PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jackson Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Guy Girdler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sampson
vs
Girdler

185 cm
18
193 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

200 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jackson Sampson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Guy Girdler!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Summer Carpenter and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Girdler looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Sampson!
Sampson tries to bench press Girdler off him but Girdler keeps the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Girdler misses with the ground and pound.

Girdler stands up and beckons Sampson to his feet.

Girdler gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sampson is trying to stall.

Girdler pulls guard successfully.
Girdler is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Girdler throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Sampson throws a big right hand that misses.
Girdler thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Girdler is looking for a triangle but Sampson pushes his legs off easily.
Sampson trying to control the position from guard on top but Girdler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sampson stays in close to Girdler's body and controls the position.
Sampson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sampson stopping the sweep attempt from Girdler.
Girdler throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Jackson Sampson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Girdler misses with a wild combination.

Sampson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Girdler passes Sampson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sampson trying to hold on to Girdler's head to control him but Girdler postures up.
Sampson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Girdler tries to pass to full mount but Sampson defends it.
Girdler thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sampson's head.
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!

Girdler is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sampson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sampson regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Girdler wants to control from the top but Sampson keeps moving.

Girdler stands up from Sampson's guard - Girdler perhaps looking for a knockout.

Girdler instigates a clinch.
Sampson is trying to pull guard but Girdler turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Sampson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sampson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Girdler just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jackson Sampson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Girdler's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sampson moves in looking to clinch but Girdler pushes him off.
Girdler throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
No luck for Sampson with that takedown attempt.

Sampson has closed the distance and engaged Girdler in a clinch.
Sampson is trying to break free.
Sampson wants to get back to striking at distance but Girdler won't allow it.
Sampson can't break the clinch.
Sampson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sampson jumps guard.
Sampson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Girdler puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
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!
Girdler trying to control the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guy Girdler dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Girdler tries to bum rush Sampson with a series of wild strikes but Sampson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sampson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Girdler throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sampson.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sampson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Girdler takes the fight into the clinch.

Sampson manages to break the clinch.
Sampson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Girdler clobbers Sampson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Girdler bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson is looking for a sweep.
Girdler blocks the strikes from Sampson.
Sampson tries to bench press Girdler off him but Girdler keeps the position.
Girdler working away.
Sampson regains half guard, as Girdler was trying to land strikes.

Girdler is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sampson is just riding it out for now. Girdler eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sampson is looking to improve his position.
Girdler is controlling the pace.
Girdler lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Girdler trying to mount his opponent but Sampson defends it.
Sampson is looking to improve his position.

Girdler is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Girdler trying to control from half guard but Sampson is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson manages to get to full guard.
Girdler is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Girdler stands up and waves to Sampson to follow him.
Sampson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guy Girdler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Sampson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Girdler darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sampson is trying to get back to full guard.
Girdler slows the pace down in half guard.
Guy Girdler has got the better of the ground game so far.
Girdler trying to control from Sampson's half guard. Sampson has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Girdler looking to pass the guard.
Sampson is controlling Girdler's posture.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Sampson manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Girdler breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sampson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sampson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Girdler moves into the clinch.
Sampson fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sampson fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Girdler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Girdler throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Sampson tries to clinch but Girdler is having none of it.
Girdler swats away the attempt to clinch by Sampson.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sampson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jackson Sampson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Girdler throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Sampson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Girdler is in Sampson's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Girdler wants to pass the guard but Sampson is keeping the position.
Sampson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Girdler is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Girdler wants to pass the guard but Sampson is keeping the position.
Sampson looking to control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Sampson is working an open guard so Girdler takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Girdler rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sampson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sampson shoots in for a double leg but Girdler sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Girdler catches Sampson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Sampson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Girdler trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Girdler keeping hold of Sampson's head, controlling as best he can.
Sampson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sampson is looking to take a break and control but Girdler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sampson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Sampson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Girdler manages to break the clinch.
Jackson Sampson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Guy Girdler is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Girdler has taken the fight to the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Guy Girdler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Girdler 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 Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Guy Girdler!
After the fight, Guy Girdler was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.