PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kyle Hunter (ranked 4783 p4p, 4643 weight class) and TJ Samuel (ranked 357 p4p, 352 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hunter
vs
Samuel

175 cm
18
155
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
148
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Likes comics

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kyle Hunter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, TJ Samuel !
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Dean Styles and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Samuel closes the distance and pushes Hunter back into the cage.
Hunter is looking for a takedown.

Samuel lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Hunter looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hunter tries to get to full guard but Samuel has control of the leg.
Samuel stalling.

Hunter looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Samuel performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Hunter actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter tries to roll over but Samuel keeps him under control.

Hunter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Samuel is controlling the pace.

Samuel is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Samuel is taking a breather. Hunter says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
It looks like Samuel might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Hunter looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Samuel lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Hunter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Hunter is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Samuel pulls his head out easily.

Samuel is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hunter defends it well.

Hunter actively working from the bottom here.

Hunter looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Samuel with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samuel is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Hunter actively working from the bottom here.

Samuel wants to work for an arm triangle but Hunter is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hunter regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hunter seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Hunter is looking for a triangle here but Samuel uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Samuel just content to control the position.
Samuel scoring with punches from side control.
Samuel controls the position.
Hunter tries to bench press Samuel off him but Samuel keeps the position.
Hunter gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Still in half guard, Samuel seems content to control.
Samuel winds up and cracks Hunter with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

TJ Samuel dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hunter gets tackled into the cage by Samuel . Samuel maintains the clinch.
Hunter jumps guard but Samuel stands there with Hunter around his waist. Hunter gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hunter changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Samuel fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Samuel 's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Samuel duly obliges.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunter blocks a head kick by Samuel .
Hunter half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Samuel drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hunter had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Samuel defends it easily.
Samuel slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Samuel wanted to stand there but Hunter had control of the position.

Hunter looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Samuel is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Samuel postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
TJ Samuel has got the better of the ground game so far.

Samuel avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Hunter has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Samuel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samuel not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Samuel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Samuel slips nicely into half guard.
Samuel trying to control the pace.

Hunter has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Samuel escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Samuel !
Samuel happy to just control the position for now.
Hunter is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter manages to work his way to half guard, despite Samuel 's best efforts.

Hunter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Hunter looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Samuel controlling the action here.
Samuel is continuing to stall.

Hunter looking for a kimura from the bottom but Samuel passes into side control!
Samuel passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Hunter!
Hunter manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samuel lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Samuel slows the pace down in half guard.

Hunter is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Samuel pulls his head out easily.
Samuel controlling the action here.

Hunter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hunter tries to get to full guard but Samuel has control of the leg.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

TJ Samuel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Samuel throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Samuel shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Samuel was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hunter looks to move to half guard but instead Samuel has passed into mount! Damn!
Hunter working to try and regain half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Samuel takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hunter is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samuel landing punches.
Hunter is trying to reverse the position but instead Samuel has taken his back - oops!
Hunter rolls, trying to escape but Samuel keeps control of the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Samuel . Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Samuel really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Hunter.

Samuel has the hooks in and he's looking for a rear naked choke here. Hunter is defending well but eventually Samuel manages to get an arm under the chin and he's locked on the RNC! Hunter has no choice but to tap now! He does! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). TJ Samuel !