PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eric Kofhal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Atari Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Atari Sanders looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Kofhal
vs
Sanders

186 cm
22
230 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

200 cm
19
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Eric Kofhal!
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, Atari Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Emerson Jorge and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanders works over Kofhal's head and body with a nice combination.
Atari Sanders seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good leg kick by Kofhal there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kofhal with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sanders stuffs the takedown attempt from Kofhal. Kofhal gets slowly back to his feet.

Kofhal clinches with his opponent.

Kofhal pulls guard effortlessly.
Kofhal trying to keep a closed guard but Sanders is proving a slippery customer.
Sanders looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kofhal is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sanders is controlling him.
Sanders preventing the sweep.

Kofhal had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Sanders is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kofhal Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Sanders's back instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kofhal is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Sanders has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Sanders controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

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.
Kofhal is riding his opponent, not letting Sanders buck him off.

Kofhal goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Sanders escapes and is now in half guard on top.
Kofhal trying to control but Sanders postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Kofhal shoots for a double leg takedown but Sanders sprawls well. He's pushed Kofhal's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sanders throws a head kick that misses.
Kofhal uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sanders.
Kofhal doesn't manage to clinch there - Sanders circles away.
Kofhal tries for a takedown but Sanders sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Kofhal. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sanders gets a takedown into half guard.
Kofhal controlling the position for now.
Kofhal trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kofhal tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Sanders has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Kofhal is desperately trying to improve his position but Sanders has a good base and remains in mount.
Kofhal regains half guard.
Kofhal tries to get to full guard but Sanders has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Atari Sanders will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sanders scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kofhal lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Kofhal scores with a one two! Sanders had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Kofhal fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kofhal looks to land a combination. Sanders sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Kofhal scores with a jab to the body.

Kofhal looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sanders is refusing to be controlled, as Kofhal sits in half guard.
Sanders slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kofhal wants to pass the guard but Sanders is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kofhal wants to control from the top but Sanders keeps moving.
Sanders looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sanders manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kofhal is squirming around, avoiding Sanders's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kofhal could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Sanders tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanders is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kofhal tries to clinch up.
Sanders misses with a body shot

and Kofhal decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sanders's guard.
Sanders wants to stand but Kofhal is controlling the position.
Kofhal wants to control from the top but Sanders keeps moving.
Kofhal wants to stand but Sanders has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kofhal chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Kofhal 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!

Kofhal looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kofhal is trying to control the action in half guard but Sanders is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kofhal controlling the pace.

Sanders kicks Kofhal off and gets back to his feet.
Sanders works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Sanders avoids the head kick by Kofhal.

Kofhal drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sanders keeping full guard, as Kofhal tries to pass.
Eric Kofhal overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sanders takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders wants to stand up but Kofhal is controlling him.
Kofhal wants to control from the top but Sanders keeps moving.
Kofhal has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kofhal wants to get up but he can't break Sanders's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kofhal might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Kofhal gets to his feet. Sanders looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

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.
Sanders throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kofhal counters with a shoot takedown. Sanders fights it but they end up in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kofhal accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Sanders pushes Kofhal off and gets back to his feet.

Sanders has Kofhal up against the cage in a clinch.
Kofhal tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sanders wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kofhal has him pressed against the cage.

Kofhal pulls guard.
Kofhal looking for a sweep. Not yet Kofhal, not yet.
Kofhal trying to control the position.

Sanders stands up from Kofhal's guard - Sanders perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kofhal changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sanders looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sanders is not content to let Kofhal control the position.
Sanders is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kofhal trying to control the action but Sanders is working from the bottom.
Kofhal working away.
Kofhal is looking to take a break and control but Sanders is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Kofhal showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kofhal has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Kofhal!