PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joshua Samson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matthews has chosen Soulja Boy (Travis Barker Remix) as his entrance music. John Matthews looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Samson
vs
Matthews

180 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
19
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joshua Samson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Felipe Paraventi and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matthews misses with a double jab.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Matthews.
Matthews tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Samson swivels and escapes.
Matthews ducks under a wild hook from Samson.
Samson has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Matthews.
Samson on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Samson.

Matthews moves into range and clinches up with Samson.

Matthews breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Samson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Samson wants to control from the top but Matthews keeps moving.
Samson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Samson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Samson pushing down on Matthews's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Samson thows a huge punch but Matthews dodges it nicely.

Samson decides to stand up.
Matthews looks gassed!
Matthews rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Samson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Samson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Matthews. Matthews circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Samson wants to clinch.
Matthews misses with a body kick.
Samson throws a chopping leg kick but Matthews manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Samson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Samson showed some decent athleticism there.
Samson could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Matthews moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samson content to stall in guard here.
Samson looking to pass the guard.
Samson throws a big right hand that misses.
Samson wants to control from the top but Matthews keeps moving.
Samson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Matthews keeping moving, preventing Samson from controlling successfully.
Matthews utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Samson closes the distance and clinches.

Samson breaks from the clinch.

Samson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Samson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Samson stops Matthews from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews wants to sweep but no luck.
Samson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Matthews is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Samson is controlling him.
Samson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Matthews has Samson pulled in close to control his posture.
Matthews keeping moving, preventing Samson from controlling successfully.
Samson stopping the sweep attempt from Matthews.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Samson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Matthews keeps the fight on the outside.
Samson with a lazy takedown attempt

and Matthews counters with a nice double leg into side control. Samson won't be happy with that.
Samson holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Samson looks to move to half guard but instead Matthews has passed into mount! Damn!
Matthews wants to control the pace but Samson is squirming around nicely.
Samson is trying to escape the mount.
Samson tries to lock up and control but Matthews gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Samson is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samson is working hard here to advance position.
Matthews tries to control but Samson wriggling away.
Samson tries to hold on but Matthews pushes him away.
Matthews looking to control but Samson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Samson tries to lock up and control but Matthews gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Samson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Samson wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Samson is working to get back to half guard.
Samson tries to hold on but Matthews pushes him away.
Matthews controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samson tries to lock up and control but Matthews gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Samson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Samson tries to hold on but Matthews pushes him away.
Samson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Samson flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Samson wants to hold on but Matthews pushes him away.
Samson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Samson wants to control but Matthews is having none of it.
Samson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Samson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Samson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Samson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Joshua Samson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Samson looks for a takedown but Matthews sprawls well.
Samson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Matthews as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joshua Samson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Samson fails with the takedown.
Samson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matthews swivels and escapes.
Samson has his takedown stuffed

and Matthews counters by moving into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Matthews 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! And we move into the final round!

Samson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Matthews fails with the takedown.
Matthews scores with a spinning back kick!
Matthews scores with a nice body kick.
Matthews lands a nice looking kick to the body. Samson takes a step back to recover.
Samson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Matthews as he jumps to the side.
Matthews thuds his shin into the meat of Samson's side.
A solid body kick from Matthews.
Matthews throws a nice looking combination but Samson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Samson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Samson has his takedown stuffed

and Matthews counters with a nice double leg into side control. Samson won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joshua Samson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matthews takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Matthews tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Samson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Matthews off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Samson looking for the RNC.
Samson biding his time, controlling Matthews.
Samson is hanging on to Matthews's back as he tries to escape.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Samson controlling the positon.
Matthews has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Samson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Matthews covering up well and avoiding damage.
Samson struggling to land strikes to the head as Matthews covers up.
Samson biding his time, looking for the opening.
Samson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Samson is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Matthews knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Matthews for a finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Matthews is holding on to half guard well.
Samson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Samson decides to return to a standing position.
Joshua Samson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Matthews instigates a clinch.
Matthews wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Samson has him pressed against the cage.

Matthews breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Samson crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Matthews - the referee stops the clock and Samson gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Matthews. Samson manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews doesn't manage to clinch there - Samson circles away.
Matthews fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Samson manages to avoid it.
Matthews on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Samson. Samson obviously looking to wear him down.
Matthews tries to clinch but Samson is having none of it.
Matthews doesn't manage to clinch there - Samson circles away.
Samson moves in looking to clinch but Matthews pushes him off.
Both fighters circling a little - Matthews finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Matthews swats away the attempt to clinch by Samson.
Matthews lands an overhand right.

Samson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Samson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Samson controlling the pace for now.

Samson swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Matthews is now in Samson's guard. A big mistake from Samson there, giving up the dominant position!

And that's the end of the fight!
John Matthews comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Matthews 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Matthews!