PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cael Sanderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iku Roe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Iku Roe 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!

Sanderson
vs
Roe

159 cm
24
215 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

188 cm
23
205 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Mundo Green - World Verde

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cael Sanderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Iku Roe!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Roe or perhaps it was just good defense by Sanderson which made him look bad.
Roe closes the distance and clinches up with Sanderson, looking for a takedown. Roe pushes Sanderson against the cage but Sanderson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Sanderson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Roe napping and manages to drive through into side control!
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.
Sanderson grinds an elbow into Roe's temple.
Roe regains half guard.
Sanderson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sanderson wants to free his trapped foot but Roe is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Roe is trying to get back to full guard.
Sanderson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Roe has hold of Sanderson's hands but Sanderson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sanderson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Roe is trying to control but can't.
Sanderson trying to control from half guard but Roe is working away.
Sanderson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sanderson winds up and cracks Roe with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Roe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanderson trying to control the action but Roe is working from the bottom.
Roe is trying to control but can't.
Sanderson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Roe wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roe avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sanderson.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Roe gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Roe looking for a sweep. Not yet Roe, not yet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sanderson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sanderson sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Roe is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sanderson is aware though and is defending well.
Sanderson wants to control from the top but Roe keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Roe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sanderson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Roe looks gassed!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sanderson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sanderson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Roe on the ground.
Sanderson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Roe works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sanderson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sanderson tries to free his leg and advance position but Roe is retaining full guard.

Roe is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Roe throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Roe looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Roe wants to sweep but no luck.
Sanderson scoring with some ground and pound.
Sanderson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sanderson cracks Roe with a solid left hand.
Sanderson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roe looking for a sweep. Not yet Roe, not yet.
Sanderson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sanderson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Roe's head.
Sanderson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Roe trying to keep a closed guard but Sanderson is proving a slippery customer.
Roe keeping moving, preventing Sanderson from controlling successfully.

Roe is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sanderson defends well.
Sanderson landing some decent shots from guard.
Roe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Roe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sanderson lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson is looking to work some ground and pound but Roe has wrist control.
Sanderson is in close to Roe's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sanderson landing with the ground and pound.
Sanderson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sanderson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Roe's head.
Roe keeping moving, preventing Sanderson from controlling successfully.
Sanderson looking to sit in guard and control but Roe gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sanderson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sanderson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Roe.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Roe sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cael Sanderson dominated that round.
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.

Sanderson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Cael Sanderson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Roe 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.
Roe pulls Sanderson in close to prevent any damage.
Sanderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Roe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Roe throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Roe is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sanderson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sanderson chips away with some ground and pound.
Roe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Roe is breathing heavily.
Roe preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Roe not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sanderson postures up and lands a big shot to Roe's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanderson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sanderson throws a big right hand that misses.
Sanderson tries to free his leg and advance position but Roe is retaining full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sanderson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sanderson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Roe is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Roe working a defensive guard here.
Sanderson stopping the sweep attempt from Roe.
Sanderson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sanderson scoring with some ground and pound.
Sanderson trying to control but Roe is working from the bottom.
Sanderson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roe keeping moving, preventing Sanderson from controlling successfully.
Sanderson works over Roe with some ground and pound from guard.
Sanderson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sanderson is looking to work some ground and pound but Roe has wrist control.
Roe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Roe throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Roe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Roe bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sanderson's guard.
Roe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sanderson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Roe is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sanderson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sanderson has escaped and now he's on top!
Sanderson with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson is looking to work some ground and pound but Roe has wrist control.
Roe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sanderson is one step ahead there.
Roe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Roe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sanderson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Roe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sanderson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Sanderson has managed to clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sanderson as Roe tries to tie him up.

Sanderson lands a takedown into guard.

Roe working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sanderson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sanderson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Roe controls Sanderson momentarily but Sanderson frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Roe's head.
Sanderson trying to control but Roe is working from the bottom.
Roe wants to sweep here but Sanderson controlling him for the moment.
Roe trying to control the position.
Sanderson stopping the sweep attempt from Roe.
Sanderson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sanderson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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

Sanderson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Roe is fighting off a takedown attempt but Sanderson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Roe to the mat. Roe regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Sanderson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Roe has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sanderson has managed to get both his arms back between Roe's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cael Sanderson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sanderson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Roe manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sanderson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Roe is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sanderson is in close to Roe's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sanderson stands up over Roe, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sanderson cracks Roe with a solid left hand.
Sanderson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sanderson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Roe working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sanderson.
Sanderson throwing strikes from guard but Roe blocks nicely.
Roe is trying to keep Sanderson in close.
Sanderson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roe is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Sanderson has his hands clasped together but Roe extends an breaks Sanderson's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Roe.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Iku Roe!