PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dean Kullen (ranked 2767 p4p, 0 weight class) and Octavio Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Kullen
vs
Sampson

173 cm
18
175
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
153
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
KO power

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dean Kullen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Octavio Sampson!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sampson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kullen checks it well.
Sampson misses with a leg kick

and Kullen counters with a single leg into guard. Sampson didn't expect that.
Kullen slips nicely into half guard.
Sampson has hold of Kullen's hands but Kullen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kullen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kullen is trying to control. Sampson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kullen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sampson wants to get back to his feet.
Kullen is trying to control the action in half guard but Sampson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kullen is trying to work for a kimura but Sampson is defending well.
Sampson is trying to stand back up but Kullen is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kullen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Sampson is defending against the submission attempts here by Kullen.
Kullen wants to control but Sampson is keeping him busy.

Kullen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Kullen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sampson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kullen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sampson is not content to let Kullen control the position.
Sampson is looking for a sweep. Kullen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Sampson is defending against the submission attempts here by Kullen.
Sampson trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kullen seems to be working for a kimura but Sampson defends the submission attempt.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kullen connects with a nice short shot to Sampson's temple.
Sampson is trying to stand back up but Kullen is controlling him
Sampson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kullen is working away from the top position though.

Kullen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sampson is trying to maintain the position but Kullen is very close to passing his half guard.

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

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.

Sampson has closed the distance and engaged Kullen in a clinch.

Sampson pulls guard effortlessly.

Kullen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sampson working a defensive guard here.
Kullen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sampson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kullen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sampson avoids it really well and circles away.

Sampson moves into the clinch successfully.

Sampson 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.
Kullen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sampson as he avoids it easily.
Sampson doesn't manage to clinch there - Kullen circles away.
Kullen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dean Kullen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kullen takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Some wild striking there from Sampson.
Dean Kullen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kullen doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sampson counters with a head kick. That will keep Kullen thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Sampson fails to land with a series of punches.
Octavio Sampson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sampson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sampson is looking to take a break and control but Kullen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kullen wants to control but Sampson postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kullen tries to improve position but can't.
Sampson lands a few punches from side control.
You can see the frustration on Kullen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kullen is looking for a sweep.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sampson in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Kullen tries to bench press Sampson off him but Sampson keeps the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kullen wants to control but Sampson postures up.
Kullen tries to bench press Sampson off him but Sampson keeps the position.

Sampson stands up.

Sampson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Sampson escapes and gets back to his feet.
Sampson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Sampson wants to counter with a clinch but Kullen pushes him away.

Kullen gets caught napping as Sampson dives in and scores a takedown. Kullen manages to retain guard.
Dean Kullen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sampson preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson is stalling in the full guard.
Sampson preventing the sweep.
Kullen wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kullen has a closed guard, preventing Sampson from standing up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sampson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kullen looking to control.

Kullen working for a triangle but Sampson defends it easily.
Kullen 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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Octavio Sampson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A head kick misses from Sampson.

Sampson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kullen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kullen wants to control but Sampson postures up.
Sampson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kullen keeps working.
Sampson tries to stand but Kullen is controlling his head.
Kullen tries to bench press Sampson off him but Sampson keeps the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sampson throws a strike aimed at the side of Kullen's head but Kullen avoids it well.
Sampson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kullen keeps working.
Kullen is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sampson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Sampson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kullen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kullen is not content to let Sampson control the position.
Kullen can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kullen is trying to get back to half guard.
Kullen manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sampson's best efforts.

Sampson is looking for a kimura but Kullen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sampson to get the leverage.
Kullen is looking to control Sampson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kullen avoid being mounted?
Kullen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kullen is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sampson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sampson's back!

Kullen is looking for the choke from the back position but Sampson is controlling his hands well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kullen is looking for the choke from the back position but Sampson is controlling his hands well.
Kullen doesn't have the hooks in and Sampson manages to turn into his guard.
Sampson controlling from the top position.
Sampson passes Kullen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kullen tries to roll over but Sampson keeps him under control.

Kullen looking for a kimura from the bottom but Sampson passes into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson trying to control the action but Kullen is working from the bottom.

Sampson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kullen is trying to get back to half guard.
Dean Kullen 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!
Kullen tries to control but Sampson manages to take his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Octavio Sampson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sampson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Octavio Sampson!
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Octavio Sampson!
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Octavio Sampson!

Octavio Sampson wins by unanimous decision!