PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sam Langford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leopold Stotch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leopold Stotch is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Langford
vs
Stotch

171 cm
27
175 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

178 cm
30
181 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sam Langford !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Leopold Stotch!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Hugh Johnson and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stotch shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Langford manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Langford wants to stand up but Stotch is controlling him.
Stotch wants to pass the guard but Langford is keeping the position.
Stotch trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Langford manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Langford trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stotch controls Langford momentarily but Langford frees himself.
Stotch 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.
Stotch is looking to stand up but Langford isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stotch trying to keep a closed guard but Langford is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Stotch is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Langford throwing strikes but missing.
Stotch wants to stand but Langford is controlling the position.
Langford has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stotch looking to control.
Stotch wants to stand up but Langford is controlling him.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Leopold Stotch hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Langford gets a double leg takedown into Stotch's guard.
Langford distracts Stotch with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Stotch tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Langford throws an elbow that misses. Stotch uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Langford 's guard. Nice move by Stotch!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stotch accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stotch is looking to pass into half guard but Langford pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Langford is in guard.

Stotch is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Langford throws a strike but Stotch rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Stotch looking to pass the guard.

Stotch drops back, looking for a kneebar! Langford looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Langford looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Langford !
Langford in side control, throwing shots but Stotch defends.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stotch wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Langford throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Langford throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Stotch manages to work his way to half guard, despite Langford 's best efforts.
Langford knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Stotch on the ground.
Stotch is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Stotch is looking to escape.

Stotch looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Stotch wants to control but Langford is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stotch regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Langford .
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stotch looking for a sweep. Not yet Stotch, not yet.

Stotch had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Langford defends it easily.
Langford with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Langford missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Langford preventing the sweep.
Stotch is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Langford in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Langford lands a couple of decent looking shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Langford postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Langford is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Stotch has momentary wrist control but Langford slips an elbow through the middle.
Langford is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Langford with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Stotch working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Langford .
Stotch is looking to stand up but Langford isn't so interested in that idea.
Stotch is pulling down on Langford 's head to control his posture.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Langford content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Langford keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stotch's head.
Stotch is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Stotch stalling away here and it's allowed Langford to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Some wild striking there from Langford .
Langford misses with a lunging right hand

and Stotch counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Langford 's guard now.
Sam Langford overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Langford keeping moving, preventing Stotch from controlling successfully.

Langford is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Stotch goes for a takedown in the clinch but Langford prevents it.
Stotch wants to take the fight to the mat but Langford manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Stotch can't get the takedown.
Sam Langford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leopold Stotch.
Langford is trying to push Stotch away but Stotch has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stotch keeps control of Langford as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stotch drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Langford gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Langford manages to break the clinch.
Stotch tries for a takedown but Langford sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Langford shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stotch as he avoids it easily.
Langford tries for a takedown but Stotch sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Langford throws a big shot that misses.
Langford shoots in for a takedown but Stotch shows good takedown defense.
The fighters circling - Langford throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Stotch shoots in looking for a takedown but Langford manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Stotch's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sam Langford is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stotch staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stotch shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Langford as he avoids it easily.
Stotch is breathing heavily.
Langford changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stotch tries to avoid it but Langford manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stotch to the ground. Stotch escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A left and a right from Langford both land. Nice combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stotch walks into a jab.
Stotch throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Langford 's waist but Langford gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stotch off to one side.

Langford gets a double leg takedown into Stotch's guard.
Stotch wants to get back to his feet but Langford is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Langford throws a big right hand that misses.
Langford distracts Stotch with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Langford works over Stotch with some ground and pound from guard.
Langford stopping the sweep attempt from Stotch.
Langford distracts Stotch with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Langford keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stotch's head.
Langford throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Stotch has his feet on Langford 's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Langford works the jab nicely.

Stotch gets caught flat footed, as Langford shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Langford lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Langford stops Stotch from standing up.
Langford makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Langford distracts Stotch with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stotch looking to hit a scissor sweep but Langford is one step ahead there.
Langford postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Langford with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Langford is looking to work some ground and pound but Stotch has wrist control.
Stotch throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Langford working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Langford throws an elbow that misses. Stotch uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Langford 's guard. Nice move by Stotch!
Stotch won't allow Langford to get back to his feet.
Stotch wants to control from the top but Langford keeps moving.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stotch might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Langford haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Langford dominated that second round.
That's time! Langford 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Stotch.
Langford connects with a looping right hand.
Langford fakes a right and follows up with a big left that drops Stotch to one knee - oooooh, he's wobbly! Stotch looks to clinch but Langford throws him off and pummels him into the canvas! Stotch taps out under the strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Sam Langford !
Sam Langford seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.