PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Greg Sampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonny Davis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Sampson
vs
Davis

193 cm
22
250 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Greg Sampson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jonny Davis!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Davis catches Sampson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Jonny Davis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Davis dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sampson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Davis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sampson slips a jab and a cross from Davis.

Davis closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sampson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Davis is working away from the top position though.
Davis thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sampson is breathing heavily.
Davis seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sampson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sampson tries to get to full guard but Davis has control of the leg.
Davis wants to stand up but Sampson has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis trying to control from half guard but Sampson is working away.
Davis not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Davis throwing shots but Sampson is blocking nicely.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Davis's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Davis duly obliges.
Davis lands a jab to Sampson's midsection.

Davis drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Davis wants to control from the top but Sampson keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davis 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.
Davis is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Davis wants to control from the top but Sampson keeps moving.
Davis might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sampson kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Sampson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis is in close to Sampson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Davis trying to control the position from guard on top but Sampson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Davis is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Despite being in the dominant position, Jonny Davis just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Davis tries to clinch but Sampson is having none of it.
Davis looks to land a combination. Sampson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Davis tries for a takedown but Sampson circles away easily
and Sampson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sampson circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis tries for a takedown but Sampson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sampson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Davis.
Davis fails with a takedown attempt.
Greg Sampson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonny Davis.
Davis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sampson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Davis fails to land the takedown.
Davis wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Davis digs a good body shot into Sampson's ribs.
Sampson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Davis wants to clinch up but Sampson keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonny Davis dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Davis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sampson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Davis tries to clinch up but Sampson circles away and keeps his distance.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Davis, as that shot connected.
Davis shoots and misses

so Sampson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Davis striking off his back but it's not causing Sampson any problems.
Davis bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sampson's guard.
Davis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sampson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Davis tries to stand but Sampson is controlling from the bottom.
Davis trying to control but Sampson is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sampson wants to sweep here but Davis controlling him for the moment.
Davis content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Davis trying to control but Sampson is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Davis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sampson.

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.
Davis throws a body kick that misses.
Davis clinches but Sampson breaks the clinch

and Sampson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Davis keeping full guard, as Sampson tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Davis looking for a sweep. Not yet Davis, not yet.
Sampson throws a big right hand that misses.
Sampson wants to control from the top but Davis keeps moving.
Davis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Davis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sampson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis wants to sweep here but Sampson controlling him for the moment.
Sampson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sampson has his takedown stuffed
and Davis counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Davis tries to clinch up but Sampson circles away and keeps his distance.
Davis throws a right hand that Sampson ducks under and follows up with a left that Sampson also avoids with ease.
Davis fails in his attempt to clinch.
Davis is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Sampson rather than just go for the knockout.

Davis shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Sampson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sampson is not content to let Davis control the position.
A lull in the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis wants to take a breather but Sampson manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Davis.
Davis content to stall in guard here.
Davis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Greg Sampson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Sampson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Davis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sampson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Davis.
Davis lands a jab to Sampson's midsection.
Davis connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Sampson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Davis shoots and misses

and Sampson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Davis swings wildly with an uppercut but Sampson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Davis is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Davis looking for a takedown.
Greg Sampson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonny Davis.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Davis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis tries to clinch but Sampson moves out of range.
Davis shoots in looking for a takedown. Sampson tries to sprawl out of it but Davis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sampson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Davis shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sampson but Sampson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Davis is looking to clinch but Sampson is avoiding it.
Davis fails with the takedown.

Sampson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Davis misses with a punch to the body.
Davis is looking to break free of the clinch but Sampson has double underhooks.
Davis prevents a takedown attempt there.

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.
Davis tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sampson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Davis is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sampson is keeping busy.
Davis works on Sampson's body with a couple of short punches.
Davis wants to break the clinch but can't.
Davis is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Davis tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Davis breaks the clinch.
Sampson avoids the head kick by Davis.
Davis lands with a straight right. Sampson didn't see that one coming.
Sampson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Sampson counters with a single leg into guard. Davis didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sampson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sampson tries to free his leg and advance position but Davis is retaining full guard.
Davis throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sampson throwing strikes but missing.
Davis is looking to stand up but Sampson isn't so interested in that idea.
Sampson trying to control but Davis is working from the bottom.
Sampson thows a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Davis is looking to clinch.
Davis misses with a series of wild punches.
Sampson shoots in looking for a takedown. Davis tries to sprawl out of it but Sampson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Davis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Davis throws a shot to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sampson.
Jonny Davis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sampson shoots for a double leg takedown but Davis sprawls well. He's pushed Sampson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Davis darts in trying to clinch
and Sampson counters with a one-two to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Greg Sampson.
I think Sampson 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Greg Sampson!