PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Lennox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Samsonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Lennox
vs
Samsonov

180 cm
19
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bobby Lennox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Samsonov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Ivan Kurochkin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lennox misses with a takedown attempt - Samsonov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Lennox closes the distance and clinches.
Lennox is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Lennox breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Lennox scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Lennox working away.

Lennox thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Samsonov is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Lennox is controlling him well.
Lennox trying to control the position but Samsonov is working away.
Lennox tries to move to mount but Samsonov blocks the move with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Samsonov has control of an arm but Lennox manages to advance to Lennox's back!

Lennox is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Lennox looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Samsonov is controlling Lennox 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lennox keeping full guard, as Samsonov tries to pass.

Lennox is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lennox is breathing heavily.

Lennox looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Samsonov passes into side control.
Lennox tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Samsonov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lennox is looking to escape.
Samsonov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Lennox looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samsonov scores with strikes from the back.
Samsonov doesn't have the hooks in and Lennox manages to turn into his guard.
Samsonov looking for a sweep. Not yet Samsonov, not yet.
Lennox looking to sit in guard and control but Samsonov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Samsonov passes into half guard.
Samsonov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Samsonov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lennox manages to get to full guard.
Samsonov wants to pass the guard but Lennox is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samsonov trying to control the position from guard on top but Lennox is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lennox working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Samsonov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Samsonov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lennox trying to strike off his back.
Samsonov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lennox is keeping the position for now.
Samsonov trying to control the position from guard on top but Lennox is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lennox is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Lennox is keen to just control but Samsonov is a slippery customer.
Samsonov wants to get back to full guard.
Lennox is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samsonov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lennox's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lennox's back!
Samsonov tries to get the hooks in deep but Lennox pushed the leg off.
Samsonov is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Samsonov 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. Samsonov gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Samsonov apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Lennox takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Lennox throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lennox doesn't manage to clinch there - Samsonov circles away.

Samsonov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Samsonov passes Lennox's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Lennox flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Lennox is trying to get back to full guard.

Samsonov decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lennox looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ivan Samsonov will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lennox keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lennox throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Samsonov.

Lennox moves into the clinch successfully.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Lennox.

Lennox breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lennox keeps the fight on the outside.
Lennox tries to clinch up but Samsonov circles away and keeps his distance.
Lennox fails to land with a series of punches.
Lennox tries to clinch up

and Samsonov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Lennox changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Samsonov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Lennox misses with a double jab

and Samsonov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Samsonov tries to score a body lock takedown but Lennox shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Lennox misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Samsonov.

Lennox breaks from the clinch.
Samsonov connects with a nice looking jab.
Lennox swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Lennox takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lennox moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Lennox shoots and misses

and Samsonov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Samsonov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bobby Lennox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Samsonov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lennox gets underhooks to prevent Samsonov's takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Lennox breaks from the clinch.

Lennox gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Lennox is looking for a triangle here but Samsonov uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Samsonov is looking to take a break and control but Lennox is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Samsonov scores with punches from side control.
Samsonov has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Lennox throwing hammer fists to the chest of Samsonov. What's that going to do exactly?
Lennox keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Samsonov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lennox is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samsonov controlling his opponent.
Lennox is working to get back to half guard.
Lennox is just holding on here. Samsonov manages to take his back.
Samsonov loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Lennox hold on?
Lennox breaks Samsonov's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Samsonov is on top in guard.

Lennox is looking for a triangle but Samsonov pushes his legs off easily.
Samsonov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lennox wants to sweep here but Samsonov controlling him for the moment.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lennox shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Lennox looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Lennox can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Samsonov is looking to escape.

Lennox is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Samsonov can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Lennox controlling from mount.

Lennox is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Samsonov is surviving well by controlling Lennox's body position as best he can.
Lennox trying to control but Samsonov is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samsonov is working to get back to half guard.

Lennox jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Samsonov is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Samsonov and Lennox has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Lennox trying to control the position but Samsonov is working away.
Samsonov regains half guard.
Lennox passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Samsonov!
Lennox looking to control but Samsonov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lennox avoids the attempt from Samsonov to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bobby Lennox will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Lennox doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Samsonov counters by clinching up.
Samsonov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lennox smiles and moves away.
Samsonov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lennox's waist but Lennox gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Samsonov off to one side.
Nice uppercut lands for Lennox. That snapped Samsonov's head back.

Lennox feints and as Samsonov raises his hands in defense, Lennox changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lennox slips nicely into half guard.
Samsonov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Lennox scores with a couple of nice shots.
Lennox throwing shots but Samsonov is blocking nicely.
Lennox trying to control the action but Samsonov is working from the bottom.

Lennox is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Lennox is trying to work for a kimura but Samsonov is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lennox lands strikes from half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lennox trying to mount his opponent but Samsonov defends it.
Lennox working over Samsonov with some ground and pound. Samsonov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Lennox is trying to control the action in half guard but Samsonov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Lennox tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Samsonov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lennox wants to take a breather but Samsonov is having none of it.

Lennox looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Lennox is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two 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.
Lennox is nestled in close to Samsonov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Bobby Lennox overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lennox wants to control but Samsonov is keeping him busy.

Lennox is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Lennox seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Samsonov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Samsonov wants to control but Lennox is keeping busy.

Lennox is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Samsonov has managed to free his arm - good work.

Lennox is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Samsonov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lennox.
Lennox is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Samsonov reverses the position - he's now on top in Lennox's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samsonov stopping the sweep attempt from Lennox.
Lennox throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Lennox working a defensive guard here.

Lennox working for a triangle but Samsonov defends it easily.
Lennox lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Samsonov!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lennox tries to control but Samsonov wriggling away.
Samsonov tries to hold on but Lennox postures up.

Lennox swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Samsonov is now in Lennox's guard. A big mistake from Lennox there, giving up the dominant position!
Samsonov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Lennox keeping moving, preventing Samsonov from controlling successfully.

Lennox is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lennox wants to sweep here but Samsonov controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bobby Lennox showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lennox has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bobby Lennox!