PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Richard Rawlings (ranked 5076 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alireza Samandari (ranked 4942 p4p, 492 weight class). Samandari comes into a darkened arena with his song building. iran kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rawlings
vs
Samandari

184 cm
23
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Richard Rawlings!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alireza Samandari!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Jeff Smith and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Samandari fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rawlings avoids it really well and circles away.

Rawlings is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Samandari's half guard.
Rawlings takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Samandari is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Rawlings jumps into side control!
Rawlings is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Samandari will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rawlings is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Samandari is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rawlings slows the pace down.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rawlings is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Samandari knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Rawlings has hold of Samandari's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Samandari tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Rawlings cranks the arm and Samandari screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Samandari, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Richard Rawlings!