PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jaakko Iloliemi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Sampson is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Iloliemi
vs
Sampson

185 cm
23
265 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

150 cm
23
265 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jaakko Iloliemi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Sampson!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Saam Ante and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Iloliemi throws the kick towards the body but Sampson avoids it.
Iloliemi fails with a takedown attempt.
Sampson wants to clinch.
Sampson avoids a kick to the body.
Iloliemi misses with a takedown attempt - Sampson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sampson tries to clinch up.
Iloliemi really is a fat lump.
Iloliemi keeps the fight on the outside.
Jaakko Iloliemi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sampson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Iloliemi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sampson fails in his attempt to clinch.

Iloliemi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Iloliemi lands in his opponent's guard.
Iloliemi stopping the sweep attempt from Sampson.
Iloliemi chips away with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Iloliemi passes easily into side control. Nice work.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sampson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sampson tries to bench press Iloliemi off him but Iloliemi keeps the position.
Sampson is not content to let Iloliemi control the position.
Sampson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Iloliemi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sampson is trying to control Iloliemi's posture but Iloliemi avoids it.
Iloliemi working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Iloliemi are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Iloliemi connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Sampson some visible discomfort.
Sampson is pushing Iloliemi's head away, looking to escape. Iloliemi manages to hold on to the position though.
Iloliemi in side control, throwing shots but Sampson defends.
Iloliemi working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Iloliemi landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sampson is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Iloliemi sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Sampson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Sampson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Iloliemi wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Iloliemi lands a decent elbow from side control.
Sampson wants to get back to his feet but Iloliemi drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sampson is looking to regain half guard here but Iloliemi keeps moving and retains side control.
Iloliemi is chipping away with strikes.
Iloliemi is trying to ground and pound but Sampson uses the momentary lack of control by Iloliemi to regain half guard.
Sampson keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Iloliemi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Iloliemi trying to control from half guard but Sampson is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iloliemi looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sampson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Iloliemi winds up and cracks Sampson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Iloliemi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Iloliemi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sampson's head.
Iloliemi is nestled in close to Sampson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Iloliemi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Iloliemi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Iloliemi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Iloliemi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Iloliemi working Sampson over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaakko Iloliemi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Iloliemi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Iloliemi fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Sampson to the ground. Iloliemi is now in Sampson's guard.
Iloliemi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Iloliemi throwing strikes from guard but Sampson blocks nicely.
Iloliemi is looking to work some ground and pound but Sampson has wrist control.
Iloliemi trying to control but Sampson is working from the bottom.
Sampson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sampson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sampson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sampson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Iloliemi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iloliemi stopping the sweep attempt from Sampson.
Iloliemi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sampson keeping moving, preventing Iloliemi from controlling successfully.
Iloliemi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Iloliemi is looking to work some ground and pound but Sampson has wrist control.
Jaakko Iloliemi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Iloliemi throwing strikes from guard but Sampson blocks nicely.
Iloliemi wants to control from the top but Sampson keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iloliemi is looking to work some ground and pound but Sampson has wrist control.
Iloliemi 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.
Iloliemi is working Sampson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Iloliemi wants to control from the top but Sampson keeps moving.
Iloliemi 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sampson wants to stand but Iloliemi is controlling the position.
Iloliemi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sampson has momentary wrist control but Iloliemi slips an elbow through the middle.
Iloliemi advances to half guard.
Iloliemi working over Sampson with some ground and pound. Sampson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Iloliemi moves into full mount! Sampson won't be happy about that!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Iloliemi cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iloliemi cracks Sampson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Iloliemi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sampson is looking to escape.
Sampson wants to hold on but Iloliemi pushes him away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Iloliemi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sampson is looking to escape.
Sampson is in a horrible position here. Iloliemi smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

It looks like John Sampson has been cut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Iloliemi looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaakko Iloliemi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on John Sampson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Iloliemi dives in for a single leg takedown but Sampson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A short right from Sampson.

It looks like Jaakko Iloliemi has been cut.
Sampson just leaning against Iloliemi, taking a breather.
Iloliemi wants to take the fight to the mat but Sampson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Iloliemi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sampson is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jaakko Iloliemi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Iloliemi tries for a takedown but Sampson manages to get underhooks.
Iloliemi tries to break free but Sampson pushes him back against the cage.
Iloliemi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sampson scores with a shoulder strike.
Iloliemi can't get the takedown.
Iloliemi takes a shot to the head.
Iloliemi wants a takedown but no success here.
Sampson stalling in the clinch.
Sampson lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sampson.
Iloliemi tries for a takedown but Sampson manages to get underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sampson scores with a hook to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Sampson.
Sampson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Iloliemi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A short right from Sampson on the inside.

Jaakko Iloliemi's cut is getting worse.
Sampson is struggling to control the position.
Iloliemi is looking for a takedown.
Sampson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sampson gets underhooks to prevent Iloliemi's takedown attempt.
Sampson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Sampson is stalling here.
Sampson is pressed up against the cage. Iloliemi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sampson down to the mat. Sampson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sampson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sampson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sampson is looking to clinch.
Sampson doesn't manage to clinch there - Iloliemi circles away.
Sampson wants to clinch up but Iloliemi keeps it at a distance.
Sampson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Iloliemi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Iloliemi shoots in for a takedown but Sampson shows good takedown defense.
Iloliemi keeps the fight on the outside.
Iloliemi fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iloliemi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sampson.
Sampson tries to clinch there but Iloliemi circles away.

Sampson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Iloliemi, pushing him back against the cage.
Iloliemi jumps guard but Sampson stands there with Iloliemi around his waist. Iloliemi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sampson lands with a left to the head.
Jaakko Iloliemi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sampson lands a hook that snaps the head of Iloliemi backwards.
Iloliemi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sampson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sampson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Iloliemi has Sampson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sampson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
John Sampson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Sampson.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Sampson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Iloliemi 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 is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
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.
Sampson lands a left hand that snaps the head of Iloliemi backwards.
A body shot lands from Sampson.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Sampson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Iloliemi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight for Jaakko Iloliemi!
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight for Jaakko Iloliemi!
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight for Jaakko Iloliemi!

Jaakko Iloliemi wins by unanimous decision!