PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sean Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eli Samuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Samuel has chosen Stuck in the Moment as his entrance music. Eli Samuel has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thompson
vs
Samuel

175 cm
28
185 lbs
6 - 5 - 1

185 cm
22
190 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 6 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Sean Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Eli Samuel!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Yves DeLean and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Samuel fails with a takedown attempt.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Thompson enables Samuel to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Thompson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Samuel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thompson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Samuel is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Thompson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Thompson has escaped and now he's on top!
Samuel seems keen to control Thompson's posture.
Thompson tries to free his leg and advance position but Samuel is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson trying to control the position from guard on top but Samuel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thompson stopping the sweep attempt from Samuel.
Samuel seems keen to control Thompson's posture.
Thompson postures up in Samuel's guard and throws a big left but Samuel blocks it.
Thompson wants to get up but he can't break Samuel's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Thompson working some strikes from top position.
Thompson is looking to stand up but Samuel won't let him.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Samuel holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Samuel shoots and misses

and Thompson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Samuel is leaning against Thompson and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Thompson tries to break the clinch but Samuel is controlling the position.
Samuel keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Thompson's efforts to push away.
Samuel working aggressively here.
Thompson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Samuel has Thompson pressed against the cage, preventing Thompson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Samuel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thompson prevents a body shot from Samuel.
Thompson blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samuel prevents Thompson from breaking the clinch.
Samuel working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Samuel throws a head punch that misses.
Samuel misses with a body punch.

Thompson pulls guard successfully.

Samuel is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Thompson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Thompson has escaped and now he's on top!
Samuel keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.
Thompson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Samuel is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samuel 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.
Thompson is looking to stand up but Samuel won't let him.

We're going to have a standup here because Sean Thompson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Samuel dives in and grabs Thompson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Thompson pushes down on Samuel's head and hops out.
Sean Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eli Samuel.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Samuel has his takedown stuffed
enabling Thompson to counter with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Eli Samuel will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Thompson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Samuel's sensitive parts.
Samuel fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Samuel doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Samuel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Samuel swats away the attempt to clinch by Thompson.
Samuel doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Thompson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sean Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eli Samuel.
Samuel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thompson but Thompson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sean Thompson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Samuel gets the takedown into side control.

Samuel is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Thompson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Samuel is trying to get an arm triangle but Thompson is defending well.

Samuel working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Samuel tries for a kimura but Thompson is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Samuel tries for a kimura but Thompson is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thompson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Samuel is trying to get an arm triangle but Thompson is defending well.
Thompson is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Samuel asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Samuel goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Thompson rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Samuel's guard! Nice work there by Thompson!
Thompson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Samuel controlling the position.
Thompson content to stall in guard here.
Samuel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thompson is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samuel is controlling Thompson's posture.
Thompson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sean Thompson.
Samuel shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thompson as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Samuel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Horrible takedown by Samuel or perhaps it was just good defense by Thompson which made him look bad.
Thompson works over Samuel's head and body with a nice combination.
Thompson tries to clinch but Samuel moves out of range.
Thompson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A nice combination there by Thompson.
Thompson has his takedown stuffed

so Samuel counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Samuel drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Samuel jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Samuel has gone for a leg lock! Thompson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Samuel's guard.
Thompson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Thompson trying to control the position from guard on top but Samuel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Samuel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samuel keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.
Thompson wants to stand but Samuel is controlling his posture from full guard.
Thompson tries to free his leg and advance position but Samuel is retaining full guard.
Samuel keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Sean Thompson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Samuel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thompson but Thompson pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Samuel fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Thompson to the ground. Samuel is now in Thompson's guard.

Samuel postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Thompson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Samuel, into his guard.
Samuel trying to control the position here.
Thompson trying to control the position from guard on top but Samuel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samuel being controlled here, momentarily.
Samuel managing to control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Thompson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Samuel is keeping the position for now.
Sean Thompson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thompson wants to stand but Samuel is controlling his posture from full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sean Thompson wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Thompson looks for a takedown but Samuel sprawls well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sean Thompson.
I think Samuel has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eli Samuel!
Eli Samuel managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Charlie Wang's Tattered Rags & 95% Laundry, into his post fight interview.