PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diego Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Steve Sampson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Sampson
vs
Martinez

175 cm
23
185 lbs
5 - 2 - 1

182 cm
21
187 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

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 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Sampson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Diego Martinez!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Bruno Hogan and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Martinez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Martinez lands in his opponent's guard.

Martinez drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sampson dives on top into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sampson trying to control but Martinez is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson controls from within his opponent's guard.

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.
Martinez keeping full guard, as Sampson tries to pass.
Sampson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sampson trying to control but Martinez is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Martinez is looking for a triangle but Sampson pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Martinez shoots in looking for a takedown. Sampson tries to sprawl out of it but Martinez 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.
Martinez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sampson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Sampson as Martinez shoots in.
Steve Sampson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Diego Martinez.
Sampson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A head kick misses from Sampson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot to de liver by Sampson. Beautiful body shot.
Sampson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Martinez blocks a head kick by Sampson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez shoots in and drives through. Sampson sprawls well.
Sampson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Steve Sampson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sampson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Martinez doesn't seem bothered though.

Sampson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Martinez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sampson trying to control the position but Martinez is working away.
Sampson is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

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.
Martinez is looking to improve his position but Sampson isn't that keen on the idea.
Martinez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Sampson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sampson lands with a shot to the body.
Steve Sampson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice defenses there by Martinez.
Sampson lands a front kick.
Sampson lands a high kick to the side of Martinez's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Sampson dives into guard, looking to finish.

Martinez is rocked!

It looks like Diego Martinez has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sampson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Martinez is still in real trouble! Can Sampson finish him?

Martinez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Martinez seems to have recovered his senses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Martinez working for a triangle but Sampson defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martinez is looking for a triangle here but Sampson uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's four 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.
Sampson trying to control the action but Martinez is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Sampson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sampson 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28

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