PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Mason (ranked 2318 p4p, 1696 weight class) and Fortunado Sampaio (ranked 341 p4p, 256 weight class). Sampaio has chosen Corre Riba Corre Baixo as his entrance music. 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.

Mason
vs
Sampaio

185 cm
32
198
9 - 8 - 0

190 cm
25
217
4 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Urban Fighter

Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jason Mason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Fortunado Sampaio!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mason fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mason shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A little jabbing left from Sampaio on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Mason fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Mason. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sampaio avoids the body shot from Mason.
Mason swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mason lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sampaio at a distance.
Mason keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sampaio tries to move into range but Mason moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mason takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Mason throws a hook but Sampaio avoids it easily.
A big right from Sampaio misses.
Mason moves away from the strike by Sampaio.
Mason was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Sampaio has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampaio throws the left hand but Mason avoids the punch easily.
Sampaio throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mason swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Mason throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sampaio! But no joy.
Mason throws a shot from downtown. Sampaio moves away and avoids it.
Mason keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sampaio.
Mason darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Sampaio misses with a straight left.
It looked like Mason wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
No luck for Mason with that takedown attempt.
Mason throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sampaio on the side of the head.
Mason missing with a left hand there. Sampaio was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mason with a jab.
Sampaio scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sampaio keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sampaio moves out of range of the leg kick from Mason.
Sampaio tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mason was well out of range. Poor timing from Sampaio.
A solid leg kick lands there for Mason.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mason throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sampaio let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Sampaio connects with a nice looking jab.

It looks like Jason Mason has been cut.
Sampaio keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mason.
Mason misses with a body shot.
Sampaio closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Sampaio throws a body punch but Mason moves out of range.
Mason tries to clinch up
and Sampaio counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason with a nice calf kick.
Sampaio misses the shot to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Mason. That's going to slow Sampaio down.
Sampaio slips a straight right by Mason.
Mason jabs Sampaio right on the nose. Sampaio blinks but takes it well.
We've been told by Mason's head coaches at Mentor Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Sampaio lands a nice shot that snaps Mason's head back.
Fortunado Sampaio is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mason throws an overhand right that lands on Sampaio's shoulder, as Sampaio tries to avoid the shot.
Mason with a nice calf kick.
Sampaio jabs at Mason's body.
Sampaio tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mason was well out of range. Poor timing from Sampaio.
Mason on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A telegraphed right hand from Sampaio misses the target.
Sampaio bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampaio misses the shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mason slips a straight right by Sampaio.
Sampaio ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mason moves away.
It looked like Mason wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Mason ducks under a wild hook from Sampaio.
Mason misses with a left hand
and Sampaio counters with a nice uppercut.
Sampaio ducks under a wild hook from Mason.
Mason throws a big shot that misses.
Mason throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Sampaio works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Mason closes the distance and pushes Sampaio back into the cage.
Mason manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A head punch on the inside from Sampaio fails to land.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fortunado Sampaio will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jason Mason's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sampaio blocks a jab.
Mason throws out a loose jab but Sampaio uses good head movement to avoid it.
It seemed like Sampaio was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Mason slips under a jab.
Mason doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sampaio bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mason throws out a loose jab but Sampaio uses good head movement to avoid it.
A big right from Sampaio misses.
Mason looks to score with a jab to the body but Sampaio is just out of range.
Sampaio uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mason.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Mason is predictable there
and Sampaio counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mason misses with a looping right.
Mason throws a low kick but Sampaio moves out of range easily.
Mason misses the shot to the body.
Sampaio tries a quick counter leg kick but Mason is wise to it.
Fortunado Sampaio seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mason lands with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason walks into a left hand.

Jason Mason's cut is getting worse.
Mason misses with a leg kick
and Sampaio counters with a leg kick.
Sampaio ducks under a wild hook from Mason.
Jason Mason seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sampaio scores with a body shot.
Sampaio misses the shot to the body.
Mason swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Mason misses with a straight left.
Sampaio displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mason throws out the jab.
Sampaio chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Mason can pounce on him.
Mason throws an off balance right hand
and Sampaio counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mason throws an off balance right hand
and Sampaio counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Jason Mason's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Sampaio gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Mason just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason looks to score with a jab to the body but Sampaio is just out of range.
Sampaio is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Horrible takedown attempt by Mason or perhaps it was just good defense by Sampaio, which made it look bad.
Sampaio blocks a jab.
Sampaio throws out a counter right but Mason avoids it with no problem.
Mason missing with a left hand there. Sampaio was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sampaio doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Good standup being displayed there by Mason as he connects with a hook.
Sampaio misses with a low kick.
Sampaio throws a body punch but Mason moves out of range.
Mason feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Mason wants to clinch but Sampaio slips to the side
and Sampaio connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mason keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sampaio.
Sampaio slips under a jab.
Mason tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sampaio swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sampaio takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason catches Sampaio with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Sampaio moves away from the strike by Mason.
Mason chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sampaio lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Mason throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Sampaio to counter with a crisp jab.

Jeez, Jason Mason's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Mason looks to land a right hand but Sampaio moved out of range.
Mason doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sampaio on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Mason lands with a shot to the body.
Sampaio missing with a left hand there. Mason was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sampaio scores with a punch to the head.
Mason moves out of range of the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mason takes a jab right on the kisser.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Jason Mason's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:11 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Fortunado Sampaio!
Fortunado Sampaio was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.