PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rico Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dusty Mears (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mears has chosen Todd Snider's Beer Run as his entrance music. Dusty Mears is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Sanchez
vs
Mears

183 cm
22
179 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

183 cm
20
182 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rico Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dusty Mears!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Robert Douchet and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mears swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mears fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mears closes the distance and clinches up with Sanchez, looking for a takedown. Mears pushes Sanchez against the cage but Sanchez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Sanchez clinches up with Mears and pushes him back against the cage.
Mears takes a knee to the side of the body.
Mears avoids a wild elbow strike from Sanchez.

Mears breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sanchez wants to clinch.

Sanchez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sanchez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Sanchez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sanchez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sanchez lands an elbow inside.
Sanchez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mears tries to land knees in the clinch but Sanchez avoids the damage to the body.
Nice elbow from Sanchez.
Sanchez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mears can't get the takedown.
Rico Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dusty Mears.
Sanchez scores a nice knee to the body.
Sanchez lands an elbow inside.
Knees to the body from Sanchez.
Mears looks gassed!
Sanchez trying to land knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sanchez.
Mears goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sanchez prevents it.
Sanchez scores with a shot to the side of Mears's head.
Mears takes a knee to the side of the body.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow.
Sanchez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A short right from Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a damaging elbow.
Sanchez lands a nice shot to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sanchez.
Sanchez with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sanchez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Sanchez unloads a knee to the mid-section. Mears lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Mears blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sanchez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sanchez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sanchez avoiding damage as Mears throws knees to the body.
Sanchez lands an elbow just above Mears 's eye.
With the fighters up against the cage, Mears throws an elbow but misses.
Sanchez creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mears's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez gets through Mears's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Mears takes an elbow to the temple.
A short uppercut from Sanchez.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Mears obliges.
Sanchez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mears avoids a wild elbow strike from Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow.
Sanchez throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sanchez unloads a knee to the mid-section. Mears lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sanchez working aggressively here.
Mears drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sanchez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mears shoots for a takedown but Sanchez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sanchez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Sanchez moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Mears is looking to break free of the clinch but Sanchez has double underhooks.
Mears is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sanchez lands a good knee to the midsection. Mears won't want to take too many of those.
Sanchez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Mears lands a good knee to the midsection. Sanchez won't want to take too many of those.
Mears takes a knee to the side of the body.
Mears tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mears unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sanchez lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sanchez crunches a lovely knee into Mears's ribcage.
Sanchez is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Mears blocks an elbow strike.
Mears looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Sanchez missing with knees to the body.
Sanchez lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mears backwards.

Mears gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Mears seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sanchez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sanchez wants to improve his position but Mears is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mears working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez wants to sweep but Mears has passed to side control!
Sanchez wants to control but Mears postures up.
Sanchez on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sanchez tries to get out of the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mears is looking to take a break and control but Sanchez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Sanchez dominated that round.
That's time! Sanchez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sanchez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mears shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sanchez pinned against the cage. Sanchez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mears 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 Mears off to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mears tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sanchez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mears somewhat.
Rico Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dusty Mears.

Mears gets a takedown into half guard.
Mears is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez is not content to let Mears control the position.
Mears thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Sanchez to regain full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sanchez holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mears accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mears won't allow Sanchez to sweep him here.
Sanchez working a defensive guard here.
Mears thows a big elbow that misses.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sanchez wants to clinch but Mears slips to the side
and Mears counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mears throws a sloppy head kick and Sanchez moves out of range easily.

Mears gets a clinch.
Mears scores with a knee to the head.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the forehead.
Mears has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sanchez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sanchez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mears has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mears tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sanchez landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Mears drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sanchez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sanchez closes the distance looking to clinch

and Mears moves into the clinch.
Sanchez utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Sanchez with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez stops a takedown attempt from Mears.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Sanchez obliges.
Mears tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sanchez with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow.

Mears breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sanchez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mears is defending well for now.
Mears takes an elbow to the temple.
Mears lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Sanchez lands an elbow that stopped Mears in his tracks for a moment.
Sanchez lands an elbow just above Mears 's eye.
Mears on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mears is trying to drag Sanchez to the mat but Sanchez just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mears landing knees to the body.
Mears is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mears on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mears lands a damaging elbow.
Mears is working for takedown but Sanchez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sanchez prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sanchez throws a head punch that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dusty Mears will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mears closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sanchez circles away.

Mears closes the distance and pushes Sanchez back into the cage.
Sanchez goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mears tries to score a body lock takedown but Sanchez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow.
Nice elbow from Sanchez.
Mears takes an elbow to the temple.
Mears has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sanchez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rico Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dusty Mears.
Sanchez creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mears's defenses.
Sanchez using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rico Sanchez has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sanchez with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sanchez lands a good knee to the midsection. Mears won't want to take too many of those.
Sanchez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sanchez putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Mears in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Mears is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sanchez is defending well for now.
Sanchez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mears lands a good knee to the midsection. Sanchez won't want to take too many of those.
Sanchez is pressed up against the cage. Mears 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.
Mears moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanchez looks to clinch
and Mears counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mears swings for the body but Sanchez moves out of range.
Mears fails with a takedown attempt.
Sanchez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mears manages to avoid it.
Rico Sanchez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sanchez looks to clinch

and Mears counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mears.
Sanchez is looking to sweep but instead, Mears has passed into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mears thows a huge punch but Sanchez dodges it nicely.
Mears throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sanchez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mears has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sanchez tries to lock up and control but Mears gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Mears.
Sanchez is trying desperately to improve position.
Sanchez in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Mears throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Mears throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sanchez is looking to improve his position but Mears isn't that keen on the idea.
Mears landing strikes, looking to finish!
Mears scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Sanchez takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Mears can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sanchez is looking to escape.
Mears unloads with some shots from mount but Sanchez bucks and avoids them well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dusty Mears comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mears 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 William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Dusty Mears!