PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Sanderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Denton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanderson comes to the cage accompanied by A sandy day, a windy Beach. Paul Denton acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Sanderson
vs
Denton

172 cm
20
137 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

162 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bobby Sanderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paul Denton!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Mauricio Rocha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Denton defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sanderson.

Sanderson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Denton is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sanderson pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Denton won't allow Sanderson to pass to mount.

Denton looking for submissions off his back.
Sanderson wants to free his trapped foot but Denton is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Denton avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sanderson.
Sanderson is thwarting Denton's attempts to control the position.
Sanderson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanderson wants to pass the guard but Denton is defending well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sanderson slaps away a takedown attempt from Denton, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denton will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Denton throws a leg kick but Sanderson checks it.
Sanderson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Denton swivels and escapes.
Nice takedown defense from Denton. No joy for Sanderson on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bobby Sanderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Denton throws the kick towards the body but Sanderson avoids it.
Denton throws the kick towards the body but Sanderson avoids it.
Denton fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Sanderson checks it well.
Sanderson tries for a takedown but Denton circles away easily

and Denton counters with a takedown into side control.
Sanderson struggling a bit here.
Denton passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Sanderson!
Sanderson throwing hammer fists to the chest of Denton. What's that going to do exactly?
Denton can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sanderson is looking to escape.
Denton might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sanderson kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sanderson is trying to escape the mount.
Denton thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Sanderson throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sanderson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sanderson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Sanderson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanderson is working hard here to advance position.
Sanderson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sanderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Denton swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson postures up.
Sanderson throwing strikes but missing.
Denton has momentary wrist control but Sanderson slips an elbow through the middle.

Denton had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sanderson defends it easily.
Sanderson wants to pass the guard but Denton is keeping the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sanderson shoots in but no luck this time.
Denton tries to land a front kick but Sanderson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Denton misses with the combination.
Nice sprawl there from Sanderson as Denton shoots in.

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.
Denton tries to land a front kick but Sanderson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Denton displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sanderson.
Denton misses with a takedown attempt - Sanderson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Denton tries to score with a low kick but Sanderson moves his leg out of the way.

Denton decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Sanderson misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Sanderson is holding on to half guard well.
Denton throwing shots but Sanderson is blocking nicely.
Sanderson is pressing down on Denton's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sanderson tries to strike from the bottom.
Sanderson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sanderson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sanderson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Sanderson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sanderson striking off his back but it's not causing Denton any problems.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Denton dominated that round.
That's time! Sanderson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Denton misses with the combination.
Sanderson tries for a takedown but Denton sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Denton closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sanderson trying to hold on to Denton's head to control him but Denton postures up.

Denton is trying to work for a kimura but Sanderson is defending well.

Denton looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Denton is pressing down on Sanderson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sanderson is holding on for now.
Sanderson punching from the bottom.
Denton wants to pass the guard but Sanderson is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanderson trying to control but Denton postures up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sanderson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sanderson doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sanderson fails to land the takedown.
Denton throws a leg kick but Sanderson checks it.
Sanderson tries for a takedown but Denton circles away easily

and Denton counters with a single leg into guard. Sanderson didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bobby Sanderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sanderson is trying to control the position but Denton postures up.
Denton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sanderson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Denton trying to control but Sanderson is working from the bottom.
Sanderson trying to strike off his back.
Sanderson lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Sanderson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanderson striking off his back but it's not causing Denton any problems.

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

Sanderson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Denton is trying to maintain the position but Sanderson is very close to passing his half guard.
Sanderson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sanderson trying to pass the guard but Denton defending well.
Denton tries to get to full guard but Sanderson has control of the leg.
Denton is looking to control Sanderson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Denton avoid being mounted?
Sanderson is pressing down on Denton's thigh, looking to free his foot. Denton is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denton is not content to let Sanderson control the position.
Sanderson tries to pass to full mount but Denton defends it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice sprawl there from Sanderson as Denton shoots in.
Sanderson shoots in for a takedown but Denton shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Denton shoots for a double leg takedown but Sanderson sprawls well. He's pushed Denton's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sanderson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Denton lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sanderson circles away quickly and effectively.

Denton throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sanderson was covering up waiting for the punch and Denton finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Denton looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Denton wants to pass the guard but Sanderson is keeping the position.
Sanderson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Sanderson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Denton trying to control but Sanderson is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Some bone on bone action there as Sanderson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Sanderson shoots in looking for a takedown. Denton tries to sprawl out of it but Sanderson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Denton manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Sanderson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Denton!
Denton is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Denton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sanderson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sanderson lands in his opponent's guard.
Sanderson passes into half guard.
Denton is trying to control but can't.
Denton wants to improve his position but Sanderson is controlling well.
Sanderson is looking to advance position but Denton won't allow it.
Paul Denton has got the better of the ground game so far.
Denton is in trouble now - Sanderson has advanced to mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanderson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Denton?
Sanderson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Denton looks a forlorn figure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanderson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Denton?
Denton taking shots to the head.
Sanderson landing strikes, looking to finish!
Denton slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Sanderson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Denton wants to control but Sanderson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sanderson is pressing down on Denton's thigh, looking to free his foot. Denton is holding on for now.
Denton is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sanderson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sanderson uses his free foot to push down on Denton's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Denton.
Denton is desperately trying to improve his position but Sanderson has a good base and remains in mount.
Sanderson landing strikes, looking to finish!
Paul Denton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson unloading with bombs!
Denton tries to lock up and control but Sanderson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sanderson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Denton is in a horrible position here. Sanderson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Denton wants to control but Sanderson is having none of it.
Sanderson looking to finish with strikes here!
Sanderson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
A nice elbow there by Sanderson.
Denton is trying desperately to improve position.
Denton is bucking up trying to escape but Sanderson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Denton that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Poor strikes thrown by Sanderson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Denton tries to lock up and control but Sanderson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sanderson prevents Denton from getting the reversal.
Poor strikes thrown by Sanderson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Poor strikes thrown by Sanderson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Denton tries to hold on but Sanderson pushes him away.
Sanderson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Sanderson unloading with bombs!
Denton wants to hold on but Sanderson pushes him away.
Denton takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Sanderson lands a heavy elbow.
Sanderson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Denton in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Bobby Sanderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson lands a nice shot to the head.
Denton wants to hold on but Sanderson pushes him away.
Denton blocking the ground and pound.
Denton tries to lock up and control but Sanderson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sanderson unloads with some shots from mount but Denton bucks and avoids them well.
Denton avoids a series of strikes thrown by Sanderson.
Sanderson breaks from Denton's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Sanderson 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.
Denton is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Denton is bucking up trying to escape but Sanderson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Sanderson throws some wild stikes that Denton manages to avoid easily.
Denton wants to control but Sanderson is having none of it.
Sanderson throws a wild left hand from mount and Denton manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bobby Sanderson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Denton 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Denton!