PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sam Assad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeremy Torico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sam Assad could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Jeremy Torico's chin.

Assad
vs
Torico

189 cm
18
179 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sam Assad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jeremy Torico!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Torico throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Assad counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Assad shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Torico sprawls well. Torico wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Assad gets slowly back to his feet.
Torico misses with a series of wild punches.
Assad with a lazy takedown attempt

and Torico moves into the clinch.

Assad manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Torico trying to control but Assad is working from the bottom.

Torico gets to his feet - Assad follows without any prompting.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Torico scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Torico trying to control the position but Assad is working away.

Torico tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torico throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Assad's coaches at Cozad MMA Las Vegas have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Assad defending against the ground and pound.
Assad is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two 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.
Torico scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Assad to see if he's OK.
Assad is trying to buck Torico off.
Torico is looking to take a break and control but Assad is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Assad wants to control but Torico postures up.
Assad is pushing Torico's head away, looking to escape. Torico manages to hold on to the position though.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assad is looking to reverse the position.
Torico working away.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Assad misses with a takedown attempt

and Torico counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Assad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Torico looking to sit in guard and control but Assad gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Assad postures up in Torico's guard and throws a big left but Torico blocks it.
Assad content to stall in guard here.
Assad wants to control from the top but Torico keeps moving.
Assad works over Torico with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assad trying to stand up but can't free himself from Torico's guard.
Torico avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Assad tries to free his leg and advance position but Torico is retaining full guard.
Torico has momentary wrist control but Assad slips an elbow through the middle.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Torico wants to stand up but Assad is controlling him.
Torico really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Assad. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Assad trying to control but Torico is working from the bottom.
Assad passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Assad throws an elbow but Torico slips to the side and avoids it well.
Torico is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jeremy Torico will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Torico takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Assad misses with a takedown

and Torico counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Assad is controlling Torico's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Torico is stalling here. Assad is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Torico seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Assad has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Assad looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Assad in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Assad scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Torico to see if he's OK.
Torico is not content to let Assad control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Assad tries for a kimura but Torico is defending well.
Assad wants to lay and pray for a moment but Torico keeps working.

Assad tries for a kimura but Torico is defending well.

Assad tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Assad trying to control the action but Torico is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Assad looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Torico wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Assad is looking to take a break and control but Torico is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assad working away.
Torico tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Assad easily slips into full mount!
Assad thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Assad wants to control but instead Torico manages to regain half guard.
Assad missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Torico wants to control but Assad is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Torico controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Assad is trying to control. Torico wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assad with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Assad trying to control from half guard but Torico is working away.
Assad thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Torico wants to control but Assad is keeping busy.

Torico looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Well, if Assad is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Assad dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Assad shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Torico as he avoids it easily.
Assad shoots in but no luck this time.
Assad misses with a wild combination.
Horrible takedown attempt by Assad or perhaps it was just good defense by Torico, which made it look bad.
Torico looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Assad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Assad shoots in for a takedown but Torico shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Torico throws out a counter right but Assad avoids it with no problem.

Torico looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Torico seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Assad does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Torico trying to mount his opponent but Assad defends it.
Assad wants to control but Torico is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assad is trying to get back to full guard.
Torico wants to take a breather but Assad is having none of it.
Assad moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Assad has his foot on Torico's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Torico works his way back into a safe position though.

Torico decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Torico throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Assad tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Torico is in Assad's guard.
Torico preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Assad is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Assad is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Assad will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Assad is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Torico trying to control but Assad is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assad lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Assad postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Assad trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Assad works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Assad missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Torico is trying to maintain the position but Assad is very close to passing his half guard.
Torico is refusing to be controlled, as Assad sits in half guard.
Torico pushes Assad off but Assad dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Torico's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Torico takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Assad wants to control but Torico is keeping him busy.
Assad in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Assad is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Torico knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Assad looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Assad showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Assad has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Assad!