PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jigoro Samura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Denis Opal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Samura comes to the cage accompanied by Limp Bizkit-Rollin . Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Samura
vs
Opal

170 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

156 cm
26
135 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Jigoro Samura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Denis Opal!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Sam Margolis and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Opal misses with a takedown
and Samura counters with a low kick, right behind Opal 's knee.
Opal throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Samura counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Opal avoids a punch combination nicely.
Opal takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Opal moves into the clinch successfully.
Samura tries to break the clinch but Opal is controlling the position.
Samura wants to break the clinch but can't.
Opal prevents Samura from breaking the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Opal's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Opal on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Opal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Samura throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Opal doesn't manage to clinch there - Samura circles away.
Opal throws a lazy head kick
and Samura counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Opal thinking.
Samura scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Opal shoots and misses
and Opal takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Opal tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Samura counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Opal shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Samura counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Jigoro Samura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Denis Opal.
Samura misses with a body shot.
Opal misses with a takedown
and Samura counters with a nice body shot.
Opal with a lazy takedown attempt
and Samura counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Samura is looking to land body kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samura tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Opal was well out of range. Poor timing from Samura.
Opal with a lazy takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Opal throws a combination that misses
and Samura counters with a left to the body.
Opal misses with a takedown attempt
and Samura counters with a stiff right hand.
Opal fails in his attempt to clinch.
Opal tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Samura manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Samura lands the left hand.
Jigoro Samura is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Samura fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Opal pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Samura turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Samura feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Opals jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samura lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Opal tries to close the distance and clinch up but Samura swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Opal with a poor takedown
and Samura counters with a body kick.
Opal on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Samura. Samura obviously looking to wear him down.
Samura dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Samura is looking to wear down Opal with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Opal doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Samura counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Opal thows a leg kick but Samura checks it
and Samura counters with a stiff right hand.
Samura scores with a jab to the body.

Samura gets caught flat footed, as Opal shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Samura working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Opal doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Opal manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samura is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Samura is working hard here to advance position.
Samura is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Opal is controlling him.
Samura will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Opal won't allow Samura to sweep him here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Opal accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Samura is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Opal is adopting a defensive guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jigoro Samura dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Samura throws a one two combo.

Opal has managed to clinch.
Samura is trying to push Opal away but Opal has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Samura tries to break the clinch but Opal is controlling the position.

Samura pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Samura wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Samura misses with a jab to the body

and Opal moves into the clinch.
Samura wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Samura has had enough of the clinch but Opal keeps him there for the moment.
Samura is trying to break the clinch but Opal is controlling him.
Samura wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Opal tries to score a body lock takedown but Samura shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Samura wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Samura is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Samura is trying to force a seperation but Opal has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samura has had enough of the clinch but Opal keeps him there for the moment.

Opal breaks from the clinch.
Opal tries to clinch up.
Samura dips to his left and cracks Opal with an uppercut!

Opal bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Samura is trying to get back to half guard.
Samura looks to move to half guard but instead Opal has passed into mount! Damn!
Opal takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Opal has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Samura's face.

Opal jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Samura manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samura gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Opal is keen to just control but Samura is a slippery customer.
Opal winds up and cracks Samura with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Opal trying to pass the guard but Samura defending well.
Opal 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Opal trying to control the action but Samura is working from the bottom.
Samura is trying to get back to full guard.
Samura gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opal throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Samura looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Samura working for submissions but it's allowed Opal to get to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Opal looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Opal is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Samura is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four 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.
Opal thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ground and pound from Opal.
Opal keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Samura is looking to control Opal's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Samura avoid being mounted?
Opal not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Opal gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Opal looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Samura is fending him off so far but Opal persists. Nope, Samura circles away and we're back to standing.
Opal dodges the punch combination from Samura.
Denis Opal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Opal wants to clinch
and Samura counters with an outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Opal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Opal throws a sloppy head kick
and Samura counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Samura is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Opal with a poor takedown
and Samura counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Samura connects with a body shot that sends Opal's belly button to the back.
Denis Opal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Samura dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Opal misses with a double jab
and Samura counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Samura, as that shot connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Opal with a lazy takedown attempt
and Samura counters with a three punch combo that has Opal backing up. Opal nods at Samura to acknowledge the strikes.
Opal doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Samura counters with a left to the body.
Jigoro Samura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Denis Opal.
Opal takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samura fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Opal manages to avoid it.
Opal doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Samura counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Samura circles away from the clinch attempt.
Opal takes a jab right on the kisser.
Opal takes a kick to the side of the head.
Opal misses with a takedown attempt
and Samura makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Opal throws a head kick that misses
and Samura counters with a slapping leg kick.
Opal moves in looking to clinch but Samura pushes him off.
Samura connects with a single shot there.

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.
Opal takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Opal doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Samura counters with a straight right hand.
Samura feints a jab promting Opal to slip. Samura then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Opal slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Samura is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Opal with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Samura to counter with a crisp jab.
Samura stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Opal shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Samura counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Opal is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Samura throws a shot to the body.
Opal tries for a takedown but Samura circles away easily
and Samura counters with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samura lands a body shot.
Opal tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Samura was well out of range. Poor timing from Opal.
Opal tries to clinch but Samura is having none of it.
Samura swats away the attempt to clinch by Opal.
Samura scores with a body shot.
Samura goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Opal throws a head kick that misses
and Samura counters with a right hand to the body.
Samura swats away the attempt to clinch by Opal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Opal misses with a takedown attempt
and Samura counters with a low kick, right behind Opal 's knee.
Opal on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Samura, right into the meat.
Opal doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Opal uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Samura.
Opal wants to clinch
and Samura counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Opal is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Opal with a poor takedown
and Samura counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Opal doesn't manage to clinch there - Samura circles away.
Opal is looking to clinch but Samura is avoiding it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jigoro Samura showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Samura 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jigoro Samura!