PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Freddy Samson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rolger Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Samson
vs
Gracie

186 cm
24
264 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

195 cm
24
250 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Freddy Samson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rolger Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Skip Squint and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Samson.
Gracie on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Gracie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gracie moves into range and connects with a jab.

It looks like Freddy Samson has been cut.
Gracie throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Samson misses with a double jab.
Decent striking displayed by Gracie there.
Gracie tries to clinch but Samson moves out of range.
Samson shoots in for a double leg but Gracie sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice shot by Gracie.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Samson shoots for a takedown but Gracie saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Gracie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Samson's head.
Samson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracie.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie throwing shots but Samson is blocking nicely.
Gracie looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Samson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie stands up and beckons Samson to join him on the feet.
Samson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Samson misses with a double jab
and Gracie counters with a two punch combo.
No joy there for Samson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Samson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Freddy Samson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gracie shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Samson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gracie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Samson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gracie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gracie is looking to work some ground and pound but Samson has wrist control.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Samson blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samson controlling Gracie's posture.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracie accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie lands with a straight right. Samson didn't see that one coming.

Freddy Samson's cut is getting worse.
Samson's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Samson duly obliges.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Samson circles away easily

and Samson counters with a takedown into side control.
Gracie parries the strikes from Samson easily there. Samson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Gracie to escape.
Samson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samson misses with the ground and pound.

Samson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Gracie is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Samson is breathing heavily.
Gracie parries the strikes from Samson easily there. Samson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Gracie to escape.
Samson throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
An elbow from Samson crashes against the mat.
Samson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Samson throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Gracie works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
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.
Samson circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Gracie closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gracie lands in his opponent's guard.
Samson can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Gracie sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Samson defending well though.
Samson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gracie sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Samson defending well though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Samson trying to control but Gracie postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rolger Gracie dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Freddy Samson's cut.
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.

A looping hook to the body misses from Gracie. Samson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Samson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Samson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Samson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Samson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Gracie tries to clinch there but Samson circles away.
Gracie lands a lovely overhand right.
Samson shoots in and drives through. Gracie sprawls well.
Gracie misses with a body shot.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Samson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Samson.
Gracie is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Samson rather than just go for the knockout.
Samson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gracie misses with a wild body shot.
Samson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rolger Gracie seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gracie dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.

Gracie scores a takedown into full mount!
Gracie throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Gracie scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Samson?
Samson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gracie scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Gracie thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Rolger Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie raining down shots from the mount!
Gracie putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Jeez, Freddy Samson's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Rolger Gracie!