PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roosevelt Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anderson Silva has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Roosevelt Sampson's chin.

Sampson
vs
Silva

187 cm
19
177 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roosevelt Sampson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Silva!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Paulo Santos and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Silva tries a head kick but it misses.
Silva tries for a takedown but Sampson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sampson shoots in looking for a takedown. Silva tries to sprawl out of it but Sampson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Silva manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Silva displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sampson.
Silva throws a big counter head kick but Sampson avoids it with no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Silva.
Roosevelt Sampson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anderson Silva.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sampson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sampson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
Silva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sampson avoids it really well and circles away.

Silva shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sampson is trying to defend but Silva finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Silva stands up from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sampson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Silva manages to escape and get back to his feet!
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!
Silva takes a swing at Sampson's ribcage but misses.
Sampson is looking for a counter combo.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sampson as he avoids it easily.
Silva looks winded!
Silva goes for a double leg but Sampson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sampson continues to drive forward.
Sampson moves out of range of the body kick from Silva.
Silva has his takedown stuffed
and Sampson counters with a series of strikes. Silva will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sampson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Silva was covering up waiting for the punch and Sampson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Silva is wriggling around but Sampson manages to pass to half guard.

Sampson controlling the action here.
Sampson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sampson connects with a nice short shot to Silva's temple.
Sampson 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 four minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to get back to full guard.
Sampson is nestled in close to Silva, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Silva is looking for a sweep. Sampson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sampson in particular looking to stall.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.

Sampson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Silva defends it well.
Silva has hold of Sampson's hands but Sampson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Roosevelt Sampson will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sampson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sampson slaps away a takedown attempt from Silva, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Silva dives in and grabs Sampson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sampson pushes down on Silva's head and hops out.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Sampson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Silva gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sampson is trying to break free.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Silva obliges.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sampson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is looking to clinch but Sampson is avoiding it.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sampson went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
Roosevelt Sampson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anderson Silva.
Sampson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Silva stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
Silva is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sampson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sampson was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

Sampson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Silva is looking to get back to his feet here but Sampson is keeping cool and he's managed to take Silva's back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Sampson.
Sampson has Silva flattened out and is raining down punches.
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!
Sampson is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Sampson gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Sampson gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Sampson apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sampson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A punch combination from Sampson misses.
Silva is looking to clinch but Sampson is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva shoots in but no luck this time.

Silva has Sampson up against the cage in a clinch.
Sampson working aggressively here.
Silva is trying to break the clinch but Sampson is controlling him.
Silva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sampson's efforts to push away.

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

Sampson feints and as Silva raises his hands in defense, Sampson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sampson is standing up over Silva. Silva looks to escape but Sampson dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sampson cracks Silva with a big elbow.
Sampson landing a few strikes.
Sampson remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Sampson scores with a couple of short elbows.
Sampson lands a few punches from side control.
Sampson has control of an arm but Silva manages to advance to Sampson's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roosevelt Sampson dominated that second round.
That's time! Sampson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Silva throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A big right from Silva misses.
Sampson seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sampson is defended easily by Silva.
Sampson shoots in for a takedown but Silva shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sampson throws a big counter combination but Silva scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Sampson shows good takedown defense.
Sampson tries to counter by clinching up but Silva breaks away and moves out of range.
Silva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Silva has his takedown stuffed
and Sampson counters with a series of strikes. Silva will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sampson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Roosevelt Sampson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anderson Silva.

Sampson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Sampson manages to pass to side control.

Sampson is nestled in close to Silva, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sampson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sampson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Roosevelt Sampson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nice strikes from Sampson there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sampson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Silva has hold of Sampson's hands but Sampson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sampson prevents Silva from improving his position.
Sampson winds up and cracks Silva with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sampson 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.
Sampson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Silva on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sampson drops an elbow to the side of Silva's head.
Sampson winds up and cracks Silva with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sampson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sampson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Silva with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Silva trying to control from the bottom.
Sampson slips a nice elbow through Silva's hands, connecting with Silva's forehead.
Sampson slips a nice elbow through Silva's hands, connecting with Silva's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sampson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sampson connects with a nice short shot to Silva's temple.
Sampson is nestled in close to Silva, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sampson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sampson connects with a nice short shot to Silva's temple.
Sampson working Silva over with strikes.
Sampson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sampson drops an elbow to the side of Silva's head.

Sampson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roosevelt Sampson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sampson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roosevelt Sampson!