PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rousimar Toquinho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rousimar Toquinho has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Toquinho
vs
Sampson

173 cm
25
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rousimar Toquinho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fedor Sampson!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Dmitry Maklakov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Toquinho swats away the attempt to clinch by Sampson.
Toquinho with a poor takedown

and Sampson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Toquinho is on top in guard.

Toquinho drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Toquinho jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sampson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sampson wants to sweep here but Toquinho controlling him for the moment.

Toquinho drops back looking for a leg! Sampson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sampson manages to kick Toquinho off! Toquinho jumps back into Sampson's guard.
Sampson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Toquinho manages to get himself to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sampson wants to control from the top but Toquinho keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson looking to pass the guard.
Toquinho wants to sweep but no luck.
Toquinho might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sampson throws a big elbow that misses.
Toquinho 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.

Sampson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Toquinho.
Rousimar Toquinho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sampson rushes Toquinho and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Toquinho lands a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Toquinho drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Toquinho jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Toquinho throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sampson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Sampson pushes Toquinho off and scrambles back to his feet.
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!
Sampson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rousimar Toquinho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Toquinho is breathing heavily.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Toquinho enables Sampson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Toquinho manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sampson wants to pass the guard but Toquinho is keeping the position.
Sampson wants to control from the top but Toquinho keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toquinho looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sampson is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Fedor Sampson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Sampson lands a head kick. Toquinho smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sampson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Toquinho throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sampson's waist but Sampson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Toquinho off to one side.
Sampson slaps away a takedown attempt from Toquinho, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Toquinho fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson moves in looking to clinch but Toquinho pushes him off.

Sampson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Toquinho throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.

Sampson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Toquinho to his feet.
A head kick misses from Sampson.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sampson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sampson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sampson showed some decent athleticism there.
Sampson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Sampson dominated that round.
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.

Sampson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sampson works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Toquinho drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sampson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Toquinho is trying to drag Sampson to the mat but Sampson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sampson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Toquinho prevents it.

Sampson turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Sampson looks up at the clock and then as Toquinho takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Sampson smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Sampson is looking to take a break and control but Toquinho is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Toquinho dodges the ground and pound from Sampson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson throws a strike aimed at the side of Toquinho's head but Toquinho avoids it well.
Toquinho wants to control but Sampson postures up.
Fedor Sampson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Sampson decides to stand back up.
Toquinho tries for a takedown but Sampson circles away easily

and Sampson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Toquinho won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rousimar Toquinho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Sampson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sampson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sampson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Toquinho knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Toquinho tries to bench press Sampson off him but Sampson keeps the position.
Toquinho wants to control but Sampson postures up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Toquinho is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Toquinho makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Toquinho.
Sampson is working Toquinho over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toquinho looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sampson is one step ahead there.
Toquinho is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sampson trying to control but Toquinho is working from the bottom.
Sampson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Sampson stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson throws a leg kick but Toquinho moved away.
Toquinho tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sampson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Toquinho somewhat.

Toquinho gets tackled into the cage by Sampson. Sampson maintains the clinch.

Sampson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Toquinho won't allow Sampson to sweep him here.

Toquinho drops back, looking for a kneebar! Sampson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Sampson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Sampson!
Toquinho is looking for a sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Toquinho gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Sampson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Toquinho gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Sampson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sampson wants to pass the guard but Toquinho is keeping the position.
Toquinho controlling Sampson's posture.
Toquinho working a defensive guard here.
Toquinho keeping moving, preventing Sampson from controlling successfully.
Toquinho working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Sampson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Toquinho's guard.
Sampson trying to control but Toquinho is working from the bottom.
Toquinho is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Sampson has one foot on Toquinho's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Toquinho.
Toquinho shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Sampson connects with a body shot that sends Toquinho's belly button to the back.

Sampson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Toquinho's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Toquinho trying to keep a closed guard but Sampson is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sampson wants to stand but Toquinho has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Toquinho is pulling down on Sampson's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Toquinho escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sampson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sampson wants to stand but Toquinho has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Toquinho is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Toquinho wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toquinho keeping full guard, as Sampson tries to pass.
Sampson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Toquinho. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sampson content to stall in guard here.

Sampson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Toquinho keeping moving, preventing Sampson from controlling successfully.
Rousimar Toquinho has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fedor Sampson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sampson passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fedor Sampson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sampson 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fedor Sampson!