PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alfonso Mcintyre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Sampson (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.

Mcintyre
vs
Sampson

173 cm
22
193 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

200 cm
23
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alfonso Mcintyre!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Sampson!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Emerson Jorge and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sampson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Mcintyre throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Mcintyre being controlled here, momentarily.
Mcintyre tries to strike from the bottom.
Mcintyre will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Mcintyre has an active guard here but Sampson has managed to pass into half guard.
Mcintyre missing with punches from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mcintyre looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mcintyre's head.
Mcintyre is refusing to be controlled, as Sampson sits in half guard.
Sampson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Sampson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mcintyre tries to roll over but Sampson keeps him under control.
Sampson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mcintyre does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sampson sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mcintyre swats away the attempt to clinch by Sampson.
Sampson tries to clinch
and Mcintyre counters with a left and a right that stings Sampson.

Sampson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mcintyre to the ground. Sampson is now in Mcintyre's guard.
Sampson looks winded!

Mcintyre working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sampson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sampson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sampson wants to control from the top but Mcintyre keeps moving.

Mcintyre 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sampson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sampson forces his way into half guard.
Sampson wants to take a breather but Mcintyre is having none of it.
Sampson slows the pace down in half guard.

Mcintyre looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mcintyre is staying active underneath Sampson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
We've been informed that Sampson has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's four 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.

Mcintyre actively working from the bottom here.
Mcintyre misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Sampson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mcintyre with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sampson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Sampson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mcintyre is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sampson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Sampson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sampson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Mcintyre's guard.
Sampson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mcintyre keeping moving, preventing Sampson from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sampson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mcintyre throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Mcintyre working for a triangle but Sampson defends it easily.
Sampson tries to free his leg and advance position but Mcintyre is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sampson passes into half guard.
Mcintyre keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mcintyre could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Sampson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mcintyre flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Sampson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Sampson lands with some strikes.
Mcintyre is squirming around, avoiding Sampson's attempts to control the action.
Mcintyre flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sampson controlling the pace for now.
Sampson with shots to the head and body - Mcintyre looks very uncomfortable down there.
Mcintyre tries to reverse the position but Sampson maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mcintyre in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sampson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sampson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Mcintyre looks a forlorn figure.
Sampson wants to control but instead Mcintyre manages to regain half guard.
John Sampson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mcintyre is not content to let Sampson control the position.
Sampson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mcintyre defending well though.

Mcintyre is defending against the submission attempts here by Sampson.

Sampson is trying to work for a kimura but Mcintyre is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcintyre is looking for a sweep. Sampson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sampson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Mcintyre is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sampson pulls his head out easily.
Mcintyre is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sampson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sampson's back!
Even with his hooks in, Mcintyre manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Sampson tries to roll but Mcintyre sticks to his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mcintyre is looking for the choke from the back position but Sampson is controlling his hands well.

Mcintyre working for the choke.
Mcintyre gets his hands free as Sampson looks to control.

Sampson fending off the submission attempt from Mcintyre.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sampson showing good submission defense here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Sampson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sampson rushes Mcintyre and presses him up against the cage.

Sampson is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Mcintyre can't fight it off and eventually Sampson manages to take the fight to the floor. Mcintyre looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Mcintyre looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sampson is one step ahead there.
Sampson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mcintyre looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sampson is one step ahead there.
Sampson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mcintyre is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson trying to control the position from guard on top but Mcintyre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sampson advances to half guard.
Sampson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mcintyre keeps working.
Mcintyre is looking for a sweep. Sampson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sampson wants to control but Mcintyre is keeping him busy.
Mcintyre is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mcintyre tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Sampson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mcintyre does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Mcintyre trying to control here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Sampson scores with a takedown into Mcintyre's guard.
Mcintyre throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sampson slips nicely into half guard.
Sampson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcintyre trying to control but Sampson postures up.
Mcintyre tries to roll over but Sampson keeps him under control.
Sampson working over Mcintyre with some ground and pound. Mcintyre looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sampson stalling.
Mcintyre is looking to improve his position.
Sampson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sampson content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Mcintyre taking some punishment here, with Sampson in his half guard.
Sampson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Mcintyre manages to get to full guard.
Mcintyre trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Alfonso Mcintyre has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Sampson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sampson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Sampson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sampson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

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