PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zeke Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rivers comes to the cage accompanied by Suffa by Hed Pe. Sampson is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by "Off the Chain" by Serg Salinas. The key to victory for Zeke Rivers has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Rivers
vs
Sampson

191 cm
24
255 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

179 cm
30
252 lbs
0 - 13 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zeke Rivers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 13 - 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!

Rivers moves into the clinch successfully.

Rivers jumps guard.
Rivers throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Rivers is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sampson trying to control but Rivers is working from the bottom.
Sampson is looking to work some ground and pound but Rivers has wrist control.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Rivers manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivers working hard to break the clinch.

Rivers breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sampson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rivers.
As Rivers backs off Sampson throws a huge counter combo but Rivers manages to avoid it all.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson darts in looking for a takedown but Rivers gets double underhooks and turns Sampson into the cage.
Sampson looks winded!

Rivers gets a clinch.
Sampson is trying to push Rivers away but Rivers has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rivers is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sampson is defending well for now.
Rivers wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sampson has him pressed against the cage.
Rivers throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sampsons head.
Rivers changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sampson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rivers tries to clinch up.
Sampson tries for a takedown but Rivers circles away easily
and Rivers connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Rick Sampson has been cut.

Rivers clinches up against the cage.
Rivers lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sampson keeps control of Rivers as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rivers tries to throw a body punch but Sampson avoids it by throwing Rivers back against the cage.
Rivers can't break the clinch.
Rivers is looking to break free of the clinch but Sampson has double underhooks.
Rivers has had enough of the clinch but Sampson keeps him there for the moment.
Rivers has Sampson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sampson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rivers wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sampson has him pressed against the cage.
Rivers misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zeke Rivers. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sampson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rivers instigates a clinch.
Sampson prevents the takedown attempt.
Rivers 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 tries to break the clinch but Rivers is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rivers stalling.

Sampson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rivers tries for a takedown but Sampson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rivers is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sampson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sampson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Sampson as Rivers shoots in.
Rivers tries to clinch there but Sampson circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sampson.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rivers moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Sampson fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeke Rivers dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rick Sampson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rivers shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sampson but Sampson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Zeke Rivers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sampson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rivers pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sampson misses with a wild combination.
Rivers shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rivers moves in looking to clinch but Sampson pushes him off.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sampson is defended easily by Rivers.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sampson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rivers.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zeke Rivers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No joy there for Sampson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rivers tries to counter by clinching up but Sampson breaks away and moves out of range.

Rivers gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sampson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson can't break the clinch.

Rivers manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rivers is on top in guard.

Rivers 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.
Sampson has a closed guard, preventing Rivers from standing up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sampson controls Rivers momentarily but Rivers frees himself.
Rivers looking to pass the guard.
Rivers will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rivers stands up over Sampson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Rivers stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rivers is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sampson can do to turn this around?
Rivers shoots in for a takedown but Sampson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rivers throws a sloppy head kick and Sampson moves out of range easily.
Rivers shoots for a takedown but Sampson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sampson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sampson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rivers.
Sampson fails with a takedown attempt.
Rivers will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sampson throws a combination. Rivers tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Sampson misses with a takedown attempt
and Rivers counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Sampson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rivers misses with a low kick.
Rivers tries to clinch up but Sampson circles away and keeps his distance.
Sampson throws a leg kick but Rivers checks it.
Rivers shoots in for a double leg but Sampson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice sprawl there from Rivers as Sampson shoots in.

Rivers drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rivers postures up.
Sampson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Sampson looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rivers.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeke Rivers dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rick Sampson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rivers looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sampson is fending him off so far but Rivers persists. Nope, Sampson circles away and we're back to standing.
Danga de danga de dang - Rivers scores with a four punch combination!
Rick Sampson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rivers misses with a wild combination.
Rivers scores with a body shot.
Rivers throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sampson swats away the attempt to clinch by Rivers.
Rivers misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rivers defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sampson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivers lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Rivers is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sampson misses with a takedown attempt

and Rivers counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rivers.
Sampson wants to take the fight to the mat but Rivers manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Zeke Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Sampson.
Sampson being controlled against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sampson prevents the takedown attempt.
Sampson taking a breather.
A short uppercut from Rivers.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rivers.
Zeke Rivers has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sampson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rivers has had enough of the clinch but Sampson keeps him there for the moment.
Sampson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rivers's efforts to push away.
Rivers is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers tries to break free but Sampson pushes him back against the cage.
Rivers is looking to break free of the clinch but Sampson has double underhooks.
Rivers drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sampson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rivers is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sampson jabs Rivers to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Sampson shoots in and drives through. Rivers sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Rivers clinches up against the cage.
Rivers is trying to break free.
Rivers tries to break free but Sampson pushes him back against the cage.
Rick Sampson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rivers wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sampson has him pressed against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rivers.
Rivers has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sampson after a bit of a struggle.
Zeke Rivers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rivers changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sampson fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Sampson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zeke Rivers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rivers 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... Zeke Rivers!
During a confident post fight interview, Zeke Rivers thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.