PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paavo Vayrynen (ranked 1678 p4p, 2046 weight class) and Deebo Samuel (ranked 202 p4p, 250 weight class). Deebo Samuel has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Vayrynen
vs
Samuel

180 cm
24
242
6 - 7 - 0

200 cm
24
286
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Honest Apparel ($30 SPECIAL ALL T-Shirts!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Paavo Vayrynen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Deebo Samuel!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Dillan Fox and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Samuel, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Vayrynen throws a body shot but no joy.
Vayrynen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Samuel.
Samuel throws a shot from downtown. Vayrynen moves away and avoids it.
Vayrynen looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A jab from Samuel does it's job there.

Vayrynen clinches up against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Samuel.

It looks like Paavo Vayrynen has been cut.
A short right from Vayrynen on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Samuel.
Samuel misses with a knee strike.

Vayrynen decides to pull guard.
Samuel is looking to stand up but Vayrynen won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Vayrynen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Samuel is aware though and is defending well.
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!
Samuel 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.
Samuel would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vayrynen 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.
Samuel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vayrynen is keeping the position for now.
Samuel must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Samuel got a little sloppy there for a moment and Vayrynen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Samuel has managed to get both his arms back between Vayrynen's legs - danger averted.
Vayrynen 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.
Samuel wants to get up but he can't break Vayrynen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Vayrynen 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.
Samuel wants to get up but he can't break Vayrynen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Samuel wants to stand and escape but instead Vayrynen has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Vayrynen trying to control but Samuel is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samuel wants to sweep but no luck.
Vayrynen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Samuel is adopting a defensive guard.
Samuel is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samuel wants to stand but Vayrynen has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Vayrynen is controlling Samuel's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Vayrynen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Samuel tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Vayrynen.
Vayrynen trying to control from the bottom.
Samuel seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Vayrynen is trying to control but can't.
Vayrynen wants to get back to full guard.
Samuel really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Vayrynen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Samuel stands up and beckons Vayrynen to join him on the feet.
Samuel misses with a two punch combination.
Samuel just misses with a punch to the body.
Samuel works Vayrynen's body with a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samuel throws a body punch but Vayrynen moves out of range.
Vayrynen slips a jab from Samuel.
Vayrynen lands with an uppercut that bounces Samuel off the cage and back into range.
Vayrynen throws a jab but it's blocked by Samuel.
Samuel unleashes a big counter combination but Vayrynen bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
A shot to the liver by Samuel. Beautiful body shot.
Deebo Samuel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vayrynen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Vayrynen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Samuel pinned against the cage. Samuel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A telegraphed right hand from Vayrynen misses the target.
Samuel tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vayrynen was well out of range. Poor timing from Samuel.
Vayrynen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Some wild striking there from Samuel.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Samuel misses with a wild body shot.

Samuel lands a left and a right that send Vayrynen crashing to the mat, dazed. Samuel thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Samuel throws a right hand that misses
and Vayrynen counters with a right hand to the body.
Vayrynen just misses with a punch to the body.
Samuel throws a right hand that misses

and Vayrynen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Samuel won't be happy with that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Vayrynen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Samuel is looking for a sweep.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Vayrynen tries to score with some ground and pound. Samuel controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Vayrynen working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Samuel stops Vayrynen from passing to mount.
Samuel wants to control but Vayrynen postures up.
Samuel tries to improve position but can't.
Vayrynen in side control, throwing shots but Samuel defends.

Vayrynen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Samuel, who protects the arm well.

Vayrynen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Samuel is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Samuel is looking to reverse the position.
Vayrynen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Samuel keeps working.
Samuel is looking for a sweep.

Vayrynen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Samuel, who protects the arm well.
Samuel taking a bit of punishment here - Vayrynen scoring with strikes.

Vayrynen thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Samuel is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Vayrynen is controlling him well.
Samuel tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Vayrynen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Samuel stops Vayrynen from passing to mount.
Samuel holds on to Vayrynen's head and controls the position momentarily.

Vayrynen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Samuel tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Samuel manages to work his way to half guard, despite Vayrynen's best efforts.
Samuel wants to control but Vayrynen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Vayrynen is pressing down on Samuel's thigh, looking to free his foot. Samuel is holding on for now.
Samuel wants to improve his position but Vayrynen is controlling well.
Samuel is positioning himself well to prevent Vayrynen advancing to mount.
Samuel has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Vayrynen is working away from the top position though.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Samuel moves out of range as Vayrynen strikes.
Vayrynen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Samuel.
Samuel looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Vayrynen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Samuel moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Deebo Samuel will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Paavo Vayrynen's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Vayrynen ducks under a wild hook from Samuel.

Vayrynen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Samuel sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Samuel is pressing down on Vayrynen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Vayrynen landing with the ground and pound.
Samuel managing to control the position.
Vayrynen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Samuel pulls Vayrynen in close to his closed guard and prevents Vayrynen from doing any damage or advancing position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Vayrynen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samuel wants to sweep here but Vayrynen controlling him for the moment.
Vayrynen trying to control the position from guard on top but Samuel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vayrynen is in close to Samuel's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Samuel is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Vayrynen wants to control from the top but Samuel keeps moving.
Samuel has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Vayrynen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

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.
Vayrynen won't allow Samuel to sweep him here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Samuel is pulling down on Vayrynen's head to control his posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Vayrynen misses with a wild combination.
Samuel appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Samuel jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Vayrynen appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Deebo Samuel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Samuel misses the body punch

and Vayrynen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Vayrynen trying to control the position from guard on top but Samuel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Samuel has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Vayrynen has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samuel looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Vayrynen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Samuel just stands there and leans against the cage.
Vayrynen lands a body punch.
Vayrynen avoiding damage as Samuel throws knees to the body.

Samuel breaks the clinch.
Samuel digs a good hook to Vayrynen's body.
Samuel is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vayrynen.
Vayrynen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Vayrynen moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Samuel takes one to the side of the head.
Samuel is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Vayrynen rather than just go for the knockout.
Samuel rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Vayrynen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Vayrynen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Samuel misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vayrynen tries to clinch there but Samuel circles away.
Vayrynen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Samuel moves away.
Vayrynen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Samuel sprawls well. Samuel wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Vayrynen gets slowly back to his feet.
Samuel misses with a hook. Vayrynen ducked under it nicely.
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!
Vayrynen slips under a jab.
Vayrynen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Samuel was well out of range. Poor timing from Vayrynen.
Vayrynen misses with a body shot.
Some wild striking there from Samuel.
Vayrynen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Samuel rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Vayrynen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The fighters circling - Vayrynen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Vayrynen dodges the punch combination from Samuel.
Vayrynen misses with a body shot.
Vayrynen scores with a nice head shot.
Samuel swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Vayrynen.

Paavo Vayrynen's cut is getting worse.
Samuel throws a series of punches but Vayrynen moves out of range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Vayrynen.

Vayrynen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Samuel knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vayrynen working away.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Samuel wants to get back to his feet but Vayrynen drags him back down.
You can see the frustration on Samuel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Samuel is trying to improve his position.
Samuel prevents Vayrynen from improving position.
Samuel is being controlled here.
The ground and pound from Vayrynen seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
You can see the frustration on Samuel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Samuel tries to improve position but can't.
Vayrynen working away.
Samuel tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Vayrynen presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
The referee warns Samuel that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Samuel is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Vayrynen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Samuel looks a forlorn figure.
Samuel can't escape the position.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Vayrynen lands a big elbow.
Vayrynen avoids the attempt from Samuel to control.
Vayrynen tries to control but Samuel wriggling away.
Samuel wants to hold on but Vayrynen pushes him away.
Vayrynen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Samuel holds on for dear life.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Vayrynen lands a couple of good shots and Samuel has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Samuel trying to control the hands but Vayrynen won't let him.

Vayrynen is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Vayrynen is hanging on to Samuel's back as he tries to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Samuel defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Vayrynen's arms.
Paavo Vayrynen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Samuel wants to escape the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Vayrynen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Paavo Vayrynen's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Samuel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vayrynen moves away.
Samuel swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Vayrynen counters with a nice uppercut.
Vayrynen shoots in looking for a takedown but Samuel manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Vayrynen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Samuel is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Vayrynen with a body shot.

Samuel gets tackled into the cage by Vayrynen. Vayrynen maintains the clinch.
Samuel has a couple of punches blocked by Vayrynen.
Vayrynen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Samuel lands a body shot in the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Samuel.
Samuel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Samuel using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Samuel scores a nice knee to the body.
A short uppercut from Samuel.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Samuel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Vayrynen avoids it.
Vayrynen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Samuel working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samuel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Samuel working hard to break the clinch.
Samuel wants to break free but Vayrynen has control.

Samuel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vayrynen throws an overhand right that lands on Samuel's shoulder, as Samuel tries to avoid the shot.
Vayrynen avoids the body shot from Samuel.
Samuel fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vayrynen manages to avoid it.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Vayrynen.
Deebo Samuel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sloppy strikes from Samuel. Those never looked like landing.
Vayrynen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Vayrynen scores with a nice strike.
Samuel throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Vayrynen counters with a single leg into guard. Samuel didn't expect that.

Samuel scrambles and gets 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!
Vayrynen misses with a straight left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Samuel misses the target.
A combination from Samuel does no damage.
Samuel scores with a jab to the body.
Vayrynen digs a good hook to Samuel's body.
Samuel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vayrynen throws a jab when Samuel was well out of range.

Vayrynen clinches up with Samuel and pushes him back against the cage.
Vayrynen blocks an uppercut.
Samuel lands a body punch.
Vayrynen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Samuel gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Samuel misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samuel misses with the head strike.
Samuel using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vayrynen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vayrynen managing to block the knees to the body from Samuel.
Vayrynen is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paavo Vayrynen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vayrynen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Samuel's elbow.
Vayrynen struggles to land a body shot inside as Samuel controls his hands.
Vayrynen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Vayrynen lands with a short shot to the head.
Samuel misses with a hook from the clinch.
Samuel tries to circle away but Vayrynen has him pinned against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Vayrynen.
Vayrynen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Samuel walks away with a smile on his face. Vayrynen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Vayrynen misses with a two punch combination.
Vayrynen throws a lazy right hand but Samuel sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vayrynen misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vayrynen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vayrynen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Samuel throws out the jab.
Vayrynen ducks under a wild hook from Samuel.
Vayrynen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Samuel takes a swing at Vayrynen's ribcage but misses.
Samuel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A slow jab from Samuel misses its intended target.
Vayrynen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Samuel moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Vayrynen throws a right hand that Samuel ducks under and follows up with a left that Samuel also avoids with ease.

Vayrynen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Samuel manages to break the clinch.
Vayrynen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Vayrynen lands a right hook to the body.
Samuel jabs Vayrynen to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Some wild striking there from Vayrynen.
Samuel misses with a hook. Vayrynen ducked under it nicely.
Vayrynen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Samuel lands a jab to Vayrynen's midsection.
Samuel throws a body shot but no joy.
Vayrynen takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Samuel swings for the body but Vayrynen moves out of range.
A nice combination there by Samuel.
Vayrynen misses with a looping left.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Vayrynen misses with a takedown
and Vayrynen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Paavo Vayrynen's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vayrynen on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Vayrynen misses with a looping right.
Vayrynen throws an overhand right that lands on Samuel's shoulder, as Samuel tries to avoid the shot.
Samuel let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Vayrynen tries to clinch but Samuel moves out of range.
Samuel misses with an uppercut.
Samuel throws a lazy right hand but Vayrynen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vayrynen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Vayrynen throws a series of punches but Samuel avoids them all with ease.
Samuel circles away from the clinch attempt.
Samuel pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Vayrynen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Samuel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Samuel lands a left and a right that send Vayrynen crashing to the mat, dazed. Samuel thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Vayrynen is rocked!

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Paavo Vayrynen's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 7:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Deebo Samuel!
Deebo Samuel took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Honest Apparel ($30 SPECIAL ALL T-Shirts!) for their support in the buildup to the fight.