PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Koscheck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gregor Samsa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gregor Samsa is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Koscheck
vs
Samsa

200 cm
27
280 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

193 cm
23
270 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Aaron Koscheck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gregor Samsa!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Winston Howard and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Samsa fails to land with a series of punches.
Samsa connects with a high kick.

It looks like Aaron Koscheck has been cut.
Samsa wants to clinch but Koscheck slips to the side
and Koscheck counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Samsa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Koscheck counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Samsa moves to clinch but Koscheck breaks away
and Koscheck cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Samsa throws a head kick but Koscheck moves out of range.
Samsa throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Koscheck to counter with a crisp jab.
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!

Koscheck bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Samsa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Koscheck remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Samsa is looking to reverse the position.
Samsa trying to remain calm as Koscheck controls from the top position.
Samsa is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Koscheck advances nicely into full mount.
Koscheck knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Samsa on the ground.
Koscheck controlling his opponent.
Samsa can't escape the position.
Koscheck controlling from mount.
Koscheck lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Samsa hang on?
BOOM! Koscheck connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Samsa tries to reverse the position but Koscheck maintains control.
Koscheck sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samsa flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Koscheck controlling from the full mount.

Aaron Koscheck has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Koscheck drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Samsa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Koscheck controlling from side mount.
Samsa is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samsa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Koscheck controlling the position from side mount.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Aaron Koscheck just wasn't active enough.

Koscheck shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Samsa napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Koscheck takes a little break here. Samsa wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Koscheck's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koscheck seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Samsa for as long as he can get away with.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Samsa is looking for a sweep.
Samsa manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Koscheck not doing much here.

Aaron Koscheck has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Koscheck shoots in and gets a takedown into Samsa's guard.

Samsa looking for a guillotine here but Koscheck defends easily.

Samsa is looking for a triangle but Koscheck pushes his legs off easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Samsa wants to sweep here but Koscheck controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Koscheck dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aaron Koscheck's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Samsa throws a sloppy head kick

and Koscheck counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Samsa!
Koscheck looking to control and managing it successfully.
Aaron Koscheck overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Samsa is trying to escape the mount.
Samsa flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Koscheck content just to control the position here.
Samsa tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koscheck jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Samsa manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Koscheck is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Samsa is looking for a sweep.
A lull in the action here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Samsa prevents Koscheck from improving position.
Koscheck takes a little break here. Samsa wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Aaron Koscheck just wasn't active enough.
Samsa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Samsa tries to sprawl but Koscheck drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Samsa looking for submissions off his back.
Koscheck looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Koscheck is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Still in half guard, Koscheck seems content to control.
Samsa gets full guard.

Samsa is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Koscheck is aware though and is defending well.
Samsa keeping full guard, as Koscheck tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Samsa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Koscheck has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Samsa is breathing heavily.
Koscheck works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samsa won't allow Koscheck to pass to mount.

Samsa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Koscheck sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Koscheck stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Samsa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Koscheck to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Samsa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Samsa wants to sweep here but Koscheck controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koscheck advances to half guard.
Koscheck is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Samsa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Koscheck pulls his head out easily.
Koscheck tries to pass the half guard into mount. Samsa knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Koscheck looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Koscheck is pressing down on Samsa's thigh, looking to free his foot. Samsa is holding on for now.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Aaron Koscheck has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A head kick misses from Samsa.
Samsa falls off balance throwing a combination

and Koscheck counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Samsa!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Koscheck dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Aaron Koscheck's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Koscheck 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.
Koscheck stays in close to Samsa's body and controls the position.
Koscheck wants to pass the guard but Samsa is keeping the position.

Samsa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Koscheck defends well.
Koscheck not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Koscheck has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Aaron Koscheck just wasn't active enough.
Koscheck misses with a head kick.
Samsa throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Koscheck's head.
Samsa with a poor takedown

and Koscheck counters with a shoot takedown. Samsa fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koscheck engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Samsa working for a triangle but Koscheck defends it easily.
Samsa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Koscheck looking to pass the guard.

Samsa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Koscheck is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Samsa has an active guard here but Koscheck has managed to pass into half guard.
Koscheck tries to pass to full mount but Samsa defends it.
Koscheck moves nicely into side control.
Koscheck taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samsa is looking for a sweep.
A lull in the action here as Koscheck stalls from top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Aaron Koscheck.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Samsa enables Koscheck to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Samsa manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Samsa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Koscheck gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Koscheck passes Samsa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Koscheck controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koscheck wants to pass the guard but Samsa is defending well.

Samsa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Samsa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Koscheck pulls his head out easily.
Koscheck with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Gregor Samsa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Samsa actively working from the bottom here.
Koscheck frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aaron Koscheck showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Koscheck, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aaron Koscheck!