PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cesar Sampaio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kevin Stevens has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Stevens
vs
Sampaio

177 cm
20
140 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

178 cm
24
145 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Cold Blooded Kemists ↑ 5x160Q
HGH Nutrients Q160-Q158

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kevin Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cesar Sampaio!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Donatello Bradman and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens tries to clinch up
and Sampaio counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Sampaio shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sampaio was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Stevens holding on.
Sampaio takes a little break here. Stevens wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Stevens wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
You can see the frustration on Stevens's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sampaio is looking to take a break and control but Stevens is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Stevens struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampaio scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Stevens to see if he's OK.
Stevens is letting Sampaio control him for a moment.
Stevens really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Sampaio is trying to get an arm triangle but Stevens is defending well.
Stevens is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Sampaio asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Sampaio has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
A nice elbow there by Sampaio.
Stevens is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Sampaio working for a guillotine from mount but Stevens is in no mood to give up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stevens is trying to stand.
A nice elbow there by Sampaio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sampaio can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Stevens is looking to escape.
Stevens on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Stevens tries to get out of the position.
Sampaio has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Stevens's face.
Sampaio controlling from the full mount.
Sampaio works his way to his opponent's back.
Sampaio trying to control momentarily.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Sampaio controlling the positon.
Stevens covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Sampaio tries to keep control of the position but Stevens is staying busy.
Stevens is really stuck here.
Sampaio missing with punches from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stevens defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Sampaio's arms.
Stevens is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sampaio is punishing Stevens with some ground and pound.
Sampaio is hanging on to Stevens's back as he tries to escape.
Will Sampaio go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Stevens tries to roll but Sampaio sticks to his back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stevens staying busy and making it hard for Sampaio to control.
Sampaio has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Stevens's body.
Stevens knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sampaio on the ground.
Sampaio tries to keep control of the position but Stevens is staying busy.
Can Stevens hold on?! Sampaio is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.

Sampaio looking for the RNC.
Sampaio controlling well, preventing Stevens from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens wants to control his opponent's hands but Sampaio gets his hands free.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

Sampaio is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Stevens is defending well though. Sampaio let's go of the attempt for now.

Sampaio tightening his grip on Stevens, looking for the choke.
Stevens is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stevens is in bad spot here.
Sampaio lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Stevens tries to break free.

Stevens is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Sampaio gets his way!

Sampaio is working for the choke. He's slipped one arm under the chin. Stevens has to defend the other arm for all he's worth... but Sampaio has managed to get that arm free too and he's tightening the choke! Stevens taps out and looks absolutely disgusted with himself. Sampaio doesn't care though - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Cesar Sampaio!