PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Samoa Joe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sly Randolph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Sitting Sideways . Sly Randolph has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Samoa Joe's chin.

Joe
vs
Randolph

160 cm
27
139 lbs
16 - 6 - 1

170 cm
24
145 lbs
13 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Crashforce Nutrition (Authentic 160Q/159Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Samoa Joe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Sly Randolph!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Randolph uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Joe.
A looping hook to the body misses from Randolph. Joe does a little dance to reset his feet.
A telegraphed right hand from Joe misses the target.
Joe's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Randolph connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Joe scrambles back to his feet.
Randolph shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Randolph throws a nice outside leg kick.
Joe sizes up Randolph with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Joe slips under a jab.
Joe throws a big shot that misses.
Randolph throws the kick towards the body but Joe avoids it.
Joe scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Randolph displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Joe throws out the jab.
Nice body punch from Randolph.
Randolph throws a hook to the side of Joe's head but Joe sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Joe uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Randolph.
Nice uppercut lands for Randolph. That snapped Joe's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Randolph swinging wildly here.
Randolph lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Joe avoids a kick to the body.
Randolph motions for Joe to come forward. Randolph throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Randolph throws a big shot that misses.
Randolph motions for Joe to come forward. Randolph throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A swing and a miss from Randolph.
Joe misses with a looping left.
Joe slips under a jab from Randolph.
Randolph thuds a left hand into Joe's body.
Randolph connects with a nice looking jab.
Randolph displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Joe throws out the jab.
Joe moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Randolph.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joe stuns Randolph with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Randolph is looking to land body kicks.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Joe is defended easily by Randolph.
Joe loads up on a big right hand but Randolph slips the punch.
Randolph moves out of range as Joe strikes.
Randolph scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Randolph blocks a jab.
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!
Joe dips to his left and cracks Randolph with an uppercut!
A looping hook to the body misses from Randolph. Joe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Randolph lands a high kick!
Joe throws a low kick, looking for Randolph's leg but Randolph calmly moves out of range.
Joe takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Randolph ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Jab from Randolph.
Randolph staying out of range there.
Sly Randolph is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
An inside leg kick from Randolph misses.
Joe is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
The crowd cheers as Joe lands an impressive looking overhand right. Randolph doesn't seem phased though.
Joe throws a big shot that misses.
Randolph ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Randolph moves away from the strike by Joe.
Randolph misses the shot to the body.
Randolph pushes Joe away with a front kick.
Randolph scores with a jab to the body.
Joe checks a low kick from Randolph.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Joe.
Randolph keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Randolph with a jab.
Joe will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Randolph keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Joe.
Joe dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Randolph will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Joe throws an overhand right that lands on Randolph's shoulder, as Randolph tries to avoid the shot.
Joe throws a shot from downtown. Randolph moves away and avoids it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Randolph keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samoa Joe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Joe throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Randolph sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Joe looks to throw the jab but Randolph is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sly Randolph dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Randolph scores with a kick to the midsection.
Randolph slips under a jab from Joe.
Randolph connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sly Randolph seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Joe is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Randolph.
Joe misses with a straight left.
Randolph fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Randolph is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Good standup being displayed there by Randolph as he connects with a hook.
Randolph misses with a looping right.
Randolph throws a push kick but Joe slaps the foot to one side.
Joe fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Joe misses with a takedown attempt - Randolph sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Randolph has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Randolph feints and then cracks Joe's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Joe down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe lands a lovely overhand right.
Randolph misses with a low kick.
Randolph chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Joe can pounce on him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Joe.
Sly Randolph seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice jab there from Joe.
Joe misses with a wild body shot.
Joe connects with a crisp jab.
Joe tries to land a leg kick but Randolph saw it coming and moves away.
Randolph just misses with a punch to the body.
Joe walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Randolph lands with a nice body kick.
Randolph bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Randolph connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Joe momentarily.
Joe steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Randolph.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Randolph lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Randolph listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Randolph getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Randolph avoids the body shot from Joe.
Joe keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Some bone on bone action there as Joe checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Joe misses with a straight left.
Joe lands a nice looking body shot.
Randolph fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Joe has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Joe misses with a right hand
letting Randolph counter with a right hand.
Randolph scores with a push kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Randolph lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Randolph.
A swing and a miss from Joe.
Randolph throws the left hand but Joe avoids the punch easily.
Randolph swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Joe avoids the body shot from Randolph.
A good leg kick by Randolph.
Joe is looking to score with low kicks.
Randolph misses the jab.
Joe looks to throw the jab but Randolph is out of range.
Joe waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Randolph.
Randolph keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Joe thows a left - swing and a miss!
Joe misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Randolph thuds his right hand into Joe's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Randolph jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Randolph misses with a kick to the body.
A jab from Randolph misses.
Joe throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Randolph ducks under a wild hook from Joe.
Joe is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Randolph's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Joe tries to work over Randolph's front leg with a kick but Randolph checks it.
Joe throws a big shot that misses.
Randolph scores with a spinning back kick!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Randolph paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
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!
Joe throws a jab but it's blocked by Randolph.
Some bone on bone action there as Joe checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Joe throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Randolph sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sly Randolph will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Joe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Joe throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Randolph counters with a nice low kick that buckles Joe's knee momentarily.
Joe lands with a good body shot.
Randolph uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Joe.
Randolph stuns Joe with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Joe throws out a loose jab but Randolph uses good head movement to avoid it.
Joe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Randolph manages to avoid it.

Joe looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Randolph looking for a guillotine here but Joe defends easily.
Joe stopping the sweep attempt from Randolph.
Randolph keeping moving, preventing Joe from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Randolph is trying to control the position but Joe postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Joe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Joe with a flurry of punches that miss.
Randolph not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Randolph tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Joe stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Randolph swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Randolph trying to keep a closed guard but Joe is proving a slippery customer.

Randolph is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Joe is aware though and is defending well.
Joe is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Randolph preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Joe forces his way into half guard.
Joe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joe is pressing down on Randolph's thigh, looking to free his foot. Randolph is holding on for now.
Joe thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Randolph is looking to control Joe's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Randolph avoid being mounted?
Joe seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Randolph does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
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!
Randolph keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Joe is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Randolph defends it well.
Joe prevents Randolph from improving his position.
Randolph slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Randolph is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe stopping the sweep attempt from Randolph.
Joe working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Randolph's head.
Joe throwing strikes but missing.
Sly Randolph is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Joe wants to control from the top but Randolph keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Joe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Randolph is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Joe wants to pass the guard but Randolph is keeping the position.
Randolph looking for a sweep. Not yet Randolph, not yet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Randolph is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Joe throws a big elbow that misses.
Randolph is trying to control the position but Joe postures up.
Joe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Randolph wants to sweep here but Joe controlling him for the moment.
Samoa Joe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Randolph working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Joe.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Joe throws a big right hand that misses.
Randolph looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
This has been an exciting period of action!

And that's the end of the fight!
Samoa Joe showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Randolph 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Sly Randolph!
During a confident post fight interview, Sly Randolph thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.