PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Arturo Gallo (ranked 3709 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leon Pablo Sanchez (ranked 3849 p4p, 0 weight class). Leon Pablo Sanchez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gallo
vs
Pablo Sanchez

180 cm
25
157 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

175 cm
26
156 lbs
6 - 13 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Arturo Gallo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leon Pablo Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, John Roberts and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez moves out of range of the body kick from Gallo.
Gallo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Gallo shoots for a takedown but Sanchez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Gallo moves into the clinch.
Sanchez tries to pull guard but Gallo won't allow it.
Gallo has Sanchez pressed against the cage, preventing Sanchez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Gallo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sanchez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sanchez shoots in looking for a takedown but Gallo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sanchez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Arturo Gallo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leon Pablo Sanchez.

Sanchez clinches with his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gallo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sanchez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sanchez is pressed up against the cage. Gallo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sanchez down to the mat. Sanchez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gallo as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gallo misses with a wild combination.
Nice takedown defense from Gallo. No joy for Sanchez on that attempt.
Sanchez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sanchez wants it to stay on the feet.
Sanchez now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Gallo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sanchez is looking to clinch.
Gallo throws a right and a left that Sanchez avoids nicely.
Gallo shoots in but no luck this time.

Sanchez clinches with his opponent.

Sanchez drags the fight down to the ground.
Gallo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gallo wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gallo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gallo trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanchez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gallo.
Sanchez is trying to control the position but Gallo postures up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Sanchez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gallo manages to get himself to full guard.

Gallo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sanchez defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gallo striking off his back but it's not causing Sanchez any problems.
Gallo keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.

Gallo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sanchez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Gallo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanchez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gallo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sanchez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gallo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gallo stuffs the takedown.
Gallo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sanchez counters with a left and a right that stings Gallo.
Sanchez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gallo defends well and Sanchez ends up having to push Gallo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sanchez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sanchez wants it to stay on the feet.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gallo as he jumps to the side.
Gallo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sanchez as he avoids it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanchez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gallo.
Sanchez fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Leon Pablo Sanchez will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sanchez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gallo pinned against the cage. Gallo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sanchez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gallo's waist but Gallo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sanchez off to one side.
Gallo shoots in but Sanchez avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Sanchez moves into range and clinches up with Gallo.
Gallo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gallo walks away with a smile on his face. Sanchez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Arturo Gallo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leon Pablo Sanchez.
Gallo dives in and grabs Sanchez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sanchez pushes down on Gallo's head and hops out.
Gallo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sanchez pinned against the cage. Sanchez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez wants to clinch.
Gallo tries to counter with a takedown but Sanchez is quick to defend against it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gallo.
Sanchez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gallo defends it nicely.
Sanchez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gallo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gallo sprawls well. Gallo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sanchez gets slowly back to his feet.
Arturo Gallo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Gallo.
Sanchez is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Sanchez shoots in but no luck this time.
Gallo throws the kick towards the body but Sanchez avoids it.
Gallo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sanchez misses with a takedown attempt - Gallo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Gallo has closed the distance and engaged Sanchez in a clinch.
Sanchez is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Gallo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sanchez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gallo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gallo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sanchez has him pressed against the cage.
Sanchez is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gallo stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Sanchez prevents Gallo from breaking the clinch.
Gallo is trying to break free.

Gallo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sanchez is looking to clinch but Gallo is avoiding it.
Sanchez throws a sloppy head kick

and Gallo counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gallo.
Gallo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sanchez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gallo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sanchez defends it nicely.
Arturo Gallo is winning the standup battle so far.
Sanchez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gallo misses with a takedown attempt - Sanchez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sanchez misses with a takedown attempt - Gallo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sanchez misses with a takedown

and Gallo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arturo Gallo dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gallo rushes Sanchez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gallo effectively controlling the action here.

Sanchez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gallo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sanchez's waist but Sanchez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gallo off to one side.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gallo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Sanchez as Gallo shoots in.
Sanchez looks for a takedown but Gallo sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice combination there by Gallo.

Gallo manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Sanchez on his heels. He'll look to pass Sanchez's guard now, I'm sure.
Sanchez is wriggling around but Gallo manages to pass to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanchez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

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

Sanchez takes the fight into the clinch.
Sanchez tries to land knees in the clinch but Gallo avoids the damage to the body.
Gallo will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sanchez up against the cage.
Gallo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sanchez can do to turn this around?

Sanchez decides to pull guard.
Gallo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Gallo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanchez is keeping the position for now.

Gallo decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sanchez, up you get!
Gallo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sanchez counters with a series of strikes. Gallo will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arturo Gallo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gallo instigates a clinch.
Gallo is looking to take this one to the mat.
Gallo avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gallo breaks the clinch.
Sanchez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gallo swivels and escapes.
Gallo keeps the fight on the outside.
Gallo shoots for a double leg takedown but Sanchez sprawls well. He's pushed Gallo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanchez tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Gallo is able to avoid easily.
Nice sprawl there from Gallo as Sanchez shoots in.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gallo sprawls well. Gallo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sanchez gets slowly back to his feet.
Sanchez looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Sanchez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gallo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gallo forces Sanchez back against the cage and clinches.

Gallo manages to pull guard.

Gallo throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Sanchez escapes and throws Gallo's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Gallo is not content to let Sanchez control the position.

Sanchez stands up.
Sanchez fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arturo Gallo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gallo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arturo Gallo!