PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Gotti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kensei Samurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gotti
vs
Samurai

190 cm
25
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Gotti!
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, Kensei Samurai!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Chris Downing and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Samurai throws a sloppy head kick and Gotti moves out of range easily.
Samurai misses with a low kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Gotti. That snapped Samurai's head back.
Gotti throws a right and a left that both miss.

Samurai moves into range and clinches up with Gotti.
Samurai tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gotti avoids it.
Gotti tries to score a body lock takedown but Samurai shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Gotti tries to pull guard but Samurai holds him up against the cage and eventually Gotti drops back down to his feet.
Samurai can't find room to land a body shot as Gotti controls the action.
Gotti wants to break free but Samurai has control.
Samurai can't find room to land a body shot as Gotti controls the action.
Gotti is trying to break free.
Samurai tries for a takedown but Gotti manages to get underhooks.
Gotti tries to pull guard but Samurai forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Gotti. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gotti has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gotti can't break the clinch.
Samurai tries to stall but Gotti uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Samurai breaks from the clinch.
Samurai blocks the body kick.
Gotti lands a two punch combo.
Samurai doesn't manage to clinch there - Gotti circles away.
Samurai looks for the body kick but Gotti saw that one coming.
Gotti throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Samurai.
Gotti fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Samurai on the side of the head.
Samurai wants to clinch up but Gotti keeps it at a distance.
Gotti shoots in but no luck this time.
Kensei Samurai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Decent striking displayed by Gotti there.
Samurai showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gotti.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samurai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Decent striking displayed by Gotti there.
Gotti has a takedown stuffed.

Samurai forces Gotti back against the cage and clinches.

Gotti manages to pull guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Gotti working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Samurai has passed into half guard!
Gotti on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gotti tries to get out of the position.
Gotti is staying active underneath Samurai, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gotti is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Samurai stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gotti looks like he's trying to stand up.
Samurai is thwarting Gotti's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gotti manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Samurai has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gotti is proving hard to escape from.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gotti holds on and takes a little breather.
Samurai trying to control but Gotti is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gotti trying to strike off his back.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kensei Samurai.
Samurai displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gotti throws out the jab.
Nice takedown defense from Samurai. No joy for Gotti on that attempt.
Samurai feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gotti's calf.
Gotti tries to close the distance and clinch up but Samurai swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gotti fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gotti slips a jab and a cross from Samurai.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gotti tries to land a leg kick but Samurai saw it coming and moves away.
Gotti tries to bum rush Samurai with a series of wild strikes but Samurai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Gotti has managed to clinch.
Samurai is defending well against a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Gotti dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Samurai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Samurai tries to clinch but Gotti moves away

and Gotti holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gotti tries to pull guard but Samurai forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Gotti managing to block the knees to the body from Samurai.
Gotti wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Samurai has him pressed against the cage.
Gotti jumps guard but Samurai turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gotti is trying to stall.
Samurai can't find room to land a body shot as Gotti controls the action.

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

Gotti closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Samurai lands with a short shot to the head.
Gotti is trying to pull guard but Samurai turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Gotti. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gotti is looking to break free of the clinch but Samurai has double underhooks.
Gotti misses with a body punch.
Samurai stops a takedown attempt from Gotti.

Samurai pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gotti lands a two punch combo.
Gotti blocks a low kick nicely.
Samurai lands a leg kick that knocks Gotti off balance momentarily.
Samurai tries to clinch up.
Samurai tries to clinch there but Gotti circles away.
Samurai is looking to clinch but Gotti is avoiding it.
Samurai throws a leg kick which misses Gotti's front leg but catches the back leg as Gotti tries to avoid it.
Samurai throws a head kick that Gotti semi-blocks.
Gotti blocks a head kick by Samurai.
Samurai throws a sloppy head kick
and Gotti counters with a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gotti tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Samurai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Samurai misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gotti pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Samurai closes the distance and pushes Gotti back into the cage.

Gotti breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Samurai wants to clinch but Gotti slips to the side

and Gotti counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gotti.
Samurai is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Samurai keeping moving, preventing Gotti from controlling successfully.
Samurai being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gotti postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gotti loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Gotti gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Gotti looks to land a combination. Samurai sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Samurai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Samurai tried to score with a low kick but Gotti checks it.
Gotti lands with a nice combination. Samurai backs away looking to recover.
John Gotti is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Samurai misses with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gotti shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Samurai eats them both and turns towards Gotti to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Samurai scores with a spinning back kick!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gotti thows a body shot but no joy.
Gotti misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gotti avoids a punch combination nicely.
A head kick misses from Samurai.
Kensei Samurai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
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!
Gotti tries to clinch there but Samurai circles away.
Samurai chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gotti avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Samurai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gotti shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Samurai sprawls well. Samurai wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gotti gets slowly back to his feet.
A head kick from Samurai lands but Gotti takes it in his stride.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kensei Samurai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Gotti avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

It looks like John Gotti has been cut.

Gotti instigates a clinch.
Samurai prevents Gotti from breaking the clinch.
Gotti managing to block the knees to the body from Samurai.
Samurai keeps control of Gotti as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Samurai breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Samurai moves in looking to clinch but Gotti pushes him off.
Samurai has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Samurai there as he acknowledges the shot.
Gotti moves in looking to clinch but Samurai pushes him off.

Samurai has closed the distance and engaged Gotti in a clinch.
Samurai is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gotti is defending well for now.
Gotti is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Samurai crunches a lovely knee into Gotti's ribcage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Samurai breaks from the clinch.
Samurai tries to close the distance and clinch but Gotti swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gotti tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Samurai tries to clinch there but Gotti circles away.
Samurai wants to clinch
and Gotti counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Samurai turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Samurai gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Samurai gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gotti.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Samurai breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gotti looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Samurai closes the distance looking to clinch
and Gotti counters with a left and a right that stings Samurai.
Samurai is looking to chop away at Gotti's legs.
Samurai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Samurai doesn't manage to clinch there - Gotti circles away.
Samurai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gotti throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gotti lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Samurai throws a head kick that half lands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gotti dodges the punch combination from Samurai.
Samurai tries to clinch but Gotti moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samurai walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Gotti checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Samurai throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Samurai misses with a head kick.
Gotti misses with a double jab.
A head kick misses from Samurai.
Samurai misses with a few strikes there.
Samurai moves to clinch but Gotti breaks away

and Gotti counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gotti.
Gotti goes for a takedown attempt but Samurai pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Gotti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Samurai looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Samurai thows a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gotti throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Samurai's waist but Samurai gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gotti off to one side.
Gotti with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Samurai throws a head kick but Gotti moves out of range.
Samurai misses with a low kick.
Samurai tries to clinch but Gotti is having none of it.
Samurai defending well as Gotti loads up on a big left hand.
Gotti ducks under a wild hook from Samurai.
Kensei Samurai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gotti throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Samurai on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Samurai scores with a three punch combo!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gotti tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Samurai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gotti is looking to clinch but Samurai is avoiding it.
Samurai tries a head kick but it misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kensei Samurai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Samurai has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kensei Samurai!