PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Valentijn Sammens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Tiger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sammens comes to the cage accompanied by PRIDE FC - Opening. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sammens
vs
Tiger

188 cm
22
185 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

190 cm
21
184 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great low kicks
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Valentijn Sammens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tony Tiger!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Patrick Alders and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sammens defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tiger.
Sammens fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tiger manages to avoid it.
Sammens tries a low kick but Tiger avoids it.
Tiger swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Sammens walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Tiger checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Tiger avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tiger checks a leg kick.
Tiger avoids the body shot from Sammens.
Tiger throws a leg kick that is checked
and Sammens counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tiger throws a leg kick
and Sammens counters with a body kick that stops Tiger in his tracks momentarily.
A low kick from Tiger misses
and Sammens counters with a stiff right hand.
Sammens tries to bum rush Tiger with a series of wild strikes but Tiger uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tony Tiger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A lazy body kick from Sammens
and Tiger counters with a nice low kick that buckles Sammens's knee momentarily.
Tiger keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sammens.
Sammens checks a low kick from Tiger.
Tiger lands with a thumping leg kick.
Tiger throws a chopping leg kick but Sammens manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sammens looks for the body kick but Tiger saw that one coming.
Tiger throws a front kick aimed at Sammens's knee but Sammens avoids it well.
Sammens throws a sloppy head kick and Tiger moves out of range easily.
Tiger scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Tiger throws a nice inside leg kick.

Sammens closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Tiger's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tiger wants to stand up but Sammens is controlling him.
Sammens throwing strikes but missing.
Tiger preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sammens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tiger wants to stand but Sammens is controlling the position.
Sammens throws a big elbow that misses.
Sammens throwing strikes but missing.
Sammens prevents Tiger from getting back to his feet.
Tiger preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tiger wants to stand up but Sammens is controlling him.
Sammens throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiger is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sammens is controlling him.
Sammens throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sammens in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Tiger pushes Sammens off and gets back to his feet.
Sammens checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiger throws a low kick but Sammens moves out of range easily.
Tiger takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Sammens throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sammens looks for a takedown but Tiger sprawls well.
Sammens cracks Tiger with a good jab.
A head kick misses from Sammens.
Tiger is looking to slow Sammens down with leg kicks.
Sammens throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Nice defenses there by Sammens.
Sammens checks the leg kick nicely there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sammens enables Tiger to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sammens manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sammens being controlled here, momentarily.
Tiger stopping the sweep attempt from Sammens.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentijn Sammens dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tiger tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sammens is able to avoid easily.
A head kick misses from Sammens.
Sammens just misses with a punch to the body.
Sammens throws a leg kick

and Tiger counters by clinching up.
Sammens has Tiger pressed against the cage.
Sammens is trying to stall.
Tiger is trying to drag Sammens to the mat but Sammens just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sammens wants to break free but Tiger has control.
Tiger wants to take the fight to the mat but Sammens manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Sammens stops a takedown attempt from Tiger.
Valentijn Sammens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Tiger.
Sammens lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Tiger is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sammens is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiger is trying to drag Sammens to the mat but Sammens just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Tiger is looking to take this one to the mat.
Sammens with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tiger goes for a takedown attempt but Sammens pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sammens stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sammens wants it to stay on the feet.
Tiger finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Valentijn Sammens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Tiger instigates a clinch.
Tiger has Sammens pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sammens manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tiger goes for a takedown attempt but Sammens pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tiger connects with a solid leg kick.
Tiger tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sammens lands with a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sammens is defended easily by Tiger.
Sammens bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sammens lands a nice looking kick to the body. Tiger takes a step back to recover.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tiger wants to slow Sammens down by chopping away at his legs.
Tiger throws a leg kick
and Sammens counters with a two punch combo.
Sammens rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tiger moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sammens throws the kick towards the body but Tiger avoids it.
Tiger moves out of range of the leg kick from Sammens.
Sammens wants to slow Tiger down by chopping away at his legs.
Sammens throws a hook to the side of Tiger's head but Tiger sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tiger throws a leg kick
and Sammens counters with a good, hard body kick but Tiger shrugs it off.
Sammens wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sammens throws a head kick that misses.
Sammens throws a head kick that Tiger semi-blocks.
Tiger finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Tiger takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Tiger avoids the head kick by Sammens.
Sammens connects with a high kick.
Sammens tries to land a front kick but Tiger steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Tiger fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sammens on the side of the head.
Some bone on bone action there as Sammens checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Sammens bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Tiger misses with a leg kick.
Sammens fails to land with a series of punches.

Tiger clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tiger is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Sammens can't fight it off and eventually Tiger manages to take the fight to the floor. Sammens looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tiger passes Sammens's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Tiger throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Sammens to regain full guard.
Sammens pulls Tiger in to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tiger postures up and lands a big shot to Sammens's brow.
Tiger wants to control from the top but Sammens keeps moving.
Tiger throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Valentijn Sammens will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Tiger dodges the punch combination from Sammens.
Tiger cracks Sammens with a good jab.
Tiger drops his hands momentarily and Sammens takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Sammens throws a sloppy head kick and Tiger moves out of range easily.

Tiger rushes Sammens and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tiger is working for takedown but Sammens is calmly controlling the position for now.
Tiger drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sammens pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sammens lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Tiger showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sammens.

Sammens gets a double leg takedown into Tiger's guard.
Tiger is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sammens with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sammens throws a strike but Tiger rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Sammens 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.
Tigeris looking to pass into half guard but Sammens pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Sammens is in guard.
Sammens throwing strikes from guard but Tiger blocks nicely.
Sammens throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tiger wants to get back to his feet but Sammens is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sammens throws a big elbow that misses.
Sammens throws a big elbow that misses.
Sammens throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sammens throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tiger works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Tiger manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Sammens ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sammens throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tiger has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Sammens.
Tiger shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sammens sprawls well. Sammens wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tiger gets slowly back to his feet.
Valentijn Sammens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Tiger.
Sammens checks a leg kick.
Sammens throws a sloppy head kick and Tiger moves out of range easily.
Tiger misses with a leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sammens.
Tiger moves out of range as Sammens throws a body kick.
Sammens tries to clinch there but Tiger circles away.
Sammens uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tiger.
Sammens scores with a head kick. Tiger tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Some bone on bone action there as Sammens checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Tiger moves out of range of the leg kick from Sammens.
Tiger misses with a looping left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiger feints and then cracks Sammens's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sammens down.
Tiger takes a kick to the side of the head.
Sammens finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Good work by Sammens as he checks the leg kick.
Tiger finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Tiger has Sammens up against the cage in a clinch.
Tiger tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sammens prevents the takedown attempt.
Tiger takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sammens throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tiger blocks it with crossed arms.
Tony Tiger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tiger blocks an elbow strike.
Tiger wants a takedown but no success here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tiger is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sammens misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tiger.
Tiger blocks an elbow strike.
Sammens looks to throw an elbow but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valentijn Sammens showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sammens, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valentijn Sammens!
After winning the bout, Valentijn Sammens thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.