PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Samoa Joe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Parker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Joe
vs
Parker

179 cm
27
195 lbs
10 - 12 - 0

187 cm
22
200 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 10 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Samoa Joe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Travis Parker!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Gregory Folan and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Parker clinches up against the cage.
Parker is pressed up against the cage. Joe has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Parker down to the mat. Parker avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Parker looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Parker controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Joe wants to stand but Parker is controlling the position.
Parker showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Joe wants to stand but Parker is controlling the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Travis Parker hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Parker swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Parker shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

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

Joe has his foot on Parker's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Parker works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Parker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Joe is keeping the position for now.

Joe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Parker gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joe is breathing heavily.
Parker wants to control from the top but Joe keeps moving.
Parker engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Parker trying to control but Joe is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Travis Parker wasn't active enough on the ground.
Joe scores with a one two! Parker had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Joe gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Parker to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Joe not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Parker trying to control but Joe is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Joe is on top in guard.
Joe is looking to work some ground and pound but Parker has wrist control.
Parker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Joe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Joe throwing strikes from guard but Parker blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Joe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Joe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Joe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Parker works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Parker is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Joe is aware though and is defending well.
Parker keeping moving, preventing Joe from controlling successfully.
Joe keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Parker's head.
Joe won't allow Parker to get back to his feet.
Joe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joe stopping the sweep attempt from Parker.
Parker keeping full guard, as Joe tries to pass.
Joe postures up in Parker's guard and throws a big left but Parker blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Parker throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Joe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Joe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Parker not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Joe forces his way into half guard.
Joe sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Parker defending well though.
Parker makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Parker.
Parker is controlling Joe's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Parker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Samoa Joe's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Joe feints and as Parker raises his hands in defense, Joe changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Parker is on top in guard.
Joe wants to get back to his feet but Parker is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Joe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Joe keeping moving, preventing Parker from controlling successfully.
Joe is trying to control the position but Parker postures up.
Parker forces his way into half guard.

Parker is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Joe doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Parker.

Parker wants to work for an arm triangle but Joe is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Joe is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Parker pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Parker wants to pass the guard but Joe is defending well.

Parker 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.
Parker wants to control but Joe is keeping him busy.
Joe is looking to escape.
Parker trying to control the action but Joe is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Parker might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Joe kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Joe is in trouble now - Parker has advanced to mount!
Parker trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Parker is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Joe can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Parker looking to control but Joe is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Parker prevents Joe from getting the reversal.
Parker controlling from mount.
Joe's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Travis Parker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Parker trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Joe is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Parker working for a guillotine from mount but Joe is in no mood to give up.
Joe wants to hold on but Parker pushes him away.
Joe flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

Parker working for a submission but Joe is keeping him at bay.
Joe is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Joe is wriggling around trying to escape.

Joe defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Parker.
Parker controlling the position easily from mount.

Parker has control of Joe's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Joe regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Joe defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Parker.
Joe is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Parker looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Joe wants to hold on but Parker pushes him away.
Parker forces the positional change into back control.
Parker controlling well, preventing Joe from escaping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Parker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Samoa Joe's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Parker with a nice cross.
Parker scores with a punch to the head.
Parker connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Joe looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Parker looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Parker looking to score a takedown here. Joe is defending well but Parker drives through and ends up in Joe's guard.
Parker preventing the sweep.
Joe can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Parker controls the pace.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Parker pushing down on Joe's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Joe is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Parker slows the pace down in half guard.

Parker is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Joe defends it well.
Parker performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Parker prevents Joe from improving his position.

Parker is looking for a kimura here.
Joe is trying to stand up here but Parker is controlling him well.

Parker seems to be looking for submissions.
Samoa Joe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Parker wants to work for an arm triangle but Joe is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Parker 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.
Joe trying to hold on to Parker's head to control him but Parker postures up.
Parker is trying to control the action in half guard but Joe is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Joe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Joe tries to kick Parker off but Parker keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Joe is trying to get back to full guard.
Parker passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Parker tries for a kimura but Joe is defending well.
Parker has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Parker trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Parker looking for a guillotine from mount but Joe is having none of it.
Joe is squirming around, avoiding Parker's attempts to control the action.

Parker is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Joe is surviving well by controlling Parker's body position as best he can.
Joe tries to hold on but Parker postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Parker controlling the pace for now.
Joe is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Parker looking to control and managing it successfully.
Joe tries to hold on but Parker postures up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Parker has hold of Joe's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Joe manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Travis Parker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Joe throwing hammer fists to the chest of Parker. What's that going to do exactly?

And that's the end of the fight!
Travis Parker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Parker has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Travis Parker!