PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Paul McBride (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Sanches (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McBride comes to the cage accompanied by For whom the bell tolls. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

McBride
vs
Sanches

178 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 Montreal, Paul McBride!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Juan Sanches!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Alec Ball and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McBride closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sanches to the mat! Sanches manages to get full guard.
McBride trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sanches is on top in guard.
McBride tries to land a sweep but no joy.
McBride is controlling Sanches's posture.
McBride has a closed guard, preventing Sanches from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McBride tries to land a sweep but no joy.
McBride keeping moving, preventing Sanches from controlling successfully.
Sanches won't allow McBride to sweep him here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

McBride gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sanches lands an elbow just above McBride 's eye.
Sanches misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McBride.
McBride fails to pull guard.

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.
Sanches lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
McBride tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sanches just stands there and leans against the cage.
McBride can't break the clinch.
McBride wants to get back to striking at distance but Sanches won't allow it.
Sanches changes levels and goes for a takedown here. McBride fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sanches looks gassed!
McBride looking to land some kicks to the body here.
McBride throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

McBride gets the takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McBride is staying tight to Sanches's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Sanches is trying to get back to half guard.

McBride has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McBride scores a takedown into full mount!
Sanches tries to hold on but McBride postures up.
McBride controlling his opponent.
Sanches is looking to get to half guard.
McBride looking to finish Sanches with some ground and pound. This is bad for Sanches!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McBride controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

McBride has hold of Sanches's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Sanches manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Sanches tries to control the position but McBride now has his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sanches clinches up against the cage.

Sanches escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Juan Sanches seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sanches gets caught flat footed, as McBride shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
McBride controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sanches is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McBride trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanches is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McBride drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and McBride jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
McBride postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sanches is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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

McBride gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
McBride stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanches is trying to stand back up but McBride is controlling him
McBride content to control rather than advance.
McBride stops Sanches from getting back to his feet.
Sanches is staying active underneath McBride, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanches is looking to control McBride's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sanches avoid being mounted?

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
McBride misses with a head kick.
McBride stuffs the takedown.
Sanches tries to clinch up

and McBride counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sanches's guard now.
Sanches is trying to control the position but McBride postures up.
Sanches wants to stand up but McBride is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McBride trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanches keeping moving, preventing McBride from controlling successfully.
Sanches wants to get back to his feet but McBride is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
McBride postures up.

Sanches is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul McBride dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sanches closes the distance but McBride moves to the side
and McBride counters with a two punch combo.
Sanches tries to clinch up.
Sanches closes the distance but McBride moves to the side
and McBride counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sanches tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and McBride counters with a takedown into side control.
McBride trying to control the position but Sanches is working away.
Sanches is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McBride decides to stand back up. McBride steps back and let's Sanches get back to his feet.
McBride circles away from the clinch attempt

and McBride counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sanches's guard now.
Sanches is looking to stand up but McBride isn't so interested in that idea.

McBride decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
McBride misses with a jab, cross combination.
McBride misses with a head kick.
Sanches darts in trying to clinch

and McBride counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by McBride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanches tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sanches tries to land knees in the clinch but McBride avoids the damage to the body.
Sanches landing knees to the body.
Sanches with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sanches trying to land knees to the body.

McBride successfully pulls guard.
Sanches wants to pass the guard but McBride is keeping the position.
McBride managing to control the position.
Sanches wanted to stand there but McBride had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McBride lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sanches!
McBride tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
McBride wants to control the pace but Sanches is squirming around nicely.
Sanches is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
McBride trying to control but Sanches is having none of it.
Sanches avoids a strike by McBride and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in McBride's guard! Fantastic escape!
Juan Sanches has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sanches trying to control the position from guard on top but McBride is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McBride is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul McBride showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McBride 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27

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