PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Titus Garner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samoa Joe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Garner might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Black & Yellow. Samoa Joe has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Titus Garner's chin.

Garner
vs
Joe

160 cm
26
143 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

160 cm
24
146 lbs
11 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Fight Club Clothing™
Fight Club Clothing™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Titus Garner!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Samoa Joe!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Albert Achterberg and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joe showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Garner.
Garner misses with a wild body shot.
Garner throws a hook to the side of Joe's head but Joe sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Joe shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Garner napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Joe sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Garner is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Garner struggling a bit here.
Joe working the ground and pound.
Joe looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Garner is avoiding damage well.
You can see the frustration on Garner's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Garner tries to bench press Joe off him but Joe keeps the position.
Garner managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Joe.
Joe misses with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joe creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Garner works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Joe tries to pass to full mount but Garner defends it.
Joe thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Garner regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Joe.
Joe throwing strikes from guard but Garner blocks nicely.
Joe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Garner is keeping the position for now.

That's two 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.
Joe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Joe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Garner manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Garner avoids the attempt from Joe to control.
Joe tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Garner lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Joe hang on?
Joe tries to hold on but Garner pushes him away.
Joe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Garner prevents Joe from getting the reversal.
Garner avoids the attempt from Joe to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Garner lands with some strikes.
Joe wants to control but Garner is having none of it.
Garner looking to finish Joe with some ground and pound. This is bad for Joe!
Garner scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Joe tries to hold on but Garner postures up.
Garner with a couple of short strikes.
Joe wants to hold on but Garner pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garner dominating with strikes here.
Garner scoring with strikes but Joe is staying in there.
Joe manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Garner wants to free his trapped foot but Joe is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Joe wants to control but Garner is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Garner takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garner wants to control but Joe is keeping him busy.
Joe is looking for a sweep. Garner is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Garner trying to pass the guard but Joe defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Titus Garner dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Garner looks to land a right hand but Joe moved out of range.
Samoa Joe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A shot to the body from Garner misses
and Joe counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Garner throws a right hand that Joe ducks under and follows up with a left that Joe also avoids with ease.
Left hook, right uppercut from Garner.
Garner lands a really nice looking cross but Joe seems unphased.

Garner has closed the distance and engaged Joe in a clinch.
A short body shot lands from Garner as the two fighters clinch.
Garner misses with a short punch on the inside.
Garner working aggressively here.
Joe has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Garner avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Joe digs a right hand into Garner's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Garner's gas tank.
Garner swings wildly with an uppercut but Joe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Garner doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Garner misses with a punch on the inside.
Joe misses with a body punch.
Joe lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A body shot lands from Garner.
Joe lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Garner.
Joe throws a head punch that misses.
Joe lands with a left to the head.
Joe scores with a shot to the side of Garner's head.
Joe is breathing heavily.
A left hand lands to the body for Garner.
Garner throws a punch but it's blocked by Joe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garner is working Joe over against the cage.
Garner gets through Joe's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A hook to the body from Garner.
A head punch on the inside from Joe fails to land.
Garner blocking some punches.
A nice left hand lands by Garner.
A hook to the body from Garner.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Joe.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Garner.
Garner makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Garner lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Garner lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Joe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Garner throws a punch but it's blocked by Joe.
Joe lands a left hand.
Garner managing to block the knees to the body from Joe.
Joe doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Garner tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Garner lands with a short shot to the head.
Garner lands a left hand.
Garner misses with a short punch on the inside.
Garner lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Joe or not.
A short body shot lands from Garner as the two fighters clinch.
Garner lands with a light punch inside.
Garner lands a body shot in the clinch.
Garner is working Joe over against the cage.
Garner gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Joe.
Garner working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garner scores with a nice hook to the head.
Joe tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Garner avoids it.
Garner lands a hook that snaps the head of Joe backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Garner.
Garner throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Joes head.
Joe has a couple of punches blocked by Garner.
Garner lands a left hand.
Garner on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A short uppercut from Garner.
A nice right hand lands inside from Garner.
Garner lands a left hand that snaps the head of Joe backwards.
Garner scores with an uppercut up the middle.
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!
Garner makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Garner.
Garner lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Garner works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A short left from Garner.

Joe is fighting off a takedown attempt but Garner is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Joe to the mat. Joe regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Joe has momentary wrist control but Garner slips an elbow through the middle.
Garner wants to control from the top but Joe keeps moving.
Joe trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe looking to control but Garner passes into half guard.
Garner passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Joe!
Joe is desperately trying to improve his position but Garner has a good base and remains in mount.
Titus Garner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Garner can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Joe is looking to escape.

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.
Garner avoids the attempt from Joe to control.
Garner with the ground and pound from mount.
Garner trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Joe takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Joe is squirming around, avoiding Garner's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Titus Garner dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Joe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Garner.
Garner throws a right hand that Joe ducks under and follows up with a left that Joe also avoids with ease.
Garner scores with a jab to the head.
Joe misses with a lunging right hand
and Garner cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Garner uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Garner scores with a jab to the body.
Joe throws a big shot that misses.
Garner changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Garner sizes up Joe with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Garner scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Garner, as that shot connected.
Garner ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Joe rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Garner counters with a nice body shot.

Garner moves into the clinch.
Joe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Garner lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Garner scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Garner gets through Joe's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Garner or not.
Joe misses with a punch to the body.
Garner works on Joe's body with a couple of short punches.
Garner is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Joe gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A short uppercut from Garner.
Garner blocks an uppercut.
Joe struggles to land a body shot inside as Garner controls his hands.
A right handed body shot lands from Garner.
Joe misses with an elbow over the top.
Garner scores with a shoulder strike.
A short right from Garner.
A nice right hand lands inside from Garner.
Garner digs a right hand underneath Joe's ribcage. Joe let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Garner lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Garner lands a body shot in the clinch.
Garner makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Garner cracks Joe with a nice body shot.
Garner goes for a takedown attempt but Joe pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Garner lands with a shot to the body.

Garner clinches up with Joe and pushes him back against the cage.
Garner throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Joes head.
Garner throws a punch but it's blocked by Joe.
Garner blocks an elbow strike from Joe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garner pushes Joe back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Joe throws an elbow that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Joe.
A body shot lands from Garner.
Garner working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Garner lands a right hand.
Garner working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Garner lands a right hand.
Joe blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Garner is pressed up against the cage. Joe has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Garner down to the mat. Garner avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Garner looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
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!
Garner is looking to take a break and control but Joe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Joe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Garner is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Garner is pressing down on Joe's thigh, looking to free his foot. Joe is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe trying to hold on to Garner's head to control him but Garner postures up.
Joe wants to get back to full guard.
Garner wants to free his trapped foot but Joe is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Garner takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Garner is looking to take a break and control but Joe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Joe is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Garner's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Garner's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Joe throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Joe somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Joe throwing sloppy strikes.
Garner finds himself mounted whilst avoiding strikes.
Garner tries to hold on but Joe pushes him away.
Joe connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Joe with shots to the head and body - Garner looks very uncomfortable down there.
Garner wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Joe.
Joe lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Garner hang on?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Titus Garner clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Joe misses with a jab to the body
and Garner counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Garner scores with a hook.
Garner scores with a jab to the jaw.
Joe misses with a right hand
and Garner counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Garner lands with a good body shot.
Garner tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Joe was well out of range. Poor timing from Garner.
Joe fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Garner avoids it really well and circles away.
Garner lands a jab to Joe's midsection.

Garner drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Garner advances nicely into full mount.
Garner content just to control the position here.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Garner with shots to the head and body - Joe looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garner with a couple of short strikes.
Joe is bucking up trying to escape but Garner cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Garner punishing his opponent with strikes.
Garner scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Joe?
Joe wants to control but Garner is having none of it.
BOOM! Garner connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joe can't escape the position.
Garner knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Joe on the ground.
Garner tries to control but Joe wriggling away.
Garner avoids the attempt from Joe to control.
Joe is bucking up trying to escape but Garner cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Garner prevents Joe from getting the reversal.
Garner looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Garner tries to control but Joe wriggling away.
Joe is wriggling around trying to escape.
Joe tries to hold on but Garner pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garner lands with some strikes.
Garner avoids the attempt from Joe to control.
Garner lands a big shot there that rocks Joe but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Joe wants to control but Garner is having none of it.
Garner with a couple of short strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garner dominating with strikes here.
Garner lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Garner prevents Joe from getting the reversal.
Garner cracks Joe with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Joe is in all sorts of trouble here.
Garner wants to control the pace but Joe is squirming around nicely.
Joe tries to hold on but Garner pushes him away.
Joe is looking to improve his position but Garner isn't that keen on the idea.
Garner landing shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Titus Garner had his way with Samoa Joe in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Joe throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Garner counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Garner misses with a wild body shot.
Joe throws a leg kick that is checked
enabling Garner to counter with a crisp jab.

Joe gets caught flat footed, as Garner shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Garner preventing the sweep.
Garner wants to control from the top but Joe keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Joe is on top in guard.
Garner keeping full guard, as Joe tries to pass.
Garner wants to sweep here but Joe controlling him for the moment.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Joe throws a big right hand that misses.
Garner is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Joe can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe throws a strike but Garner rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Joe wants to sweep here but Garner controlling him for the moment.
Joe is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Garner pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Joe is keeping the position for now.
Garner is working Joe over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two 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.
Joe keeping moving, preventing Garner from controlling successfully.
Joe tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Joe working for a triangle but Garner defends it easily.
Garner passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Joe is trying to control Garner's posture but Garner avoids it.
Garner working the head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe trying to control but Garner flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Joe covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Garner is looking to control Joe but Joe is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Garner doesn't have the hooks in and Joe manages to turn into his guard.
Joe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Garner controls Joe momentarily but Joe frees himself.
Joe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Joe with a flurry of punches that miss.
Joe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

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.
Joe advances to half guard.
Joe is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Garner reverses the position - he's now on top in Joe's guard.
Joe is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Garner is looking to improve his position.
Samoa Joe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Garner is defending against the submission attempts here by Joe.

And that's the end of the fight!
Titus Garner showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Garner 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 50:44
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 50:44
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 50:44

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Titus Garner!
Titus Garner retains his bantamweight title!