PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erico Plaza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Xavier Sanchez could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Erico Plaza's chin.

Sanchez
vs
Plaza

188 cm
21
180 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
183 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Powerful

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Xavier Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Erico Plaza!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Plaza changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sanchez tries to avoid it but Plaza manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sanchez to the ground. Sanchez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Plaza shoots in and drives through. Sanchez sprawls well.
Sanchez throws a shot to the body.
Plaza shoots for a takedown but Sanchez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Xavier Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erico Plaza.
Plaza takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sanchez punishes Plaza's body with a nice straight punch.
Sanchez punishes Plaza's body with a nice straight punch.

Plaza gets a takedown into half guard.
Plaza looks gassed!
Plaza wants to take a breather but Sanchez is having none of it.
Sanchez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Plaza is working away from the top position though.
Plaza is looking to take a break and control but Sanchez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sanchez keeping control of the position.

Plaza is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sanchez is just riding it out for now. Plaza eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez is pressing down on Plaza's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Plaza tries to free his leg and advance position but Sanchez is retaining full guard.
Sanchez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sanchez is adopting a defensive guard.
Sanchez trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Plaza wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
Plaza trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Plaza trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Sanchez manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sanchez postures up in Plaza's guard and throws a big left but Plaza blocks it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Plaza tries to clinch but Sanchez moves out of range.
Plaza tries to clinch up.
Sanchez keeps Plaza at a distance using the push kick.
Xavier Sanchez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Plaza takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez scores with a sloppy right hand. Plaza should have avoided that one.
Plaza misses with a jab, cross combination.
Plaza takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Sanchez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sanchez in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Sanchez landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Sanchez is chipping away with strikes.
Sanchez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Plaza struggling a bit here.
Plaza is looking to reverse the position.
Sanchez lands a few punches from side control.
Sanchez is looking to take a break and control but Plaza is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Plaza tries to buck Sanchez off but Sanchez is having none of it.
Sanchez working the head and body with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez working the ground and pound from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Plaza manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sanchez's best efforts.
Sanchez slips a nice elbow through Plaza's hands, connecting with Plaza's forehead.
Sanchez takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Plaza moves into full guard.
Sanchez throwing strikes from guard but Plaza blocks nicely.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Plaza keeps moving.
Sanchez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sanchez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sanchez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Plaza looking for a sweep. Not yet Plaza, not yet.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Plaza keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Sanchez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice straight punches there by Sanchez. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sanchez.
Plaza misses with a takedown attempt
and Sanchez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Plaza tries to close the distance and clinch but Sanchez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sanchez lands a high kick!
Nice takedown defense from Sanchez. No joy for Plaza on that attempt.
Sanchez scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Sanchez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Plaza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sanchez!
Sanchez lands with a straight right. Plaza didn't see that one coming.
Sanchez jabs at Plaza's body.
Sanchez punishes Plaza's body with a nice straight punch.
Sanchez thumps Plaza with a low kick.
Sanchez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Plaza fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sanchez avoids it really well and circles away.
Xavier Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erico Plaza.
Plaza shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sanchez as he avoids it easily.
Plaza is breathing heavily.
Sanchez takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plaza takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sanchez scores with a kick to the body.

Sanchez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Plaza's guard.
Sanchez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sanchez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sanchez cracks Plaza with a solid left hand.
Sanchez is in close to Plaza's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sanchez landing some decent shots from guard.
Sanchez distracts Plaza with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sanchez landing with the ground and pound.
Sanchez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sanchez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sanchez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sanchez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sanchez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Plaza throws a nice elbow from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Plaza's head.
Sanchez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Plaza works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Plaza manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sanchez manages to get himself to full guard.
Sanchez working a defensive guard here.
Plaza working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sanchez working a defensive guard here.
Sanchez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Plaza's guard.
Plaza looking for a sweep. Not yet Plaza, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Plaza has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sanchez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Plaza trying to control the position.
Sanchez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sanchez throwing strikes from guard but Plaza blocks nicely.
Sanchez throwing strikes from guard but Plaza blocks nicely.
Sanchez with a nice head shot there.

Plaza has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sanchez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Plaza lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sanchez!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is looking to improve his position but Plaza isn't that keen on the idea.
Sanchez wants to hold on but Plaza pushes him away.

Plaza working for a guillotine from mount but Sanchez is in no mood to give up.
Sanchez wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Plaza.
Sanchez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Sanchez dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sanchez keeps Plaza at a distance using the push kick.

Sanchez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sanchez is thwarting Plaza's attempts to control the position.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but Plaza defending well.
Sanchez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Plaza tries to get to full guard but Sanchez has control of the leg.
Plaza works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sanchez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Plaza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Plaza utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Plaza is looking for a triangle but Sanchez pushes his legs off easily.
Plaza is adopting a defensive guard.
Xavier Sanchez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez passes into half guard.
Sanchez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Plaza is staying active underneath Sanchez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sanchez drops an elbow to the side of Plaza's head.
Plaza on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sanchez drops an elbow to the side of Plaza's head.
Sanchez wants to free his trapped foot but Plaza is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Plaza is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sanchez lands a nice short elbow.
Plaza is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is trying to control the action in half guard but Plaza is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sanchez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Plaza slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sanchez throws a big right hand that misses.

Plaza is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Plaza keeps moving.
Sanchez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Sanchez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Plaza has his foot on Sanchez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sanchez works his way back into a safe position though.
Sanchez wants to pass the guard but Plaza is keeping the position.
Sanchez lands a couple of digs.
Sanchez with a nice head shot there.
Sanchez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sanchez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Erico Plaza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sanchez preventing the sweep.
Sanchez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Plaza's head.

Sanchez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Plaza preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sanchez moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sanchez scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Xavier Sanchez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sanchez goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Sanchez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sanchez wants it to stay on the feet.
Plaza takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Sanchez throws a leg kick which misses Plaza's front leg but catches the back leg as Plaza tries to avoid it.
Plaza takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Plaza takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Plaza steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Sanchez. That one must have hurt.
Sanchez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sanchez lands a slapping body shot.

Sanchez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Plaza!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Sanchez cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Sanchez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xavier Sanchez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sanchez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight for Xavier Sanchez!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Xavier Sanchez!
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight for Xavier Sanchez!

Xavier Sanchez wins by unanimous decision!