetkil dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sambo Sam's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sam tries to clinch up
and Schvetkil counters with a big head kick but Sam shrugs it off.

Schvetkil closes the distance and clinches.
Sam jumps guard but Schvetkil stands there with Sam around his waist. Sam gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Schvetkil lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Schvetkil lands a hook that snaps the head of Sam backwards.
Schvetkil lands a nice uppercut.
Schvetkil landing knees to the head.
Schvetkil lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sam is trying to pull guard but Schvetkil turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Schvetkil keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sam's efforts to push away.
Schvetkil landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Schvetkil controlling the action here for a moment.
Sam is trying to pull guard but Schvetkil turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sambo Sam. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sam trying to land knees to the body.
Sam fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Schvetkil manages to break the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sam tries to pull guard but Schvetkil won't allow it.
Schvetkil using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Schvetkil escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sam's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Schvetkil connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Sam scrambles back to his feet.
Sam throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Schvetkil tries to bum rush Sam with a series of wild strikes but Sam uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sam looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Sam misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Schvetkil drops Sam with a nice combination! Schvetkil dives into Sam's guard, looking to finish!

Sam is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Schvetkil drops back looking for a leg! Sam is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sam manages to kick Schvetkil off! Schvetkil jumps back into Sam's guard.
Oh Sam is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Schvetkil has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Schvetkil trying to control the position from guard on top but Sam is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Schvetkil really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sam. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Schvetkil throws a big elbow that misses.
Sam seems to have got his legs back now.

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

Sam is looking for a triangle here but Schvetkil uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sam sneaks back into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Schvetkil is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sam has managed to free his arm - good work.

Schvetkil 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. Schvetkil eventually gives up the hold.
Sam tries to get to full guard but Schvetkil has control of the leg.

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.
Sam moves into full guard.

Sam working for a triangle but Schvetkil defends it easily.
Schvetkil controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yan Schvetkil showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sambo Sam's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sam wants to clinch up but Schvetkil keeps it at a distance.
Sam tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Schvetkil counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sambo Sam seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sam has a takedown stuffed.

Schvetkil fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sam, pushing him back against the cage.
Yan Schvetkil seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Schvetkil lands a left hand.

Schvetkil breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sam fails with a takedown attempt.
Yan Schvetkil seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sam has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sambo Sam. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Schvetkil clinches up against the cage.
Schvetkil is stalling here.

Schvetkil's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Schvetkil circles away from the clinch attempt
and Schvetkil counters with a nice kick to the body.
Sam tries to clinch but Schvetkil moves out of range.
Sam tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Schvetkil defends well and Sam ends up having to push Schvetkil into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Schvetkil lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Schvetkil's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Schvetkil blocks a head kick by Sam.
As Sam backs off Schvetkil throws a huge counter combo but Sam manages to avoid it all.
Sam takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Sam tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sam bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Schvetkil as Sam shoots in.
Sambo Sam is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sam throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Sam looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Schvetkil tries to roll over but Sam keeps him under control.
Yan Schvetkil has got the better of the ground game so far.
Schvetkil is trying to control but can't.

Sam is working for a kimura but Schvetkil is defending it quite comfortably.
Sam wants to lay and pray for a moment but Schvetkil keeps working.
Sam will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sam passes to full mount!
Sam tries to control but Schvetkil wriggling away.
Schvetkil is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sambo Sam has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sam can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Schvetkil is looking to escape.
Sam lands a nice shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sam has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Schvetkil's face.
Schvetkil has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

Sam is working on the RNC. He looks like he's got it but Schvetkil won't tap... Oh, he's out! The ref rips Sam off his unconscious opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Sambo Sam!