PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ambrose Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Davis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sampson
vs
Davis

223 cm
18
151 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

182 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ambrose Sampson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alex Davis!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Aafke Stam and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sampson slaps away a takedown attempt from Davis, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sampson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Davis tries to avoid it but Sampson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Davis to the ground. Davis escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Davis tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sampson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Davis somewhat.

Sampson gets tackled into the cage by Davis. Davis maintains the clinch.

Sampson gets a trip takedown into half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sampson passes into side control, despite Davis's attempt to control the position.
Sampson postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Davis struggling a bit here.
Davis is looking to reverse the position.
Sampson is looking to take a break and control but Davis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sampson decides to stand back up.
Sampson connects with a crisp jab.
Davis looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sampson shoots in looking for a takedown. Davis tries to sprawl out of it but Sampson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Davis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Davis shoots in for a double leg but Sampson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ambrose Sampson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Davis.
Sampson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Davis tries to avoid it but Sampson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Davis to the ground. Davis escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sampson tries to clinch there but Davis circles away.
Davis shoots in looking for a takedown. Sampson tries to sprawl out of it but Davis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sampson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davis moves out of range as Sampson throws a body kick.
Davis tried to score with a low kick but Sampson checks it.
Davis darts in looking for a takedown but Sampson gets double underhooks and turns Davis into the cage.
Sampson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sampson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Davis to keep the fight standing.

Davis pulls guard.

Sampson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sampson shoots in and drives through. Davis sprawls well.
Sampson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nice sprawl there from Davis as Sampson shoots in.
Davis shoots in and drives through. Sampson sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis is looking to clinch but Sampson is avoiding it.
Sampson darts in looking for a takedown but Davis gets double underhooks and turns Sampson into the cage.
Sampson is breathing heavily.

Sampson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Davis will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Davis lands with a right hand.
Davis misses the shot to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Sampson as Davis shoots in.
Sampson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sampson lands with a kick to the temple. Davis shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Sampson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Davis defends it nicely.
Sampson shoots in for a takedown but Davis shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Davis does no damage.
Sampson keeps the fight on the outside.
Sampson looks for a takedown but Davis sprawls well.
Sampson shoots in but no luck this time.
Davis tries to clinch but Sampson moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Davis digs a good hook to Sampson's body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Davis.
Sampson darts in trying to clinch

and Davis counters by clinching up.
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 Ambrose Sampson will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sampson shoots for a double leg takedown but Davis sprawls well. He's pushed Sampson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nice takedown defense from Davis. No joy for Sampson on that attempt.
Sampson misses with a straight right.
Davis fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Davis stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ambrose Sampson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sampson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sampson lands a head kick. Davis smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Horrible takedown by Sampson or perhaps it was just good defense by Davis which made him look bad.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Sampson gets tackled into the cage by Davis. Davis maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Davis is looking to break free of the clinch but Sampson has double underhooks.
Sampson tries to pull guard but Davis holds him up against the cage and eventually Sampson drops back down to his feet.
Sampson pressing his opponent against the cage.
Davis fails to pull guard.
Davis is pushing Sampson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Davis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Davis is trying to push Sampson away but Sampson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sampson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sampson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sampson is looking to clinch but Davis is avoiding it.

Davis darts in and clinches Sampson up against the cage.

Davis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sampson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Davis lands a two punch combo.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sampson.

Davis has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis is trying to break free.
Davis struggles to land a body shot inside as Sampson controls his hands.
Davis missing with knees to the body.
Sampson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Davis is defending well.
Davis is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sampson pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Sampson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sampson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sampson fails with a takedown attempt.
Davis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sampson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Davis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sampson as he avoids it easily.
Davis tries to clinch up but Sampson circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Davis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sampson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sampson fails with a takedown attempt.
Sampson stuffs the takedown.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sampson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Davis to keep the fight standing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Davis gets control of Sampson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Davis will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sampson trying to control but Davis is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Davis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Davis misses with a takedown attempt - Sampson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Davis will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sampson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Davis sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sampson somewhat.
Sampson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sampson lands a high kick!
Ambrose Sampson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sampson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Sampson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Davis dives in and grabs Sampson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sampson pushes down on Davis's head and hops out.
Ambrose Sampson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Davis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson shoots in for a double leg but Davis sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Davis fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sampson avoids it really well and circles away.
Davis fails with the takedown.
Sampson shoots in for a takedown but Davis shows good takedown defense.

Davis moves into the clinch successfully.
Sampson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Davis gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Davis missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davis pushes Sampson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Davis.
Sampson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Davis pulls his leg out and moves away.
Davis shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sampson sprawls well. Sampson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Davis gets slowly back to his feet.
Sampson misses with a series of wild punches.
Davis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Davis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A head kick by Davis misses
and Sampson counters with a one-two to the body.
Sampson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Davis circles away quickly and effectively.
A combination from Sampson does no damage.
Sampson leaves Davis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sampson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Davis pinned against the cage. Davis gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Horrible takedown by Davis or perhaps it was just good defense by Sampson which made him look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson shoots in for a takedown but Davis shows good takedown defense.
Davis closes the distance and clinches up with Sampson, looking for a takedown. Davis pushes Sampson against the cage but Sampson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sampson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Davis sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Davis is looking to clinch.
Davis fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sampson lands a head kick. Davis smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Davis tries to clinch there but Sampson circles away.
Davis tries for a takedown but Sampson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Alex Davis.
I think Davis 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Davis!