PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Noah Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dean James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Noah Sampson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Sampson
vs
James

163 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Noah Sampson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Dean James!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sampson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
James feints the counter takedown.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sampson as he avoids it easily.
James throws a nice inside leg kick.
Sampson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and James counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
James shoots in for a takedown but Sampson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sampson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sampson as he avoids it easily.
Sampson fires out a quick counter leg kick but James just manages to avoid it.
Noah Sampson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dean James.
James looks for a takedown but Sampson sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James shoots in for a takedown but Sampson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sampson shoots in looking for a takedown but James manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sampson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

James darts in and clinches Sampson up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson looking to slow down the pace here.

James pulls guard.

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

James has taken the fight to the clinch.
James prevents Sampson from breaking the clinch.
James goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sampson prevents it.
Sampson is trying to push James away but James has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sampson trying to stall but James improves his position.
James is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sampson is defending well.

Sampson breaks from the clinch.
Sampson takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Sampson tries to close the distance and clinch up but James swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Sampson scores with a takedown into James's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sampson got a little sloppy there for a moment and James has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sampson has managed to get both his arms back between James's legs - danger averted.
James looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sampson is one step ahead there.

James throws his legs up looking for a submission but Sampson uses it to pass to side control.
James gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James trying to control here.
Sampson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sampson wants to control but James is keeping him busy.
James desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Sampson is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
James trying to hold on to Sampson's head to control him but Sampson postures up.

Sampson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
James is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sampson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sampson's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean James dominated that round.
That's time! Sampson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sampson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by James.

James moves into the clinch successfully.

James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

James has managed to clinch.
James tries for a takedown but Sampson manages to get underhooks.
Sampson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables James to keep the fight standing.

James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

James moves into the clinch.
Sampson is trying to break free.

James jumps guard and drags Sampson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

James controlling the action here.
James not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is thwarting Sampson's attempts to control the position.
James performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Sampson is looking for a sweep. James is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sampson trying to control from the bottom.
James looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
James moves nicely into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
James tries to score with some ground and pound. Sampson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sampson is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Sampson's face as James controls the position.
Sampson is looking for a sweep.

James decides to stand back up. James steps back and let's Sampson get back to his feet.
Dean James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sampson moves to clinch but James breaks away
and James counters with a flying knee. Nice.
James drops Sampson with a naaaaasty hook - Sampson is in real trouble here! James dives in to side control and pounds out his opponent for a TKO victory! The crowd goes nuts!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dean James!