PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Derrick Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ismo Ruma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruma has chosen Culture Club - Do You Really Want To Hurt Me as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sampson
vs
Ruma

179 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 Hilo, Derrick Sampson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ismo Ruma!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sampson fails to land the takedown.

Sampson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ruma trying to control here.
Sampson tries to pass to full mount but Ruma defends it.
Ruma is looking to improve his position.
Sampson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ruma on the ground.
Sampson is pressing down on Ruma's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ruma is holding on for now.
Ruma trying to control here.
Sampson wants to free his trapped foot but Ruma is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Sampson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sampson lands in his opponent's guard.
Sampson scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ruma working for a triangle but Sampson defends it easily.
Sampson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sampson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ruma is keeping the position for now.

Ruma has an active guard here but Sampson has managed to pass into half guard.
Ruma wants to control but Sampson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sampson wants to free his trapped foot but Ruma is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ruma tries to roll over but Sampson keeps him under control.

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.
Sampson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ruma has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sampson is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ruma misses with a takedown attempt

and Sampson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ruma's guard.
Ruma looks gassed!
Sampson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sampson chips away with some ground and pound.

Ruma working for a triangle but Sampson defends it easily.

Ruma 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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sampson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ruma is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ruma keeping full guard, as Sampson tries to pass.
Sampson is working hard here to advance position.
Sampson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sampson advances to half guard.
Ruma won't allow Sampson to pass to mount.
Sampson has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ruma bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Sampson looking for a sweep. Not yet Sampson, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruma looking to pass the guard.
Ruma stopping the sweep attempt from Sampson.
Ruma trying to control but Sampson is working from the bottom.
Sampson looking for a sweep. Not yet Sampson, not yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sampson is on top in guard.
Sampson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ruma is keeping the position for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ruma is on top in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ruma stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sampson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ruma gets caught flat footed, as Sampson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sampson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sampson distracts Ruma with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sampson with a nice head shot there.
Ruma looking to control.
Sampson lands a couple of elbows.
Sampson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sampson with a nice head shot there.
Sampson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ruma swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Ruma had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Sampson is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Ruma Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Sampson's back instead.
Sampson tries to escape but Ruma has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ruma wants to control but Sampson is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson breaks Ruma's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Sampson slips nicely into half guard.
Sampson moves into full mount! Ruma won't be happy about that!
Ruma really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sampson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Ruma tries to reverse the position but Sampson maintains control.
Sampson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Sampson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Sampson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Ruma in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sampson landing strikes from the mount and Ruma is in trouble!
Sampson scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sampson landing strikes, looking to finish!
Sampson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Sampson prevents Ruma from getting the reversal.
Sampson working Ruma over with strikes here.
Ruma really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sampson looking to finish Ruma with some ground and pound. This is bad for Ruma!
Sampson dominating with strikes here.
Sampson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Ruma takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Ruma wants to hold on but Sampson pushes him away.
Ruma is trying to escape the mount.
Ruma is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The referee warns Ruma that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruma wants to hold on but Sampson pushes him away.
Sampson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Sampson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Sampson dominating with strikes here.
Sampson has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Ruma's face.
Ruma gets back to half guard.
Sampson is nestled in close to Ruma, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ruma on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ruma is positioning himself well to prevent Sampson advancing to mount.
Sampson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sampson trying to pass the guard but Ruma defending well.
Ruma wants to control but Sampson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sampson passes to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson cracks Ruma with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Ruma is trying desperately to improve position.
Ruma manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Sampson is looking to advance position but Ruma won't allow it.
Ruma moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sampson lands a couple of elbows.
Sampson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ruma swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ruma looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sampson is one step ahead there.
Sampson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derrick Sampson dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sampson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Ruma looking for submissions off his back.
Sampson is pressing down on Ruma's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ruma is holding on for now.
Sampson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ruma makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ruma.
Derrick Sampson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sampson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ruma is keeping the position for now.
Sampson connects with a couple of short punches.
Sampson looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruma trying to keep a closed guard but Sampson is proving a slippery customer.
Sampson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Sampson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ruma looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sampson is one step ahead there.
Sampson tries to free his leg and advance position but Ruma is retaining full guard.
Ruma working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruma keeping full guard, as Sampson tries to pass.
Ruma manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sampson gets back to half guard.
Sampson is pressing down on Ruma's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Ruma drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ruma jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ruma won't allow Sampson to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruma passes Sampson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sampson is looking for a sweep. Ruma is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Ruma is looking for a kimura but Sampson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ruma to get the leverage.
Sampson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sampson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ruma!
Ruma gets back to half guard.
Ruma is looking for a sweep. Sampson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sampson works his foot free and advances to mount.
Sampson cracks Ruma with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruma can't escape the position.
Ruma is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sampson lands with some strikes.
Ruma tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ruma wants to control but Sampson is having none of it.
Sampson landing shots from mount.
Sampson with the ground and pound from mount.
Ruma in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Ismo Ruma has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Derrick Sampson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ruma throwing hammer fists to the chest of Sampson. What's that going to do exactly?

And that's the end of the fight!
Derrick Sampson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sampson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

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