PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Quinn Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anselmi Samara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson comes to the cage accompanied by Ice Cube - It Was a Dood Day. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Johnson
vs
Samara

185 cm
29
215 lbs
21 - 7 - 0

183 cm
26
215 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Quinn Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anselmi Samara!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksandr Martynov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Samara misses with a body kick.
Samara throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Johnson.
Samara moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.
Samara moves to clinch but Johnson breaks away
and Johnson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Samara misses the jab.

Samara gets a takedown into half guard.

Samara is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Johnson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Samara.
Samara is pressing down on Johnson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Johnson is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samara sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Johnson defending well though.
Johnson is trying to control but can't.
Samara is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson is looking to control Samara's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Johnson avoid being mounted?
Johnson is looking for a sweep. Samara is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Johnson gets full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Samara tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
Johnson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

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.
Samara wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Johnson swings and misses with a shot to the body

so Samara counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Samara from controlling successfully.
Samara is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Samara passes Johnson's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Samara is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Johnson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Samara.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is staying active underneath Samara, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Samara content to control rather than advance.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Samara on the ground.
Johnson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Samara is working away from the top position though.

That's four 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.
Samara is pressing down on Johnson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Johnson is holding on for now.
Johnson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Johnson tries to get out of the position.
Samara seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Johnson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Samara prevents Johnson from improving his position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Samara works his way into side control.
Samara throws an elbow but Johnson slips to the side and avoids it well.
Samara working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Samara misses with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Samara slips under a jab from Johnson.
Johnson misses with a hook.
Samara shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Samara gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Samara changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Samara manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Samara tries to close the distance and clinch but Johnson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Johnson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Samara.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Samara.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Samara is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Johnson.
Johnson lands with a nice body punch.
Samara swings away with a body shot that misses
and Johnson counters with a stiff right hand.
Johnson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson looks to score with a jab to the body but Samara is just out of range.
Johnson ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Samara is breathing heavily.
Johnson throws an overhand right that lands on Samara's shoulder, as Samara tries to avoid the shot.
Johnson throws a poor cross that misses

and Samara counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Johnson is looking to improve his position.
Johnson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Samara.
Samara thows a huge punch but Johnson dodges it nicely.
Samara wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samara keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Samara throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Samara works his way into full mount!
Johnson wants to control but Samara is having none of it.
BOOM! Samara connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson working to try and regain half guard.
Samara landing shots from mount.
Samara tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Samara breaks from Johnson's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Samara trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samara has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Johnson's face.
Samara looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Samara throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Samara landing shots from mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Samara moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Johnson has worked his arm free - good work by Johnson!
Johnson manages to get back to half guard.
Samara has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Samara with the ground and pound but Johnson uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Samara trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anselmi Samara showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Samara feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Samara with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Samara accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Samara slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Samara passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Johnson is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Samara wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Samara wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Samara looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Johnson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Samara off and has taken his back!
Samara tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson unloads with some shots from mount but Samara bucks and avoids them well.
Samara tries to lock up and control but Johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Johnson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Quinn Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Samara tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Samara tries to hold on but Johnson postures up.
Johnson lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Samara tries to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Johnson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Samara is desperately trying to improve his position but Johnson has a good base and remains in mount.
Samara wants to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Samara is in a horrible position here. Johnson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samara wants to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.

Johnson goes for an armbar but Samara turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Samara.
Samara's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Samara trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Samara stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Anselmi Samara is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Samara is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Samara postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Anselmi Samara wasn't active enough on the ground.

Johnson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Samara manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Johnson'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.

Samara is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Johnson rolls with it to try and escape but Samara cranks on the arm and Johnson is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Anselmi Samara!