PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jack Samson (ranked 4081 p4p, 5012 weight class) and Bagomed Umarov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Samson comes to the cage accompanied by Face The Pain- STEMM. Bagomed Umarov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Samson
vs
Umarov

180 cm
22
185
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
24
185
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jack Samson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bagomed Umarov!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Bruno Hogan and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Samson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Umarov's guard.
Umarov wants to get back to his feet but Samson passes into half guard.
Umarov looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Samson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Samson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samson'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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Samson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Umarov for as long as he can get away with.

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

Samson shoots in and bounces Umarov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Samson stays in close to Umarov's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umarov throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Umarov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Samson has passed into half guard!
Samson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Samson.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Samson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Samson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Umarov sprawls well initially but Samson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Samson stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Samson continues to stall.
Umarov is breathing heavily.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Samson drives through with a takedown into Umarov's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Samson is standing up over Umarov. Umarov looks to escape but Samson dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Samson is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umarov is looking to regain half guard here but Samson keeps moving and retains side control.
Samson is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Umarov's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's four 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.
Umarov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Samson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Samson controls the position from side control.
Umarov strikes from the bottom but Samson takes advantage and advances to full mount!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Samson dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Samson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Umarov to the mat! Umarov manages to get full guard.
Samson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Samson continues to hold on tight.
Umarov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Samson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Umarov can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Jack Samson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umarov wants to stand but Samson is controlling the position.
Jack Samson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Samson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Samson preventing the sweep.

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

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.

Samson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Umarov's guard.
Samson stays in close to Umarov's body and controls the position.
Bagomed Umarov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Umarov is trying to control the position but Samson postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Samson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Samson 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 Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Samson!
A relieved looking Jack Samson thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.