PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Camron Crawford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominique Samson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Samson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Crawford
vs
Samson

165 cm
24
151 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

175 cm
24
154 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Camron Crawford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dominique Samson!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice straight punches there by Crawford. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Crawford.

Crawford has Samson up against the ropes in a clinch.
Samson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Crawford just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Samson wants a takedown but no success here.
Crawford lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Crawford using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Samson has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Crawford clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Crawford is trying to stand back up.

Samson looking for the RNC.
Crawford has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Samson.
Samson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Samson is looking for a rear naked choke here but Crawford reverses the position brilliantly into Samson's guard!
Samson keeping moving, preventing Crawford from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samson wants to sweep but no luck.
Samson keeping moving, preventing Crawford from controlling successfully.

Samson throws his legs up looking for a submission but Crawford uses it to pass to side control.
Samson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Crawford tries to stand and escape but Samson is controlling the position.
Crawford trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Samson is looking for a sweep. Crawford is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
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.
Samson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Crawford perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Samson looking for subs from the bottom but Crawford mounts him!
Samson looks gassed!
Samson looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Samson is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Samson tries to escape but Crawford has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford is trying to stick to Samson's back but Samson is turning into Crawford. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Crawford's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Samson.
Crawford is looking to stand up but Samson isn't so interested in that idea.
Samson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Samson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Crawford looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Crawford looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Crawford!

Crawford stands up and beckons Samson to his feet.
Crawford scores with a kick to the body.
Crawford circles away from the clinch attempt
and Crawford counters with a three punch combo that has Samson backing up. Samson nods at Crawford to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samson shoots and misses
and Crawford counters with a good low kick that Samson was not able to check.
Camron Crawford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dominique Samson.
Crawford throws a head kick that half lands.

Crawford has closed the distance and engaged Samson in a clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Crawford.
Nice body punch from Crawford.
Crawford landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Samson tries to pull guard but Crawford holds him up against the ropes and eventually Samson drops back down 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!
Crawford makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Crawford unloads a knee to the mid-section. Samson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Crawford with a knee to the head.
Crawford lands an elbow inside that Samson shrugs off.
Crawford landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Crawford lands with a right to the head.
Crawford lands a body punch in the clinch.
Crawford scores with a knee to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Crawford landing knees to the body.
Crawford using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Samson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Crawford taking a breather.
Crawford lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Samson tries to pull guard but Crawford won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Camron Crawford dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Crawford fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Dominique Samson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Samson has his takedown stuffed
and Crawford makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Crawford has taken the fight to the clinch.
Crawford working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Crawford trying to control the position but instead, Samson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Crawford into the ropes.
Samson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Crawford prevents it.

Samson turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Samson manages to end up in side control.
Crawford is pushing Samson's head away, looking to escape. Samson manages to hold on to the position though.
Samson working away.
Crawford is trying to get back to half guard.
Samson tries to advance to mount but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Samson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Crawford rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Samson's guard! Nice work there by Crawford!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Crawford wants to stand but Samson is controlling his posture from full guard.

Samson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Crawford passes into half guard.
Samson tries to get to full guard but Crawford has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Samson is staying active underneath Crawford, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Samson is looking for a sweep. Crawford is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Crawford is keen to just control but Samson is a slippery customer.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Crawford tries a head kick but it misses.
Crawford with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Samson fails with the takedown
and Crawford counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Samson is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Camron Crawford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dominique Samson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Crawford darts in and clinches Samson up against the ropes.
Crawford lands a shot to the body.
Crawford lands a nice knee to the body.
Crawford creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Samson's defenses.
A shot in the inside from Crawford.
Crawford landing knees to the head.
Crawford blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Crawford stalls.
A left hand lands to the body for Crawford.
Crawford lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Samson looking for a takedown.
Crawford lands an elbow inside.
Crawford crunches a lovely knee into Samson's ribcage.
Crawford pushes Samson back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Crawford creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Crawford lands an elbow that stopped Samson in his tracks for a moment.
Samson tries for a takedown but Crawford manages to get underhooks.
Crawford lands a nice uppercut.
Crawford using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Crawford gets through Samson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Samson wants a takedown but no success here.
Samson fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samson is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Crawford crunches a lovely knee into Samson's ribcage.
Samson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Crawford smiles and moves away.
Nice uppercut lands for Crawford. That snapped Samson's head back.
Samson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Samson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Crawford moves into the clinch.
Crawford connects with a knee to the head.
Crawford gets underhooks to prevent Samson's takedown attempt.
Crawford lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Crawford gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Samson takes a knee right on the jaw!
Samson tries to stall but Crawford uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Crawford scores with a knee to the head.
Crawford lands an elbow inside.
Samson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Samson tries to pull guard but Crawford holds him up against the ropes and eventually Samson drops back down to his feet.
Samson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Crawford is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Camron Crawford dominated that second round.
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!

Samson with a poor takedown
and Crawford counters with a head kick. That will keep Samson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Samson throws a head kick that misses
and Crawford connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dominique Samson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crawford lands a high kick!
Crawford lands a high kick!
Crawford works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Samson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Crawford counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Nice elbow from Crawford.
Samson tries to pull guard but Crawford won't allow it.
Crawford lands a knee to the head.
A hook to the body from Crawford.
Crawford works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Crawford scores a nice knee to the body.
Crawford lands with a light punch inside.
Crawford lands an elbow inside.
Samson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Crawford prevents it.
Camron Crawford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dominique Samson.
Crawford gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Samson.
Knees to the body from Crawford.
Crawford tries to stall but Samson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Samson is working for takedown but Crawford is calmly controlling the position for now.
A nice left hand lands by Crawford.
Samson has Crawford pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Crawford manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford with a knee to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Samson.
Crawford lands a left hand.
Samson misses with a knee to the head.
Crawford lands a knee to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Crawford.
Samson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Crawford walks away with a smile on his face. Samson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Crawford cracks the inside of Samson's front leg.

Crawford gets a clinch.
Samson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Crawford using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Samson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Samson has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Crawford is trying to keep an underhook but Samson manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Samson works his foot free and advances to mount.

Samson is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Crawford has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Crawford!

Samson working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Crawford has passed into half guard!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samson is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Crawford jumps into side control!
Samson tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Samson is looking for a sweep.
Crawford gets to mount! Samson was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Crawford looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford trying to control but Samson is having none of it.
Samson sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Crawford trying to control the pace.
Samson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four 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.

Samson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Samson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Crawford is one step ahead there.

Samson working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Crawford has passed into half guard!
Crawford stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Camron Crawford showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Crawford, 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Camron Crawford!