PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ben Bourgon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samson Ransom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Bourgon
vs
Ransom

196 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

179 cm
20
177 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ben Bourgon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Samson Ransom!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Alexandre Firmino and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bourgon fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ransom darts in trying to clinch

and Bourgon counters by moving into the clinch.
Bourgon looking to stall.
Bourgon really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Ransom misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ransom fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Bourgon blocks a body shot from Ransom.
The is referee keeping an eye on Bourgon - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Ransom goes for a takedown attempt but Bourgon pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ransom tries for a takedown but Bourgon circles away easily
and Ransom takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ben Bourgon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samson Ransom.
Bourgon tries to clinch but Ransom moves away

and Ransom counters with a single leg into guard. Bourgon didn't expect that.
Bourgon keeping moving, preventing Ransom from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourgon wants to sweep but no luck.
Ransom 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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bourgon is on top in guard.
Ransom looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Ransom keeping busy on the bottom but Bourgon has passed one foot through into half guard.
Bourgon is controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bourgon tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Bourgon is looking to take a break and control but Ransom is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ransom is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ransom manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Ransom gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bourgon counters with a two punch combo.
Ransom looks gassed!
Ransom tries for a takedown but Bourgon circles away easily

and Bourgon counters by clinching up.
Bourgon is trying to stall.
Bourgon misses with a knee to the head.
Bourgon stalling in the clinch but Ransom improves position.
Ransom wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Ransom gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Bourgon working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ransom doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ransom manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ransom postures up.
Ransom trying to control but Bourgon is working from the bottom.
Bourgon will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ransomis looking to pass into half guard but Bourgon pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Bourgon is in guard.
Ransom wants to sweep but no luck.

Ransom working for submissions but it's allowed Bourgon to get to half guard.
Ransom tries to roll over but Bourgon keeps him under control.
It looks like Bourgon is going to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Samson Ransom will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bourgon is looking to clinch but Ransom is avoiding it.
Donk. Bourgon catches Ransom right on the button with a cross.
Samson Ransom seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bourgon tries to clinch but Ransom moves away

and Ransom counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Bourgon keeping moving, preventing Ransom from controlling successfully.
Bourgon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ransom tries to free his leg and advance position but Bourgon is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ransom trying to control the position from guard on top but Bourgon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ransom trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourgon can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ransom controls the pace.
Ransom keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bourgon's head.
Bourgon looking for a sweep. Not yet Bourgon, not yet.
Bourgon keeping moving, preventing Ransom from controlling successfully.
Ransom wants to pass the guard but Bourgon is keeping the position.
Ransom wants to control from the top but Bourgon keeps moving.

That's two 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.
Ransom landing some decent shots from guard.

Ransom decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bourgon, up you get!
Ransom is breathing heavily.
Ransom misses with a takedown attempt
and Bourgon counters with a stiff right hand.

Ransom closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Bourgon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bourgon throws a one two combo.

Bourgon clinches.
Ransom wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bourgon has him pressed against the cage.
Bourgon lands a right hand.
Bourgon has had enough of the clinch but Ransom keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bourgon breaks the clinch.
Ransom shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bourgon counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Bourgon closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ransom tries to stall but Bourgon uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Bourgon stalling in the clinch but Ransom improves position.
Ransom is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Bourgon wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ransom is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bourgon is keeping busy.
Bourgon is pressed up against the cage. Ransom has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bourgon down to the mat. Bourgon avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ben Bourgon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samson Ransom.
Bourgon scores with a hook.
Bourgon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ransom clinches but Bourgon breaks the clinch
and Bourgon counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bourgon tries to clinch but Ransom moves away

and Ransom counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ransom.
Ransom tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bourgon tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ransom is trying to break the clinch but Bourgon has him pressed against the cage.
Bourgon prevents the takedown attempt.
Ransom prevents Bourgon from breaking the clinch.
Ransom wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bourgon is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ransom is keeping busy.
Ransom controlling the action here for a moment.
A short uppercut from Bourgon.
Ransom is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bourgon gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bourgon is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Ransom is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bourgon pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ransom keeps control of Bourgon as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ransom takes a shot to the head.
Ransom looking for a takedown.
Ransom wants to get back to striking at distance but Bourgon won't allow it.

Bourgon manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samson Ransom showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ransom circles away from the clinch attempt

and Ransom counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ransom wants to control from the top but Bourgon keeps moving.
Bourgon is trying to control the position but Ransom postures up.
Bourgon knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ransom on the ground.
Ransom throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bourgon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ransom trying to control the position from guard on top but Bourgon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ransom stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Bourgon takes the fight into the clinch.
Ransom prevents Bourgon from breaking the clinch.
Ransom tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourgon connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ransom's face.
Ransom is working for takedown but Bourgon is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ransom looking to stall.
Bourgon is trying to break the clinch but Ransom has him pressed against the cage.

Ransom lands a takedown into guard.

Ransom 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.
Ransom wants to pass the guard but Bourgon is keeping the position.
Ransom advances position into side control!
Ransom lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ransom throws a strike aimed at the side of Bourgon's head but Bourgon avoids it well.
Bourgon tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ransom wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Ransom passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Bourgon!
Bourgon is trying to stand but he's just given Ransom his back.

Bourgon preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Ransom.
Samson Ransom has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bourgon has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Ransom trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Bourgon doesn't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bourgon holding both Ransom 's hands and preventing any damage.

Bourgon is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Ransom gets his way!

Ransom is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Ransom working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Ransom misses with punches from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ransom looking for the choke but no joy.
Bourgon wants to control his opponent's hands but Ransom gets his hands free.

Bourgon fending off the submission attempt from Ransom.
Ben Bourgon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bourgon trying to control the action but Ransom just sinks the hooks in.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samson Ransom comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ransom winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samson Ransom!