PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Sanchez (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.

Stevenson
vs
Sanchez

170 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight 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, James Stevenson!
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, Danny Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but Stevenson shows good takedown defense.
Stevenson throws a one two combo.

It looks like Danny Sanchez has been cut.
Stevenson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Some wild striking there from Sanchez.
Sanchez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stevenson throws a leg kick but Sanchez sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Stevenson takes a swing at Sanchez's ribcage but misses.
Stevenson misses with a combination

and Sanchez counters with a single leg into guard. Stevenson didn't expect that.
Sanchez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Stevenson keeps moving.
Sanchez won't allow Stevenson to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez postures up in Stevenson's guard and throws a big left but Stevenson blocks it.
Stevenson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sanchez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sanchez trying to control but Stevenson is working from the bottom.
Sanchez landing with the ground and pound.
Stevenson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sanchez on the ground.
Sanchez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stevenson is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sanchez wants to clinch.
Stevenson could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Sanchez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stevenson.
Sanchez moves out of range as Stevenson throws a body kick.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
James Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Sanchez.
Stevenson throws a combination that misses

and Sanchez counters with a shoot takedown. Stevenson fights it but they end up in guard.
Sanchez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Stevenson keeping full guard, as Sanchez tries to pass.
Sanchez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevenson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanchez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stevenson is keeping the position for now.
Sanchez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stevenson is breathing heavily.

That's four 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.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevenson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stevenson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Sanchez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sanchez content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Stevenson can't keep his opponent in guard - Sanchez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sanchez is controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stevenson misses with a double jab

and Sanchez counters with a shoot takedown. Stevenson fights it but they end up in guard.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevenson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanchez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sanchez passes Stevenson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sanchez content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stevenson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Sanchez seems to be working for a kimura but Stevenson defends the submission attempt.
Sanchez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stevenson's head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sanchez connects with a nice short shot to Stevenson's temple.

Sanchez is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Stevenson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sanchez passes to full mount!
Sanchez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez content just to control the position here.
Stevenson taking shots to the head.
Sanchez landing shots from mount.
Sanchez punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sanchez putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Sanchez cracks Stevenson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Sanchez controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The referee warns Stevenson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Stevenson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Stevenson tries to get out of the position.
Sanchez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Sanchez unloading with bombs!
Sanchez controlling from the full mount.

Despite being in the dominant position, Danny Sanchez just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sanchez misses with a takedown attempt - Stevenson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Danny Sanchez's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Stevenson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Sanchez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Well, if Sanchez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Sanchez is pressing down on Stevenson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Stevenson is holding on for now.
Stevenson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sanchez.
Sanchez is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez lands strikes from half guard.
Sanchez works his way into side control.
Sanchez just content to control the position.

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.
Sanchez advances to full mount.
A nice elbow there by Sanchez.
Sanchez looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sanchez unloading with bombs!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez controlling from mount.
Sanchez throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Sanchez throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Stevenson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Stevenson manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Stevenson, under a barage of strikes from Sanchez.
Stevenson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

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.
Stevenson is trying to stand.
Sanchez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stevenson is looking to escape.
Sanchez is trying to control the action in half guard but Stevenson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Stevenson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Danny Sanchez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stevenson is looking to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Stevenson throws a combination that misses

and Sanchez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sanchez controls from within his opponent's guard.
James Stevenson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sanchez scoring with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danny Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sanchez 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danny Sanchez!