PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathaniel Tabares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanchez kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is "Stand your ground" by Acarine. Tabares is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: your a jerk. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Sanchez
vs
Tabares

170 cm
19
155 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tommy Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nathaniel Tabares!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Russell Pearce and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sanchez.
Tabares keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez misses with a takedown attempt - Tabares sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Tabares scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez tries to improve position but can't.
Sanchez struggling a bit here.
Sanchez tries to buck Tabares off but Tabares is having none of it.
Sanchez trying to remain calm as Tabares controls from the top position.
Sanchez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sanchez is letting Tabares control him for a moment.
Sanchez is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Tabares's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tabares controlling the pace.
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet.
Tabares thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Tabares working the head and body with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Still in half guard, Tabares seems content to control.
Tabares has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sanchez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Tabares trying to control but Sanchez is having none of it.

That's two 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.
Sanchez is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tabares working the ground and pound effectively.
Tabares landing strikes, looking to finish!

Tabares stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tabares swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sanchez doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Tabares counters with a single leg into guard. Sanchez didn't expect that.
Tabares pushes down on Sanchez's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Tabares drops an elbow to the side of Sanchez's head.
Tabares tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sanchez knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Tabares looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sanchez with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sanchez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tabares is working away from the top position though.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tabares is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sanchez won't allow Tabares to pass to mount.
Sanchez wants to control but Tabares is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Tabares works his way into full mount!
Sanchez is desperately trying to improve his position but Tabares has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathaniel Tabares dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tabares tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sanchez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tabares somewhat.
Sanchez shoots and misses

and Tabares counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sanchez's guard now.

Sanchez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tabares is aware though and is defending well.
Tabares controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Tabares decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sanchez, up you get!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Tabares ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Tabares no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Sanchez trying to control but Tabares is working from the bottom.
Tabares has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Tabares looking for a guillotine here but Sanchez defends easily.
Nathaniel Tabares has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sanchez wants to stand and escape but instead Tabares has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez pulls Tabares in close to prevent any damage.

Sanchez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tabares defends it easily.
Tabares wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
Tabares works over Sanchez with some ground and pound from guard.

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.
Tabares trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tabares sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sanchez is trying to control the position but Tabares postures up.
Tabares trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sanchez fails with the takedown

and Tabares counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Sanchez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tabares postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tabares trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.

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

Sanchez is looking for a triangle here but Tabares uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Tabares gets to mount! Sanchez was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Sanchez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Tabares controlling the pace for now.
Sanchez is trying desperately to improve position.
Sanchez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Tabares looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sanchez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sanchez is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathaniel Tabares showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Tabares gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sanchez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sanchez fails to pull guard.
Sanchez tries to work over Tabares's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Sanchez manages to break the clinch.
Tabares shoots in for a takedown but Sanchez shows good takedown defense.
Sanchez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Tabares counters with a left and a right that stings Sanchez.
Tommy Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tabares shoots and misses

and Sanchez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sanchez connects with a couple of short punches.
Sanchez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tabares's guard.
Tabares utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sanchez looking to sit in guard and control but Tabares gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tabares trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanchez wants to control but Tabares passes easily into half guard.
Sanchez is trying to maintain the position but Tabares is very close to passing his half guard.

Sanchez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tabares pulls his head out easily.

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.

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

Tabares bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Tabares stands up and beckons Sanchez to his feet.
Sanchez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Tabares counters with a nice uppercut.
Sanchez has his takedown stuffed

and Tabares counters with a shoot takedown. Sanchez fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sanchez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tabares is aware though and is defending well.

Sanchez has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Tabares is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Sanchez.

Tabares stands up and beckons Sanchez to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Tabares counters with a shoot takedown. Sanchez fights it but they end up in guard.
Tabares postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tabares is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Sanchez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tabares throwing strikes from guard but Sanchez blocks nicely.

Tabares avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Tabares manages to pass to side control.
Tommy Sanchez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tabares pulls his head out easily.
Sanchez missing with punches from the bottom.

Sanchez looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tabares is trying to control the action in half guard but Sanchez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nathaniel Tabares comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tabares has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathaniel Tabares!