PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanchez has chosen Naughty by Nature - O.P.P. as his entrance music. Carlos Sanchez told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Nelson
vs
Sanchez

170 cm
23
147 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

170 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, James Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of London, Carlos Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Steven Brown and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nelson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sanchez, pushing him back against the cage.
Sanchez tries to pull guard but Nelson won't allow it.

Sanchez pulls guard effortlessly.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Sanchez has a closed guard, preventing Nelson from standing up.
Nelson trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Nelson prevents Sanchez from getting back to his feet.
Nelson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sanchez wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Nelson is now in half guard.
Nelson trying to mount his opponent but Sanchez defends it.
Nelson moves into full mount! Sanchez won't be happy about that!
Nelson looking to control but Sanchez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Nelson avoids the attempt from Sanchez to control.
Nelson with the ground and pound from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson cracks Sanchez with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Nelson working Sanchez over with strikes here.
Sanchez looks gassed!

Nelson stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Sanchez takes a kick to the side of the head.
Sanchez has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Nelson.

Nelson clinches up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Nelson breaks from the clinch.

Nelson clinches.
Nelson lands a nice elbow.

Nelson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Nelson.

Nelson gets the takedown into side control.

Nelson decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Nelson moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Nelson.
Nice elbow from Nelson.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the temple.

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

Sanchez tries to keep at a distance but Nelson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nelson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sanchez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Nelson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nelson throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
James Nelson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nelson throws a head kick that half lands.
Nelson fakes the leg kick and cracks Sanchez in the body.

Nelson pushes Sanchez up against the cage in a clinch.
Nelson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the temple.
Nelson lands an elbow inside that Sanchez shrugs off.

Nelson breaks from the clinch.
Sanchez has his takedown stuffed
and Nelson counters with a two punch combo.
James Nelson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Sanchez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nelson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Nelson trying to control the action but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Sanchez taking some punishment here, with Nelson in his half guard.
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet.
Sanchez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nelson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez won't allow Nelson to pass to mount.
Nelson prevents Sanchez from improving his position.

Nelson decides to stand and escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Sanchez with a poor takedown
and Sanchez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nelson scores with a body shot.
Sanchez shoots and misses

and Nelson moves into the clinch.
Nelson is pressed up against the cage. Sanchez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nelson down to the mat. Nelson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nelson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Nelson moves into range and clinches up with Sanchez.
Sanchez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sanchez tries to score a body lock takedown but Nelson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Nelson breaks from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanchez misses with a takedown
and Nelson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sanchez tries for a takedown but Nelson circles away easily

and Nelson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Nelson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nelson tries to clinch there but Sanchez circles away.

Nelson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Sanchez!
Nelson landing strikes from the mount.
Nelson working the ground and pound effectively.
Nelson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Nelson prevents Sanchez from getting the reversal.
Nelson lands a heavy elbow.
BOOM! Nelson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Sanchez can't escape the position.
Nelson working Sanchez over with strikes here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nelson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Nelson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Sanchez?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson scoring with strikes but Sanchez is staying in there.
James Nelson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nelson controlling the pace for now.
Sanchez is looking to get to half guard.
Nelson trying to control but Sanchez is having none of it.
Nelson working Sanchez over with strikes here.
Nelson prevents Sanchez from getting the reversal.

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.
Nelson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Nelson looking for a guillotine from mount but Sanchez is having none of it.
Sanchez is trying to reverse the position but instead Nelson has taken his back - oops!
Nelson lands punches and elbows.
Nelson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sanchez can do to turn this around?
Nelson keeps control of the position as Sanchez tries to break free.
Nelson scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Sanchez wants to control his opponent's hands but Nelson gets his hands free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is taking damage to the body and head.
Sanchez controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Nelson is landing with strikes from the back.
Nelson is working the ground and pound. Can Sanchez escape?

Nelson is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Sanchez knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Sanchez for a finish.
Nelson softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Nelson 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.
Nelson lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.

Nelson is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Sanchez with him. Sanchez is trying to defend but Nelson has an arm under the chin now! Sanchez grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). James Nelson!