PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rik McRae (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sparky Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McRae comes to the cage accompanied by Slipknot - Before I Forget. Rik McRae has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

McRae
vs
Sampson

189 cm
35
198 lbs
20 - 9 - 2

165 cm
28
190 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Steel Penn's All 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Rik McRae!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sparky Sampson!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Albert Achterberg and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body punch from McRae.
Sparky Sampson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

McRae fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sampson sprawls well initially but McRae persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
McRae prevents Sampson from standing back up.
Sampson has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
McRae missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sampson wants to get back to his feet.
Sampson is looking for a sweep. McRae is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McRae tries to pass to full mount but Sampson defends it.
McRae thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sampson's head.
Sampson wants to get back to his feet.
McRae throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
McRae is keen to just control but Sampson is a slippery customer.
McRae throwing shots but Sampson is blocking nicely.
Sampson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sampson.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sampson wants to get back to his feet but McRae is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
McRae with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson wants to stand but McRae is controlling the position.
McRae pushing down on Sampson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
McRae not landing any meaningful shots this time.
McRae wants to control but Sampson is keeping him busy.
McRae prevents Sampson from standing back up.
Sampson moves into full guard.
Sampson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sampson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
McRae pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sampson is keeping the position for now.

McRae got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sampson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, McRae has managed to get both his arms back between Sampson's legs - danger averted.
McRae pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sampson is keeping the position for now.

McRae drops back looking for a leg! Sampson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sampson manages to kick McRae off! McRae jumps back into Sampson's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McRae trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McRae trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McRae trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sampson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
McRae looking to pass the guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McRae wants to control from the top but Sampson keeps moving.
Sampson trying to keep a closed guard but McRae is proving a slippery customer.
McRae with a flurry of punches that miss.
McRae prevents Sampson from getting back to his feet.
McRae pushes down on Sampson's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McRae throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
McRae is looking to take a break and control but Sampson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sampson won't allow McRae to pass to mount.
Sampson wants to get back to full guard.
Sampson is trying to stand.
McRae not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McRae not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
McRae will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sampson manages to get to full guard.
McRae stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sampson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McRae distracts Sampson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sampson wants to stand up but McRae is controlling him.

Sampson has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes McRae off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson avoids the body shot from McRae.
Sampson misses with a takedown
and McRae counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sampson thinking.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sampson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A combination from McRae does no damage.
Sampson defending well as McRae loads up on a big left hand.
Sampson misses with a two punch combination.
Sampson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around McRae's waist but McRae gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sampson off to one side.
Rik McRae has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sparky Sampson.
McRae misses with a head kick.
McRae throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McRae defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sampson.
Sampson doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting McRae counter with a right hand.
Sampson dives in and grabs McRae's left leg, looking for a takedown. McRae pushes down on Sampson's head and hops out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rik McRae dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sampson looks for a takedown but McRae sprawls well.
McRae ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sampson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
No luck for Sampson with that takedown attempt.
Sampson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
McRae misses with a head kick.
Sampson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rik McRae has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sparky Sampson.

McRae looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Sampson!
Sampson is looking to regain half guard here but McRae keeps moving and retains side control.
McRae works to advance to full mount. Sampson defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
McRae lands a couple of good shots and Sampson has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McRae connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Sampson to escape the position.
Sampson covers up after that shot from McRae.

Sampson is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.

McRae working for a choke but Sampson is defending well.
McRae is punishing Sampson with some ground and pound.
Sampson is still in real trouble! Can McRae finish him?
Sampson controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Sampson seems to have recovered his senses.
Will McRae go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Sampson trying to control but not successfully.

McRae working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

McRae has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Will McRae go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sampson looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
McRae punches the canvas rather than the man.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sampson manages to reverse the position and now he's in McRae's guard. Nice work there by Sampson.
McRae trying to control the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sampson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

McRae has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sampson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sampson preventing the sweep.
McRae looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McRae is looking to cinch up a triangle. Sampson throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to McRae's body to avoid the submission. McRae has instead reached around Sampson's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! McRae arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Rik McRae!
A very excited looking Rik McRae rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.