PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Ball (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikael Samoth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ball comes to the cage accompanied by Hammer Smashed Face. Samoth has chosen Judas Priest - Painkiller as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ball
vs
Samoth

199 cm
32
280 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

192 cm
36
278 lbs
26 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
KO power

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Zentrope Fighting Universe

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Ball!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Mikael Samoth!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Ackerman and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Ball misses the target.
The fighters circling - Ball throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Samoth swings for the body but Ball moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Samoth.
Ball misses with a double jab

and Samoth counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ball pulls Samoth in close to prevent any damage.
Samoth postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Samoth wants to control from the top but Ball keeps moving.
Ball trying to keep a closed guard but Samoth is proving a slippery customer.
Samoth scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samoth throwing strikes from guard but Ball blocks nicely.
Ball looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ball is trying to keep Samoth in close.
Samoth throws an elbow that misses. Ball uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Samoth's guard. Nice move by Ball!
Ball wants to pass the guard but Samoth is keeping the position.
Ball wants to control from the top but Samoth keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ball accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ball throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ball in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Samoth kicks Ball off and gets to his feet.
Ball throws a jab when Samoth was well out of range.

Ball drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ball trying to control but Samoth is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ball accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ball working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ball trying to control the position from guard on top but Samoth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ball accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ball trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ball with a flurry of punches that miss.
Samoth seems keen to control Ball's posture.
Samoth keeping moving, preventing Ball from controlling successfully.
Ball postures up and lands a big shot to Samoth's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ball trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Samoth working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ball.
Ball throws an elbow that misses. Samoth uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ball's guard. Nice move by Samoth!
Ball keeping moving, preventing Samoth from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Samoth accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Samoth being controlled here momentarily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Samoth's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joe Ball will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ball gets a takedown into half guard.
Ball is looking to take a break and control but Samoth is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ball sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Samoth defending well though.
Ball tries to pass to full mount but Samoth defends it.
Ball is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ball pushes down on Samoth's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Samoth is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ball's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ball's back!
Samoth lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Samoth.
Ball trying to control the hands but Samoth breaks the grip.
Samoth cracks Ball with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Ball from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Samoth is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Samoth gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Samoth gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Samoth apologises and we restart here on the feet.

It looks like Joe Ball has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ball doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Samoth counters with a body kick that stops Ball in his tracks momentarily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ball moves out of range of the strikes.

Samoth has closed the distance and engaged Ball in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samoth lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ball doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Samoth is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Ball can't fight it off and eventually Samoth manages to take the fight to the floor. Ball looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Samoth postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Samoth stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ball swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Samoth throwing strikes but missing.
Samoth trying to control but Ball is working from the bottom.
Samoth advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samoth passes to side control.
Ball takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Samoth misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Ball holds on to Samoth's head and controls the position momentarily.
Samoth has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Samoth looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Ball is avoiding damage well.
The referee asks Samoth politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Samoth prefers to stall for the moment though.
Samoth working the ground and pound but Ball is defending the strikes.
Ball can't do much from the bottom here.
Ball is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ball is pushing Samoth's head away, looking to escape. Samoth manages to hold on to the position though.
Ball struggling a bit here.
Samoth is looking to take a break and control but Ball is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Samoth is putting a hurting on Ball here, landing some big shots from side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ball takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Samoth wants to control but Ball is keeping him busy.
Samoth lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Ball down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikael Samoth showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Joe Ball's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Ball throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ball wants to clinch.
Ball shoots for a takedown but Samoth saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A jab lands there for Ball.
Samoth walks into a jab.
Joe Ball is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Samoth tries to clinch but Ball is having none of it.
Samoth uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Samoth misses with a head kick.
Joe Ball seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Samoth misses with a body kick.
Samoth ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Samoth stuffs the takedown.
Ball tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head kick misses from Samoth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samoth looks to throw the jab but Ball is out of range.
Ball tries to score with a low kick but Samoth moves his leg out of the way.
Samoth misses with a wild body shot.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Samoth, as that shot connected.

Joe Ball's cut is getting worse.
Samoth keeps Ball at a distance using the push kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ball avoids the head kick by Samoth.
Samoth tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ball pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ball shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Samoth sprawls well. Samoth wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ball gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Ball. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ball walks into a straight right hand from Samoth.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Samoth clobbers Ball with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Samoth throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samoth keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Samoth darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ball is looking for a sweep. Samoth is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Samoth takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ball keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Samoth scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Joe Ball's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Samoth is nestled in close to Ball, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Samoth working Ball over with strikes.

Jeez, Joe Ball's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Joe Ball's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Mikael Samoth!
Mikael Samoth seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.