PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alkiviadis Samaras (ranked 2268 p4p, 3321 weight class) and Edward Sanchez (ranked 197 p4p, 266 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Samaras
vs
Sanchez

176 cm
21
148
2 - 0 - 0

174 cm
18
145
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alkiviadis Samaras!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Edward Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Reed Andrews and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Samaras closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sanchez to the mat! Sanchez manages to get full guard.
Samaras is stalling in the full guard.
Samaras stopping the sweep attempt from Sanchez.
Samaras is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Samaras's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Samaras controlling from the top position.
Sanchez looking for a sweep. Not yet Sanchez, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Samaras is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samaras'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.
Samaras slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Samaras in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sanchez is pushing Samaras's head away, looking to escape. Samaras manages to hold on to the position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Samaras is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Sanchez will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Sloppy strikes there by Samaras.
An elbow from Samaras crashes against the mat.
Samaras remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Sanchez struggling a bit here.

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

Samaras drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez being controlled for a moment.
Further stalling from Samaras.
Check out the look on Samaras's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Samaras throwing shots but missing, from side control.
An elbow from Samaras crashes against the mat.

Samaras tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Samaras in side control, throwing shots but Sanchez defends.
Sanchez avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Samaras.
Samaras takes a little break here. Sanchez wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Samaras advances to full mount.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Samaras controlling his opponent.
Samaras unloads with some shots from mount but Sanchez bucks and avoids them well.
Samaras misses with a head shot.
Samaras pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Samaras throws some wild stikes that Sanchez manages to avoid easily.
Samaras breaks from Sanchez's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Samaras content just to control the position here.
Sanchez looks winded!
Samaras throws some wild stikes that Sanchez manages to avoid easily.
BOOM! Samaras connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Samaras controlling his opponent.
Samaras looking to finish with strikes here!
Samaras takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Samaras looking to finish with strikes here!
Samaras throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
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!
Samaras controlling the position easily from mount.
Samaras throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Sanchez because Samaras loaded up on that one.
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Samaras unloading with bombs!

Sanchez is rocked!
Samaras looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Sanchez covering up... and two more big strikes land, forcing the referee to step in and put and end to proceedings! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 7:32 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alkiviadis Samaras!
Edward Sanchez spoke after the fight, saying 'Fuck, I should have done better.'.