PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sambo Sam (ranked 3053 p4p, 2772 weight class) and Richie Alaska (ranked 335 p4p, 313 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Sam
vs
Alaska

185 cm
20
168
4 - 3 - 0

177 cm
20
160
2 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

Un-Kaged Nutrition

Seventh Circle Clothing
Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Sambo Sam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Richie Alaska!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sam tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Sam scores with a takedown into Alaska's guard.
Alaska keeping moving, preventing Sam from controlling successfully.

Alaska is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alaska looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sam is one step ahead there.

Alaska has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sam can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sam is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sam trying to control the position from guard on top but Alaska is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sam got a little sloppy there for a moment and Alaska has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sam has managed to get both his arms back between Alaska's legs - danger averted.
Alaska controlling the position.
Sam landing some decent shots from guard.
Sam pushes down on Alaska's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sam takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sam is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Alaska has hold of Sam's hands but Sam slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sam is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Alaska makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Alaska.

Sam drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Alaska dives on top into guard.

Alaska stopping the sweep attempt from Sam.
Alaska passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sam looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alaska trying to control the position but Sam is working away.
Alaska working away.
Sam is trying to improve his position.
Sam gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Alaska wants to work for an arm triangle but Sam is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sam is trying to get back to full guard.

Sam looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sam is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sam trying to control but Alaska postures up.
Alaska wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sam keeps working.

Sam is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Alaska pulls his head out easily.
Alaska is looking to advance position but Sam won't allow it.
Sam slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sam looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Alaska blocks a head kick by Sam.

Sam throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Alaska was covering up waiting for the punch and Sam finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Alaska working a defensive guard here.
Sam wants to control from the top but Alaska keeps moving.
Alaska has momentary wrist control but Sam slips an elbow through the middle.
Sam pushing down on Alaska's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sam wants to pass the guard but Alaska is defending well.

Alaska looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Alaska wants to control but Sam is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sam is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Sam is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Alaska sees it coming and defends easily.
Alaska keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Alaska is trying to maintain the position but Sam is very close to passing his half guard.
Sam wants to take a breather but Alaska is having none of it.
Sam looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Alaska wants to control but Sam is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sam controlling the action here.
Sam working the head and body with strikes.
Sambo Sam overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sam lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Alaska is looking to improve his position.
Sam is keen to just control but Alaska is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alaska is trying to stand.
Alaska tries to roll over but Sam keeps him under control.
Sam is keen to just control but Alaska is a slippery customer.
Alaska tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Sam has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Sam landing punches.
Alaska is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sam scoring with strikes but Alaska is staying in there.
Sam tries to control but Alaska wriggling away.
Sam is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Alaska can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alaska is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sam unloading with bombs!
Alaska is looking to get to half guard.
Sam breaks from Alaska's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Alaska tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Alaska tries to hold on but Sam pushes him away.
Sam tries to control but Alaska wriggling away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alaska is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sam working Alaska over with strikes here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sambo Sam dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! 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.

Alaska throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sam fails in his attempt to clinch.
A countering left hand to the body from Alaska misses.
Alaska uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sam.
Alaska let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Sam bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Sam shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Alaska manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sam looking to pass the guard.
Alaska looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sam is one step ahead there.

Sam postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Alaska is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sam, into his guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sam has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Alaska can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alaska sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sam's guard.
Sam tries to get to full guard but Alaska has control of the leg.
Sam won't allow Alaska to pass to mount.
Sam tries to roll over but Alaska keeps him under control.
Alaska trying to control the action but Sam is working from the bottom.
Alaska looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Alaska is looking to stall here but Sam recovers full guard.
Sambo Sam is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Alaska engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Sam pulls Alaska in close to his closed guard and prevents Alaska from doing any damage or advancing position.
Alaska passes Sam's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Alaska is looking to stall here but Sam recovers full guard.
Alaska trying to control but Sam is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sam has control of Alaska's left arm, preventing Alaska from doing any damage.

Alaska avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sam controlling the position.
Sam's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Sam trying to control the position.

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

Sam moves into range and clinches up with Alaska.

Alaska manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alaska looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sam is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Alaska wants to sweep here but Sam controlling him for the moment.
Sam 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.
Richie Alaska has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sam pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alaska is keeping the position for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Richie Alaska.
I think Sam has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sambo Sam!
Sambo Sam managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Un-Kaged Nutrition, into his post fight interview.