PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Justin Voss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Samuelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Voss
vs
Samuelson

183 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
162 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Justin Voss!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Samuelson!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Samuelson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Voss to the mat! Voss manages to get full guard.

Voss working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Samuelson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Samuelson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Samuelson won't allow Voss to sweep him here.
Samuelson stops Voss from standing up.
Voss trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Samuelson drops back looking for a leg! Voss is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Voss manages to kick Samuelson off! Samuelson jumps back into Voss's guard.
Samuelson won't allow Voss to sweep him here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Samuelson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Samuelson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Samuelson looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samuelson throws a strike but Voss rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Voss trying to control but Samuelson is working from the bottom.
Voss has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Samuelson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Samuelson wants to sweep but no luck.
Voss trying to control but Samuelson is working from the bottom.
Samuelson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Voss!
Voss is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Samuelson raining down shots from the mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Samuelson is landing with some decent strikes but Voss is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Voss slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Samuelson passes into side control, despite Voss's attempt to control the position.
Samuelson lands an elbow.
Voss is trying to get back to half guard.
Voss is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Samuelson off and has taken his back!
Samuelson can't escape the position.
Voss loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Samuelson hold on?
Voss throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Samuelson!
Voss is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voss tries to keep control of the position but Samuelson is staying busy.
Voss lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Samuelson staying busy and making it hard for Voss to control.
Samuelson covering up well under a series of strikes from Voss.
Voss doesn't have the hooks in and Samuelson manages to turn into his guard.
Voss is looking to sweep but instead, Samuelson has passed into half guard.
Voss is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Samuelson winds up and cracks Voss with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nice strikes from Samuelson there.
Voss is trying to stand up here but Samuelson is controlling him well.
Voss is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Samuelson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Voss with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Samuelson drops an elbow to the side of Voss's head.
Voss on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Samuelson drops an elbow to the side of Voss's head.
Samuelson tries to pass to full mount but Voss defends it.
Samuelson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Voss throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Voss throws a series of punches but Samuelson moves out of range.

Samuelson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Voss is controlling Samuelson's trapped leg to prevent Samuelson from advancing to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Samuelson 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.

Samuelson shoots in for a takedown but Voss shows good takedown defense.
Voss with a poor takedown

and Samuelson counters with a takedown into side control.
Samuelson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Samuelson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Samuelson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Voss throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Voss lands with a nice body punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Samuelson tries for a takedown but Voss circles away easily

and Voss counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Voss trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Samuelson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Voss won't allow Samuelson to sweep him here.
Samuelson lands a decent shot there.
Voss stopping the sweep attempt from Samuelson.
Voss postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Samuelson wants to stand up but Voss is controlling him.
Voss stays in close to Samuelson's body and controls the position.
Voss won't allow Samuelson to sweep him here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Voss fails with an attempt to clinch.
Voss fails with the takedown

and Samuelson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Voss's guard now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samuelson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Voss looking to hit a scissor sweep but Samuelson is one step ahead there.
Samuelson scoring with some ground and pound.
Voss is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Samuelson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Voss working a defensive guard here.
Samuelson slips nicely into half guard.
Voss taking some punishment here, with Samuelson in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voss is trying to get back to full guard.
Voss lands a couple of sideways elbows.
Samuelson lands with a punch from half guard.
Voss tries to get to full guard but Samuelson has control of the leg.

Samuelson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Samuelson trying to pass the guard but Voss defending well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Voss throws a series of punches but Samuelson avoids them all with ease.

Samuelson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samuelson working the ground and pound.
Samuelson looks up at the clock and then as Voss takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Samuelson smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Voss wants to control but Samuelson postures up.
Voss manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Samuelson is looking to improve his position.

Samuelson pushes Voss off and gets back to his feet.
Samuelson takes a kick to the side of the head.

Samuelson gets a takedown into half guard.

Samuelson postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Voss to stand up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Voss tries for a takedown but Samuelson circles away easily

and Samuelson counters with a shoot takedown. Voss fights it but they end up in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Samuelson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Voss tries to clinch

and Samuelson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Voss's guard.

Voss is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Samuelson is pushing down on Voss's leg trying to pass to half guard. Voss is fighting to maintain full guard but Samuelson has managed to sneak the leg through.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Samuelson connects with a nice short shot to Voss's temple.

Samuelson stands up and beckons Voss to join him on the feet.
Samuelson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Voss counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Samuelson is lucky that one didn't land flush.
John Samuelson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Samuelson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Voss connects with a high kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A good leg kick by Voss.
Samuelson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Voss circles away.
Samuelson closes the distance and clinches up with Voss, looking for a takedown. Samuelson pushes Voss against the cage but Voss circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Justin Voss has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Samuelson.
Samuelson slips a jab and a cross from Voss.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Voss gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Voss has momentary wrist control but Samuelson slips an elbow through the middle.
Samuelson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Samuelson throws a big right hand that misses.
Voss has momentary wrist control but Samuelson slips an elbow through the middle.
Voss lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Samuelson distracts Voss with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Voss looking to hit a scissor sweep but Samuelson is one step ahead there.
Voss throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Samuelson moves away from the strike by Voss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samuelson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Voss throws a hook but Samuelson blocks it.

Samuelson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Voss looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Voss is looking for a sweep.

Samuelson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
John Samuelson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Samuelson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Voss, who protects the arm well.
Voss tries to bench press Samuelson off him but Samuelson keeps the position.
Voss takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Samuelson landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Samuelson are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Samuelson working the ground and pound.
Samuelson scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Voss to see if he's OK.

Samuelson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Voss rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Samuelson's guard! Nice work there by Voss!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Voss accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Samuelson has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Voss off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Samuelson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Samuelson lands strikes from half guard.
Samuelson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Voss is pressing down on Samuelson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samuelson with a nice head shot there.

Samuelson gets to his feet - Voss follows without any prompting.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Samuelson.
Samuelson working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Samuelson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Voss to his feet.
Samuelson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Voss looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Samuelson clinches with his opponent.
Justin Voss has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Samuelson blocks an uppercut.
Samuelson looking for a takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Samuelson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Samuelson 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Samuelson!