PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cormack Labrador (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sanchez
vs
Labrador

199 cm
24
240 lbs
4 - 0 - 1

180 cm
25
280 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

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 4 - 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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cormack Labrador!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Illya Tyunina and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Labrador wants to clinch up but Sanchez keeps it at a distance.
Labrador keeps the fight on the outside.
Sanchez moves out of range as Labrador strikes.
Cormack Labrador seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanchez shoots for a double leg takedown but Labrador sprawls well. He's pushed Sanchez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sanchez misses with a takedown attempt - Labrador sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Danga de danga de dang - Sanchez scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Cormack Labrador has been cut.
Sanchez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sanchez avoids the body shot from Labrador.

Sanchez feints and as Labrador raises his hands in defense, Sanchez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sanchez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Labrador 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez postures up.
Labrador is pulling down on Sanchez's head to control his posture.
Labrador wants to sweep here but Sanchez controlling him for the moment.
Sanchez postures up in Labrador's guard and throws a big left but Labrador blocks it.

Labrador looking for a guillotine here but Sanchez defends easily.
Sanchez won't allow Labrador to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Sanchez has Labrador up against the cage in a clinch.
Labrador scores a nice knee to the body.
Labrador utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.
Sanchez avoiding damage as Labrador throws knees to the body.
Labrador tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sanchez can't break the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a body punch in the clinch.
Labrador lands a good knee to the midsection. Sanchez won't want to take too many of those.
Sanchez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Labrador.
A short uppercut from Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sanchez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Labrador scores a nice knee to the body.
Sanchez fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Labrador trying to land knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Labrador.
A nice left hand lands by Sanchez.
Labrador trying to land knees to the body.
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 Labrador walks away with a smile on his face. Sanchez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Labrador rushes Sanchez and presses him up against the cage.
Sanchez tries to break free but Labrador pushes him back against the cage.
Labrador lands a knee to the body.
Labrador comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Labrador landing knees to the body.
Labrador tries to land knees in the clinch but Sanchez avoids the damage to the body.
Labrador utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Labrador lands an elbow inside that Sanchez shrugs off.
Sanchez lands a hook to the side of the head.
Labrador tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sanchez lands a shoulder strike.
Sanchez pushes Labrador back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sanchez tries to stall but Labrador uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Sanchez has had enough of the clinch but Labrador keeps him there for the moment.
Sanchez is trying to break the clinch but Labrador has him pressed against the cage.
Labrador lands an elbow inside.
Labrador with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sanchez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Labrador throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sanchez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sanchez managing to block the knees to the body from Labrador.
Sanchez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Knees to the body from Labrador.
Sanchez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Labrador gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Sanchez tries to stall but Labrador uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sanchez trying to stall but Labrador improves his position.
Labrador scores a nice knee to the body.
Sanchez managing to block the knees to the body from Labrador.
Labrador misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sanchez.
Sanchez dodges an elbow strike from Labrador.
Labrador trying to land knees to the body.
Sanchez stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Sanchez lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Labrador backwards.
Good body shot from Sanchez.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sanchez swings wildly with an uppercut but Labrador uses good head movement to avoid it.
Labrador missing with knees to the body.
Labrador trying to land knees to the body.
Labrador keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sanchez's efforts to push away.

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

Sanchez clinches up with Labrador and pushes him back against the cage.
Sanchez managing to block the knees to the body from Labrador.
Sanchez digs a right hand into Labrador's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Labrador's gas tank.

Sanchez breaks from the clinch.
Labrador doesn't manage to clinch there - Sanchez circles away.
Sanchez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Labrador pinned against the cage. Labrador gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Labrador tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sanchez was well out of range. Poor timing from Labrador.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Labrador throws the left hand but Sanchez avoids the punch easily.
Labrador darts in trying to clinch

and Sanchez counters with a single leg into guard. Labrador didn't expect that.
Sanchez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Labrador is trying to control the position but Sanchez postures up.
Sanchez throws a big right hand that misses.
Labrador is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sanchez throws a big right hand that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Labrador looking to control.
Sanchez is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Labrador lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sanchez!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Sanchez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cormack Labrador'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.

Labrador tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sanchez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Labrador sprawls well. Labrador wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sanchez gets slowly back to his feet.
Labrador tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Sanchez counter with a right hand.
Nice sprawl there from Labrador as Sanchez shoots in.
Labrador takes one to the chin there.
Sanchez swats away the attempt to clinch by Labrador.
Sanchez takes one on the button.
Labrador clinches but Sanchez breaks the clinch

and Sanchez moves into the clinch.
Labrador unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sanchez lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Labrador crunches a lovely knee into Sanchez's ribcage.
Labrador lands a damaging elbow.
Labrador using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Labrador landing knees to the body.
Cormack Labrador seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Labrador gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Labrador creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sanchez's defenses.
Labrador unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Labrador lands a nice knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Labrador comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Labrador lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sanchez lands with a short shot to the head.
Sanchez avoiding damage as Labrador throws knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Labrador.
Labrador landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Sanchez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Labrador tries to land knees in the clinch but Sanchez avoids the damage to the body.
Sanchez tries to break free but Labrador pushes him back against the cage.
Labrador stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Sanchez looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Labrador landing knees to the head.
Labrador trying to land knees to the body.

Sanchez breaks from the clinch.
Labrador tries to clinch there but Sanchez circles away.
Labrador tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sanchez swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Sanchez clinches.
Knees to the body from Labrador.
Labrador lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Labrador misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sanchez.

Sanchez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Labrador defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sanchez.

Labrador moves into the clinch.
Sanchez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Labrador comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A shot in the inside from Sanchez.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sanchez creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Sanchez avoiding damage as Labrador throws knees to the body.
Labrador misses with a knee to the head.
Labrador tries a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks it.
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 Labrador walks away with a smile on his face. Sanchez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Sanchez has managed to clinch.
Labrador lands an elbow just above Sanchez 's eye.

Sanchez breaks from the clinch.
Labrador looks to clinch
and Sanchez counters with a three punch combo that has Labrador backing up. Labrador nods at Sanchez to acknowledge the strikes.
Labrador lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Sanchez backs up against the cage.
Sanchez is looking to clinch but Labrador is avoiding it.
Sanchez wants to clinch.
Sanchez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Labrador tries to avoid it but Sanchez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Labrador to the ground. Labrador escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Labrador swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A swing and a miss from Labrador.

Labrador clinches up with Sanchez and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Labrador tries to land knees in the clinch but Sanchez avoids the damage to the body.

Sanchez turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Labrador gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Sanchez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Labrador has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sanchez is working away from the top position though.
Ground and pound from Sanchez.
Sanchez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sanchez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Labrador's head.
Labrador trying to hold on to Sanchez's head to control him but Sanchez postures up.

Labrador has one foot on Sanchez's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Labrador tries to clinch up.
Sanchez doesn't manage to clinch there - Labrador circles away.
Sanchez moves away from the strike by Labrador.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez tries to clinch up but Labrador circles away and keeps his distance.
Sanchez dives in and grabs Labrador's left leg, looking for a takedown. Labrador pushes down on Sanchez's head and hops out.
Labrador tries to clinch but Sanchez moves out of range.
Sanchez takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Labrador lands a good knee to the midsection. Sanchez won't want to take too many of those.
Labrador with a knee to the head.
Labrador with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sanchez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Labrador keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sanchez's efforts to push away.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the temple.
Labrador trying to land knees to the body.
Sanchez wants to get back to striking at distance but Labrador won't allow it.
Labrador lands a nice shot to the body.
Sanchez stalling in the clinch but Labrador improves position.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Labrador obliges.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Labrador has Sanchez pressed against the cage, preventing Sanchez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the temple.
Labrador lands a damaging elbow.

Sanchez jumps guard and drags Labrador to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Labrador must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Labrador trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cormack Labrador showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Cormack Labrador's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Sanchez tries to clinch up.
Labrador tries to close the distance and clinch but Sanchez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Labrador shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sanchez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sanchez cracks Labrador with a solid left hand.
Labrador keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sanchez is looking to work some ground and pound but Labrador has wrist control.
Labrador lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sanchez!
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 tries to lock up and control but Labrador gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sanchez swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Sanchez avoids a series of strikes thrown by Labrador.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Labrador controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez throwing hammer fists to the chest of Labrador. What's that going to do exactly?

Labrador is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Sanchez has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Sanchez tries to reverse the position but Labrador maintains control.
Labrador looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sanchez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Labrador misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Labrador looking to control but Sanchez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sanchez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sanchez wants to hold on but Labrador pushes him away.
Sanchez swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Labrador looking to control but Sanchez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Labrador blocks Sanchez's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Sanchez is working to get back to half guard.
Sanchez wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Labrador lands a big elbow.
Tom Sanchez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Labrador controlling from mount.
Sanchez taking shots to the head.
Labrador controlling from the full mount.
Labrador thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Sanchez swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Labrador misses with some ground and pound and Sanchez recovers position to half guard.
Sanchez flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Labrador 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.
Labrador wants to pass to mount but Sanchez is defending the position.
Sanchez is staying active underneath Labrador, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Labrador gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nice elbow from Labrador.
Sanchez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Labrador tries a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks it.
Labrador landing knees to the body.
Labrador unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Labrador misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sanchez.
Labrador unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sanchez lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sanchez blocks the elbow strike.
Sanchez tries to pull guard but Labrador won't allow it.
Labrador lands a knee to the head.
Sanchez lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Labrador trying to land knees to the body.
Sanchez tries to circle away but Labrador has him pinned against the cage.
Labrador pushes off an throws an elbow but Sanchez leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sanchez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cormack Labrador comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Labrador 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cormack Labrador!