PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Bernie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Sams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Sams will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Bernie
vs
Sams

180 cm
19
220 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

188 cm
20
219 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bryan Bernie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Sams!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Yves DeLean and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sams throws a jab but it's blocked by Bernie.
Sams scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Sams swats away the attempt to clinch by Bernie.
Sams stuffs the takedown attempt from Bernie. Bernie gets slowly back to his feet.

Bernie takes the fight into the clinch.
Sams being controlled against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sams wants to break the clinch but can't.

Bernie breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sams misses with an uppercut.
Sams lands a body shot.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sams. That's going to slow Bernie down.
Sams motions for Bernie to come forward. Sams throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sams misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bernie.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Sams bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sams ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bernie moves away.
Sams lands with a right hand.
Sams misses the jab.
Sams looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sams misses with the combination.
Sams lands a head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sams jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sams swings for the body but Bernie moves out of range.
Matt Sams is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sams misses the jab.

Bernie gets the takedown into side control.
Bernie advances to full mount.
Bernie throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Sams because Bernie loaded up on that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bernie raining down shots from the mount!

Bernie working for a guillotine from mount but Sams is in no mood to give up.
Sams can't escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bernie goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Sams is on top in guard.
Sams stands and throws Bernie's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Bernie tries to bench press Sams off him but Sams keeps the position.
Sams lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Sams is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Bernie will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Sams dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bernie drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bernie working away.
Bernie tries to move into full mount but can't pass Sams's legs.
Sams is trying to improve his position.
Sams prevents Bernie from moving into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sams tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Bernie goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Sams rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Bernie's guard! Nice work there by Sams!
Sams looking to pass the guard.
Bernie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sams manages to get himself to full guard.

Bernie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bernie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sams is keeping the position for now.
Bernie stands and throws Sams's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sams tries to bench press Bernie off him but Bernie keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernie tries to advance to mount but Sams denies him.

Bernie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sams can't do much from the bottom here.

Bernie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Bernie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Sams tries to buck Bernie off but Bernie is having none of it.

Bernie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bernie tries to move to mount but Sams blocks the move with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sams lands a nice shot that snaps Bernie's head back.
Sams swats away the attempt to clinch by Bernie.
Bernie throws a leg kick
and Sams counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bernie blocks the body kick.
Sams throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sams moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Sams swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bernie shoots in for a double leg but Sams sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bernie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sams swivels and escapes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sams's corner calls for a 1-2. Sams obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Sams showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Bernie walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

It looks like Bryan Bernie has been cut.
Sams throws an overhand right that lands on Bernie's shoulder, as Bernie tries to avoid the shot.
Sams has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A jab from Sams misses.
Bernie staying out of range there.
Bernie wants to clinch.
A jab from Sams misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sams lands a lovely overhand right.
Sams thows a body shot but no joy.
Bernie tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Bernie takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bryan Bernie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matt Sams seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sams ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sams connects with a right hand. Bernie shakes it off.
Bernie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sams.
Bernie tries to clinch but Sams moves out of range.
Sams thows a body shot but no joy.
Matt Sams is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bernie tries to clinch up
and Sams counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sams bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Sams throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Bernie on the side of the head.
Sams throws a leg kick that misses.
Sams throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sams waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bernie.
Sams digs a good hook to Bernie's body.
Sams throws a hook to the side of Bernie's head but Bernie sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sams listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sams tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Bernie takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Sams comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sams winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Sams!