PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Mathers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sampson has chosen "Off the Chain" by Serg Salinas as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mathers
vs
Sampson

185 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
28
252 lbs
0 - 7 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aaron Mathers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rick Sampson!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mathers misses with the combination.

Sampson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mathers, pushing him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Mathers's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mathers wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sampson has him pressed against the cage.
Mathers is looking to break free of the clinch but Sampson has double underhooks.
Sampson prevents Mathers from breaking the clinch.

Mathers pulls guard effortlessly.
Mathers is looking to stand up but Sampson isn't so interested in that idea.
Sampson is looking to stand up but Mathers won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mathers looking for a sweep. Not yet Mathers, not yet.

Mathers is looking for a triangle but Sampson pushes his legs off easily.
Mathers knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sampson on the ground.

Sampson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mathers, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson closes the distance and clinches up with Mathers, looking for a takedown. Sampson pushes Mathers against the cage but Mathers circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sampson looks winded!
Sampson fails to land the takedown.
Sampson takes one to the side of the head.

It looks like Rick Sampson has been cut.
Sampson goes for a double leg but Mathers avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mathers continues to drive forward.
Aaron Mathers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Sampson.

Mathers gets control of Sampson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mathers will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sampson trying to control the position from guard on top but Mathers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mathers is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sampson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mathers is proving hard to escape from.
Mathers trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mathers is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sampson defends well.

Mathers is looking for a triangle but Sampson pushes his legs off easily.

Mathers has his foot on Sampson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sampson works his way back into a safe position though.
Sampson wanted to stand there but Mathers had control of the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Mathers closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sampson's guard.
Mathers working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sampson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathers being controlled here momentarily.
Mathers throws a big elbow that misses.
Mathers stands up over Sampson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sampson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Mathers scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Mathers postures up.
Mathers trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sampson's guard.
Mathers slips nicely into half guard.
Ground and pound from Mathers.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson is trying to stand back up but Mathers is controlling him
Sampson taking some punishment here, with Mathers in his half guard.
Mathers drops an elbow to the side of Sampson's head.
Sampson keeping control of the position.
Sampson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mathers is working away from the top position though.

Mathers is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Mathers is working for a kimura but Sampson is defending it quite comfortably.
Sampson is trying to maintain the position but Mathers is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Mathers dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rick Sampson's cut.
That's time! Mathers's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mathers wants to clinch.
Mathers slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Mathers fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Some wild striking there from Mathers.
Mathers throws a nice looking combination but Sampson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Aaron Mathers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sampson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mathers is fending him off so far but Sampson persists. Nope, Mathers circles away and we're back to standing.
Mathers tries to clinch up but Sampson circles away and keeps his distance.
Mathers is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sampson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mathers feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Sampsons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Sampson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mathers scores with a three punch combo!

Mathers gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mathers changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sampson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Mathers. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson lands with a nice body punch.
Mathers slaps away a takedown attempt from Sampson, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Mathers drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Sampson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Mathers working the head with strikes.
Mathers cracks Sampson with a big right hand but Sampson just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Aaron Mathers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
You can see the frustration on Sampson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sampson is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mathers is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sampson has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sampson is trying to control Mathers's posture but Mathers avoids it.
Sampson takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Sampson wants to control but Mathers postures up.
Mathers is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sampson can do to turn this around?
Mathers in side control lands a decent elbow.
Mathers lands a few punches from side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sampson can't do much from the bottom here.
Sampson takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Mathers working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathers works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Sampson can't do much from the bottom here.
Mathers looks up at the clock and then as Sampson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Mathers smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
You can see the frustration on Sampson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Mathers cracks Sampson with a big elbow.
Mathers working away.
Sampson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Mathers in side control lands a decent elbow.
Mathers lands a decent elbow from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mathers working the body and head with strikes.
Sampson wants to control but Mathers postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathers working the ground and pound.
Sampson can't do much from the bottom here.
Mathers landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Mathers working away.

Mathers tries for a kimura but Sampson is defending well.
Sampson wants to control but Mathers postures up.
Sampson takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Mathers dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rick Sampson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A punch combination from Mathers misses.
Mathers tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sampson shoots in for a takedown but Mathers shows good takedown defense.
Mathers bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sampson's head backwards.
Aaron Mathers is winning the standup battle so far.

Mathers closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mathers is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mathers jumps guard but Sampson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Mathers tries to land a knee to the head but Sampson blocks with his arms.
Mathers wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mathers looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sampson blocks the elbow strike.
Mathers lands with a short shot to the head.
Mathers wants to get back to striking at distance but Sampson won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathers jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sampson walks away with a smile on his face. Mathers gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A head kick misses from Mathers.
Sampson stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Mathers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mathers keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A punch combination from Mathers misses.
Mathers throws a right hand that Sampson ducks under and follows up with a left that Sampson also avoids with ease.

Mathers gets the takedown into side control.
Sampson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Mathers's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Sampson keeping hold of Mathers's head, controlling as best he can.
Sampson trying to control from the bottom.
Mathers lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathers working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Mathers scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sampson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mathers scores with a couple of nice shots.
Mathers thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sampson trying to control here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mathers landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sampson trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathers lands with a punch from half guard.
Sampson is trying to control but can't.
Sampson wants to get back to full guard.
Mathers lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Mathers 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. Mathers eventually gives up the hold.
Sampson wants to control but Mathers is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sampson is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Mathers drops an elbow to the side of Sampson's head.
Mathers lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Mathers scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rick Sampson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sampson is controlling Mathers's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Sampson is trying to get back to full guard.
Mathers scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sampson is looking for a sweep. Mathers is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mathers seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Aaron Mathers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sampson trying to control here.
Sampson has hold of Mathers's hands but Mathers slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aaron Mathers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mathers has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aaron Mathers!