PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between johnathon williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cael Sanderson (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.

williams
vs
Sanderson

190 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, johnathon williams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cael Sanderson!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Daniel Franklin and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sanderson closes the distance and clinches.
williams is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sanderson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
williams working hard to break the clinch.
williams tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sanderson just stands there and leans against the cage.
williams is trying to stall.
Sanderson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from williams.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for johnathon williams. That's going to take a lot out of him.
williams is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sanderson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A bit of stalling here from Sanderson.

Sanderson jumps into guard, dragging williams to the mat.
Sanderson wants to stand but williams is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
williams tries to stand but Sanderson is controlling from the bottom.
williams trying to control but Sanderson is working from the bottom.
Sanderson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with williams. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
williams wants to stand but Sanderson is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The ref stands the fighters back up because johnathon williams just wasn't active enough.
Sanderson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like johnathon williams has been cut.
williams wants to clinch

and Sanderson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in williams's guard.

Sanderson 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.
Sanderson controlling from the top position.
Sanderson wants to control from the top but williams keeps moving.
Sanderson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. williams is keeping the position for now.
Sanderson trying to control the position from guard on top but williams is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Cael Sanderson.

Sanderson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
williams is breathing heavily.

Sanderson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, williams has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sanderson wants to control but williams is keeping him busy.

Sanderson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. williams knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
williams prevents Sanderson from improving position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanderson wants to control but williams is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on williams's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sanderson in side control lands a decent elbow.
williams takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanderson content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cael Sanderson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on johnathon williams's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

williams with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sanderson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
williams is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Sanderson is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. williams can't fight it off and eventually Sanderson manages to take the fight to the floor. williams looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sanderson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sanderson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanderson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Sanderson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sanderson wants to control from the top but williams keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sanderson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanderson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sanderson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Sanderson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sanderson landing some decent shots from guard.
Sanderson is stalling in the full guard.
Sanderson wants to pass the guard but williams is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sanderson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Cael Sanderson.
williams closes the distance but Sanderson moves to the side

and Sanderson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sanderson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Sanderson with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sanderson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of williams's head.
williams being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sanderson works over williams with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. williams swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanderson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sanderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. williams swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanderson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

williams looking for a guillotine here but Sanderson defends easily.
Sanderson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cael Sanderson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on johnathon williams's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Sanderson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Sanderson has gone for a leg lock! williams slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sanderson's guard.

Sanderson has his feet on williams's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Sanderson darts in and clinches williams up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanderson breaks from the clinch.

Sanderson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

williams is defending against the submission attempts here by Sanderson.
williams keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sanderson controlling the action here.
williams wants to improve his position but Sanderson is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks williams with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sanderson controlling the action here.
Sanderson works his foot free and advances to mount.
williams takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Sanderson controlling the position easily from mount.

Sanderson is working for a guillotine from mount but williams frees his head quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sanderson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Sanderson is landing with some decent strikes but williams is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The referee warns williams that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Sanderson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sanderson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Sanderson landing shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson landing strikes from the mount.
Sanderson controlling the pace for now.
Sanderson connects with a bit shot that sees williams covering up! More strikes from Sanderson and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Sanderson is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Cael Sanderson!