PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Markus Rieech (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Sams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Rieech might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to DMX ft. Black Violin-Im a Ryder. Markus Rieech has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rieech
vs
Sams

178 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

181 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great low kicks
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Markus Rieech!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Will Sams!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paul Aken and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sams circles away from the clinch attempt.
A combination from Rieech does no damage.
Sams showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rieech.
Rieech misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Sams looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rieech!
Rieech avoids a strike by Sams and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Sams's guard! Fantastic escape!
Rieech stopping the sweep attempt from Sams.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sams is trying to control the position but Rieech postures up.
Sams is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Sams throws his legs up looking for a submission but Rieech uses it to pass to side control.
Sams is trying to improve his position.
Sams is trying to buck Rieech off.

That's two 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.
Sams tries to bench press Rieech off him but Rieech keeps the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sams is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rieech sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rieech tries to clinch but Sams moves out of range.
Rieech lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sams circles away quickly and effectively.
Sams fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rieech is out of range.
Rieech lands with an uppercut that bounces Sams off the ropes and back into rage.

It looks like Will Sams has been cut.
A head kick misses from Rieech.
Rieech tries to clinch but Sams is having none of it.
Markus Rieech seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rieech tries to keep at a distance but Sams has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sams has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rieech avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rieech breaks the clinch.
A head kick misses from Rieech.
Sams is looking to clinch but Rieech is avoiding it.
Sams shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rieech defends it nicely.
Markus Rieech has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Sams.
Sams looks gassed!
Rieech throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sams's waist but Sams gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rieech off to one side.
Rieech misses with a few strikes there.
Rieech misses with a head kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rieech looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Sams closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sams taking a breather here.
Sams working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sams decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rieech to his feet.
Rieech throws a sloppy head kick and Sams moves out of range easily.
Sams throws a wild body kick that Rieech sees coming a mile off.
Rieech misses with the combination.
Rieech lands with a slapping head kick.

Sams rushes Rieech and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Sams has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rieech tries to circle away but Sams has him pinned against the ropes.
Sams jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rieech walks away with a smile on his face. Sams gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Sams dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Will Sams's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rieech misses with a double jab.
Rieech sizes up Sams with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Rieech throws a head kick that misses.
Markus Rieech is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No joy there for Rieech, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sams shoots for a takedown but Rieech saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A head kick misses from Rieech.

Sams scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
An elbow from Sams crashes against the mat.

Sams decides to stand back up. Sams steps back and let's Rieech get back to his feet.

Sams closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rieech did well to prevent Sams getting side control.
Sams trying to pass the guard but Rieech defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sams moves into full mount! Rieech won't be happy about that!
Rieech takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Sams swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Rieech is now in Sams's guard. A big mistake from Sams there, giving up the dominant position!
Sams has Rieech pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rieech wants to control from the top but Sams keeps moving.
Sams is trying to keep Rieech in close.
Sams looking for a sweep. Not yet Sams, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sams wants to get back to his feet but Rieech is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sams not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Rieech stands and steps away. Sams gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Sams displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rieech throws out the jab.
Rieech misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rieech rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sams moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sams misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rieech throws a head kick that misses.

Sams changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rieech looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rieech manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sams's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rieech is looking to control Sams's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rieech avoid being mounted?
Sams looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Rieech gets full guard.

Sams gets to his feet - Rieech follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Sams showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Will Sams's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sams shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rieech is trying to defend but Sams finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rieech trying to hold on to Sams's head to control him but Sams postures up.
Sams is pressing down on Rieech's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rieech is holding on for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sams is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Rieech manages to get to full guard.
Rieech controls Sams momentarily but Sams frees himself.
Rieech wants to sweep but no luck.
Sams wanted to stand there but Rieech had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sams not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rieech fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Sams instigates a clinch.
Rieech is looking to break free of the clinch but Sams has double underhooks.
Rieech wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sams keeps control of Rieech as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rieech keeps control of Sams as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sams with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short left from Rieech.
Sams doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sams tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rieech smiles and moves away.
Sams tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rieech sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sams somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rieech throws a series of punches but Sams avoids them all with ease.
Rieech works the jab nicely.
Sams fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sams shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rieech pinned against the cage. Rieech gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Markus Rieech has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Sams.
Rieech tries to clinch but Sams is having none of it.
Markus Rieech has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rieech throws a sloppy head kick and Sams moves out of range easily.
Sams tries to clinch up.
Rieech falls off balance throwing a combination

and Sams counters with a shoot takedown. Rieech fights it but they end up in guard.
Sams sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sams trying to move into half guard but instead Rieech has managed to sweep!
Sams looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rieech is one step ahead there.
Sams has a closed guard, preventing Rieech from standing up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Will Sams comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sams 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Will Sams!