PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cesar Filho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sanchez
vs
Filho

180 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
24
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cesar Filho!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Alexandre Firmino and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Filho circles away quickly and effectively.
The fight stays on the outside here - Filho looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sanchez stuffs the takedown attempt from Filho. Filho gets slowly back to his feet.
Filho throws a hook but Sanchez avoids it easily.
Filho ducks under a wild hook from Sanchez.
Filho tries to bum rush Sanchez with a series of wild strikes but Sanchez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sanchez swats away the attempt to clinch by Filho.
Gabriel Sanchez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanchez tests Filho's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sanchez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sanchez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Filho moves into the clinch.

Filho manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
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.
Sanchez wants to stand but Filho has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Filho is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filho stops Sanchez from standing up.
Filho lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sanchez on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sanchez tries to get out of the position.
Filho wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
Filho pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanchez is keeping the position for now.
Filho content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.

Filho gets to his feet - Sanchez follows without any prompting.
Filho changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sanchez tries to avoid it but Filho manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sanchez to the ground. Sanchez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sanchez misses with a jab, cross combination.

Filho clinches up with Sanchez and pushes him back against the cage.

Sanchez breaks from the clinch.
Sanchez scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Filho fails with the takedown.
Gabriel Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cesar Filho.
Sanchez misses with the combination.
Filho tries to clinch but Sanchez moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez fails to land with a series of punches.
Sanchez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.
Filho looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Filho clinches up with Sanchez and pushes him back against the cage.
Filho dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Filho has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sanchez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Sanchez breaks the clinch.

Filho shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Filho was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Filho won't let Sanchez get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filho throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Sanchez is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Filho with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Filho can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sanchez is looking to escape.
Filho controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cesar Filho dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Filho throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sanchez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Filho throws a combination that misses
and Sanchez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Filho wants to clinch up but Sanchez keeps it at a distance.
Filho will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sanchez looks to land a combination but Filho avoids it well.
Filho takes one on the button.
Filho looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sanchez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sanchez throws a right and a left that Filho avoids nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Filho misses with a takedown attempt
and Sanchez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A jab from Sanchez does it's job there.
Filho is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Filho doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sanchez counters with a left and a right that stings Filho.
Gabriel Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cesar Filho.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a right and a left that Filho avoids nicely.

Filho closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sanchez to the mat! Sanchez manages to get full guard.
Filho lands a couple of elbows.
Filho throwing strikes from guard but Sanchez blocks nicely.

Filho stands and steps away. Sanchez gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A punch combination from Sanchez misses.
Filho clinches but Sanchez breaks the clinch
and Sanchez counters with a two punch combo.
Filho fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sanchez stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filho fails with the takedown.
Filho tries to clinch but Sanchez moves out of range.
Sanchez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sanchez wants it to stay on the feet.
Sanchez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sanchez missing with a left hand there. Filho was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Filho misses with a takedown
and Sanchez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Sanchez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Filho with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Sanchez to counter with a crisp jab.
No joy there for Sanchez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sanchez keeps the fight on the outside.
Sanchez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sanchez moves out of range of the body kick from Filho.
Some wild striking there from Sanchez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filho tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanchez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Filho looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sanchez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Filho circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice sprawl there from Sanchez as Filho shoots in.
Sanchez works the jab nicely.

Filho closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Filho lands in his opponent's guard.
Sanchez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Filho on the ground.

Filho decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Filho throws out a leg kick but Sanchez moves out of range and Filho only half commits.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Sanchez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sanchez misses with a series of wild punches.
Filho attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Filho decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Sanchez is staying active underneath Filho, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sanchez pushes Filho off looking to stand but Filho dives back in and keeps control.
Sanchez taking some punishment here, with Filho in his half guard.

Filho 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. Filho eventually gives up the hold.
Filho thows a huge punch but Sanchez dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Cesar Filho will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sanchez throws a left and a right that both miss

and Filho counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Filho passes to full mount!
Filho lands a big elbow.
Filho lands a big elbow.
Sanchez is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Filho controlling from mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Filho wants to control the pace but Sanchez is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filho lands with some strikes.
Sanchez has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Filho wants to control but Sanchez is keeping busy.
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet.

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.
Filho scores with punches from the back.

Filho has got his arm under Sanchez's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Sanchez has spun round into Filho's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Filho working a defensive guard here.
Sanchez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Filho's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez postures up.
Filho is adopting a defensive guard.

Sanchez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Filho, up you get!
Sanchez looks to land a right hand but Filho moved out of range.
Sanchez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Filho closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sanchez circles away.
Some wild striking there from Sanchez.
Filho shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four 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.
Filho shoots in but Sanchez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gabriel Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cesar Filho.
Sanchez slaps away a takedown attempt from Filho, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Filho takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Filho looks to score with a jab to the body but Sanchez is just out of range.
Filho moves away from the strike by Sanchez.
No joy there for Filho, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Filho is defended easily by Sanchez.
Gabriel Sanchez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sanchez misses with a two punch combination.

Filho is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sanchez's half guard.
Gabriel Sanchez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cesar Filho is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sanchez missing with punches from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cesar Filho comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Filho winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cesar Filho!