PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Podryv Ustoev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sanchez
vs
Ustoev

199 cm
23
240 lbs
3 - 0 - 1

200 cm
24
264 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Cobra Kai Nutrition

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 - 0 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tom Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Podryv Ustoev!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Ivan Kurochkin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez looks to throw the jab but Ustoev is out of range.
Sanchez fails with the takedown.

Ustoev lands a big head kick that sends Sanchez tumbling to the mat! Ustoev takes a step backwards and waves Sanchez back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Tom Sanchez has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ustoev tries to clinch up.

Sanchez moves into the clinch.

Ustoev jumps into guard, dragging Sanchez to the mat.
Ustoev trying to keep a closed guard but Sanchez is proving a slippery customer.
Sanchez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ustoev is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sanchez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sanchez throwing strikes but missing.
Ustoev manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sanchez manages to get himself to full guard.
Sanchez keeping moving, preventing Ustoev from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Ustoev trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Sanchez wants to stand but Ustoev is controlling the position.
Ustoev trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanchez trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ustoev darts in trying to clinch

and Sanchez moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ustoev tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sanchez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ustoev tries to score a body lock takedown but Sanchez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Sanchez breaks from the clinch.
Ustoev closes the distance but Sanchez moves to the side

and Sanchez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Ustoev tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sanchez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Tom Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Podryv Ustoev.
Ustoev is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sanchez is looking to control Ustoev's arms but Ustoev gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sanchez has his back to the cage.
Ustoev tries to pull guard but Sanchez won't allow it.
Ustoev is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sanchez pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Sanchez pulls guard effortlessly.
Ustoev trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Sanchez trying to strike off his back.

Sanchez is looking for a triangle but Ustoev pushes his legs off easily.
Ustoev trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Sanchez throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Ustoev advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ustoev trying to control the pace.
Sanchez is trying to stand up here but Ustoev is controlling him well.
Ustoev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sanchez keeps working.
Ustoev wants to free his trapped foot but Sanchez is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Ustoev is looking for a kimura but Sanchez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ustoev to get the leverage.
Ustoev performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Sanchez is in trouble now - Ustoev has advanced to mount!
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.
Sanchez is working to get back to half guard.

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.
Ustoev blocks Sanchez's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Ustoev wants to control the pace but Sanchez is squirming around nicely.
Ustoev blocks Sanchez's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Sanchez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Ustoev tries to control but Sanchez wriggling away.
Sanchez tries to buck Ustoev off but he can't manage it.
Sanchez regains half guard.
Ustoev trying to pass the guard but Sanchez defending well.
Sanchez regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Podryv Ustoev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tom Sanchez'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.

Nice sprawl there from Ustoev as Sanchez shoots in.
Ustoev closes the distance looking to clinch

and Sanchez counters by moving into the clinch.

Ustoev is trying to trip Sanchez. He has hold of a leg but Sanchez is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Ustoev persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Sanchez throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Sanchez trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Sanchez keeping full guard, as Ustoev tries to pass.
Ustoev wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ustoev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanchez trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Ustoev has taken the fight to the clinch.

Ustoev drags the fight down to the ground.
Sanchez is looking to work some ground and pound but Ustoev has wrist control.
Ustoev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sanchez lands a couple of elbows.
Sanchez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ustoev trying to control the position.
Ustoev keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Ustoev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sanchez with a nice head shot there.
Sanchez preventing the sweep.
Ustoev is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sanchez wanted to stand there but Ustoev had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ustoev is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Ustoev looking for a guillotine here but Sanchez defends easily.
Sanchez content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ustoev controls Sanchez momentarily but Sanchez frees himself.
Sanchez lands a couple of elbows.
Ustoev pulls Sanchez in close to prevent any damage.
Ustoev trying to keep a closed guard but Sanchez is proving a slippery customer.
Sanchez is in close to Ustoev's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez stands up over Ustoev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ustoev utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ustoev is trying to control the position but Sanchez postures up.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Ustoev keeps moving.
Sanchez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ustoev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sanchez throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez wants to pass the guard but Ustoev is keeping the position.

Ustoev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sanchez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ustoev is breathing heavily.
Sanchez makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four 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.
Sanchez works over Ustoev with some ground and pound from guard.
Sanchez postures up and lands a big shot to Ustoev's brow.
Sanchez makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ustoev trying to keep a closed guard but Sanchez is proving a slippery customer.
Sanchez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Ustoev looking for a guillotine here but Sanchez defends easily.
Sanchez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ustoev's head.
Sanchez postures up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sanchez's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sanchez works over Ustoev with some ground and pound from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Sanchez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tom Sanchez's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sanchez stuffs the takedown attempt from Ustoev. Ustoev gets slowly back to his feet.
Ustoev tries for a takedown but Sanchez circles away easily

and Sanchez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ustoev's guard now.
Sanchez chips away with some ground and pound.
Ustoev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sanchez.
Ustoev trying to keep a closed guard but Sanchez is proving a slippery customer.
Sanchez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ustoev's head.
Ustoev trying to control the position.
Sanchez postures up in Ustoev's guard and throws a big left but Ustoev blocks it.
Sanchez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ustoev's head.
Sanchez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sanchez with a nice head shot there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanchez wants to stand but Ustoev has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ustoev is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ustoev's head.
Sanchez postures up in Ustoev's guard and throws a big left but Ustoev blocks it.
Ustoev looking to control.
Ustoev manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sanchez manages to get himself to full guard.
Sanchez keeping moving, preventing Ustoev from controlling successfully.
Sanchez keeping full guard, as Ustoev tries to pass.
Sanchez throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ustoev wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.

Despite being in the dominant position, Podryv Ustoev just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sanchez gets a takedown into half guard.
Ustoev trying to control here.
Sanchez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ustoev has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sanchez is working away from the top position though.
Nice strikes from Sanchez there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ustoev avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sanchez.
Ustoev is looking to control Sanchez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ustoev avoid being mounted?
Ustoev is holding on to half guard well.
Sanchez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ustoev is trying to control but can't.
Sanchez scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ustoev manages to get to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sanchez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ustoev controls Sanchez momentarily but Sanchez frees himself.
Sanchez looking to pass the guard.

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.
Ustoev trying to keep a closed guard but Sanchez is proving a slippery customer.

Despite being in the dominant position, Podryv Ustoev just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ustoev tries to clinch
enabling Sanchez to counter with a crisp jab.
Ustoev tries to clinch up

and Sanchez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ustoev backwards.
Sanchez lands with a right to the head.

Ustoev jumps guard and drags Sanchez to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ustoev preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ustoev is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Sanchez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ustoev trying to keep a closed guard but Sanchez is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Sanchez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sanchez 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Sanchez!