PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jorge Sandoval (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sandoval comes to the cage accompanied by Ready for War. Almeida is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by 24 theme song. Anthony Almeida has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Sandoval
vs
Almeida

175 cm
22
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
163 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jorge Sandoval!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anthony Almeida!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Almeida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sandoval scores with a jab to the head.
Almeida slips a straight right by Sandoval.
Sandoval throws a right and a left that Almeida avoids nicely.
Sandoval throws a looping overhand right but Almeida ducks down to avoid it.
Almeida tries to clinch there but Sandoval circles away.
Almeida moves away from the strike by Sandoval.
A punch combination from Sandoval misses.
Sandoval misses with a straight left.
Sandoval uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Almeida.
Almeida showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sandoval.
Sandoval connects with a crisp jab.
Sandoval looks to land a left hand but Almeida moved out of range nicely.

Almeida closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Almeida lands in his opponent's guard.
Almeida wants to pass the guard but Sandoval is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandoval tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Almeida pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sandoval is keeping the position for now.
Almeida trying to control the position from guard on top but Sandoval is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Almeida looking to pass the guard.

Almeida postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sandoval is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Almeida, into his guard.
Sandoval throwing strikes from guard but Almeida blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sandoval landing with the ground and pound.

That's two 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.
Almeida utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Almeida keeping full guard, as Sandoval tries to pass.

Sandoval is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Almeida avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sandoval thows a big elbow that misses.

Sandoval drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Almeida manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Sandoval has Almeida in his guard.
Sandoval looking for a sweep. Not yet Sandoval, not yet.
Almeida stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sandoval swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Almeida must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida slips nicely into half guard.
Sandoval is looking to improve his position.
Almeida trying to advance position but Sandoval counters by regaining guard.
Almeida controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sandoval keeping moving, preventing Almeida from controlling successfully.
Almeida won't allow Sandoval to sweep him here.
Almeida works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sandoval won't allow Almeida to pass to mount.
Sandoval is looking for a sweep. Almeida is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Almeida is looking to take a break and control but Sandoval is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sandoval is looking for a sweep. Almeida is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sandoval won't allow Almeida to pass to mount.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Almeida gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sandoval scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Almeida is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Almeida works his foot free and advances to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sandoval tries to reverse the position but Almeida maintains control.
Almeida wants to control the pace but Sandoval is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anthony Almeida will probably get the nod.
That's time! Sandoval's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Almeida closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sandoval circles away.
No luck for Almeida with that takedown attempt.
Almeida attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Almeida shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sandoval pinned against the cage. Sandoval gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jorge Sandoval has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Almeida.
Sandoval fails with the takedown

and Almeida counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sandoval's guard now.
Sandoval keeping moving, preventing Almeida from controlling successfully.
Sandoval wants to sweep but no luck.
Sandoval trying to keep a closed guard but Almeida is proving a slippery customer.
Almeida pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sandoval is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandoval keeping moving, preventing Almeida from controlling successfully.
Sandoval is trying to control the position but Almeida postures up.
Almeida tries to free his leg and advance position but Sandoval is retaining full guard.
Sandoval lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Almeida!
Sandoval looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Almeida is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sandoval wants to control the pace but Almeida is squirming around nicely.
Almeida is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sandoval with shots to the head and body - Almeida looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sandoval won't let Almeida get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Almeida is squirming around, avoiding Sandoval's attempts to control the action.
Sandoval punishing his opponent with strikes.
Almeida keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sandoval lands a nice shot to the head.
Almeida is squirming around, avoiding Sandoval's attempts to control the action.
Almeida tries to hold on but Sandoval pushes him away.
Almeida might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sandoval kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Almeida is in a horrible position here. Sandoval smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Almeida takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Sandoval prevents Almeida from getting the reversal.
Sandoval dominating with strikes here.
Almeida is desperately trying to improve his position but Sandoval has a good base and remains in mount.
Almeida sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Almeida is breathing heavily.
Almeida tries to get to full guard but Sandoval has control of the leg.
Sandoval thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sandoval lands strikes from half guard.

Sandoval is trying to work for a kimura but Almeida is defending well.

Sandoval is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Almeida is just riding it out for now. Sandoval eventually gives up the hold.
Sandoval is thwarting Almeida's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida regains full guard. Nicely done.
Anthony Almeida has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sandoval loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Sandoval drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sandoval jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Almeida working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sandoval doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sandoval manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Almeida controls Sandoval momentarily but Sandoval frees himself.
Sandoval cracks Almeida with a solid left hand.
Sandoval passes Almeida's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jorge Sandoval will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Almeida looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Almeida tries for a takedown but Sandoval sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sandoval lands a head shot.
Nice cross by Sandoval.
Sandoval throws a right hand that Almeida ducks under and follows up with a left that Almeida also avoids with ease.
Almeida walks into a jab.
Sandoval lands a jab to the head.
Almeida steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sandoval.
Sandoval swings away with a body shot that misses
and Almeida counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Sandoval looks to throw the jab but Almeida is out of range.
Almeida misses with a takedown attempt

and Sandoval decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Almeida's guard.
Jorge Sandoval has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Almeida.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Almeida is pulling down on Sandoval's head. It's preventing any offense from Sandoval, at least for the moment.
Almeida controls Sandoval momentarily but Sandoval frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandoval throws a big right hand that misses.
Sandoval lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Almeida is looking to stand up but Sandoval isn't so interested in that idea.
Almeida seems keen to control Sandoval's posture.
Sandoval won't allow Almeida to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Almeida clinches.
Sandoval can't find room to land a body shot as Almeida controls the action.
Almeida tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sandoval avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sandoval's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Nice body punch from Almeida.
Sandoval is trying to break the clinch but Almeida is controlling him.
Sandoval stalling in the clinch but Almeida improves position.
Sandoval has a couple of punches blocked by Almeida.
Nice body punch from Sandoval.
Sandoval prevents the takedown attempt.
Almeida goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Almeida wants a takedown.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Almeida struggles to land a body shot inside as Sandoval controls his hands.
Sandoval is pressed up against the cage. Almeida has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sandoval down to the mat. Sandoval avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Almeida shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sandoval counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sandoval misses with a double jab

and Almeida counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sandoval's guard now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval striking off his back but it's not causing Almeida any problems.
Sandoval bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Almeida's guard.
Sandoval throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Almeida works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Almeida looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sandoval forces his way into half guard.

Almeida makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Sandoval shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sandoval showed some decent athleticism there.
Sandoval prevents Almeida from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sandoval 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.
Almeida trying to hold on to Sandoval's head to control him but Sandoval postures up.

Almeida makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Almeida moves in looking to clinch but Sandoval pushes him off.
Almeida has his takedown stuffed

and Sandoval counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sandoval.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sandoval accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sandoval pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Almeida is keeping the position for now.
Sandoval with a nice head shot there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sandoval is fighting to break Almeida's control of his arms but Almeida is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Almeida tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jorge Sandoval showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sandoval 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Jorge Sandoval!