PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jerome Powers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Powers comes into the arena with We Run This - Missy Elliot blaring out of the sound system. Jerome Powers has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Powers
vs
Sanders

184 cm
27
147 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

171 cm
27
145 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jerome Powers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Michael Sanders!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Powers throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sanders misses with a wild body shot.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sanders.
Sanders trying to control the position but Powers is working away.
Sanders misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Powers is trying to control Sanders's posture but Sanders avoids it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
An elbow from Sanders crashes against the mat.
Powers is not content to let Sanders control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanders working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders trying to control the position but Powers is working away.
Powers is trying to improve his position.
Sanders is looking to take a break and control but Powers is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sanders throwing shots but missing, from side control.
You can see the frustration on Powers's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sanders just content to control the position.
Powers is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Powers wants to control but Sanders postures up.
Powers is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sanders off and has taken his back!
Powers really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sanders covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Powers trying to control momentarily.
Powers will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Powers missing with strikes from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers keeps control of the position as Sanders tries to break free.
Powers trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Powers throwing strikes and Sanders squirms under the pressure, ending up mounted.
Sanders wants to hold on but Powers pushes him away.
Powers misses with a head shot.
Sanders is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Sanders avoids a series of strikes thrown by Powers.

That's four 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.
Sanders is looking to improve his position but Powers isn't that keen on the idea.
Powers punishing his opponent with strikes.
Powers avoids the attempt from Sanders to control.
Sanders is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Powers avoids the attempt from Sanders to control.
Sanders is squirming around, avoiding Powers's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jerome Powers will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sanders on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Powers misses with a body shot.
Powers loads up on a big right hand but Sanders slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Powers loads up on a big right hand but Sanders slips the punch.
Sanders uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Powers.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powers swinging wildly here.
Powers misses with a straight right.
Sanders uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Powers.
Sanders misses with a left hand
and Powers counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sanders avoids the body shot from Powers.
Jerome Powers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

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.
Powers misses with an uppercut

and Sanders counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sanders stopping the sweep attempt from Powers.
Sanders postures up.
Powers 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.
Powers keeping moving, preventing Sanders from controlling successfully.
Powers tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sanders throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sanders controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Sanders must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Powers keeping moving, preventing Sanders from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers looking for a sweep. Not yet Powers, not yet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Powers throws a hook but Sanders blocks it.
Powers thows a body shot but no joy.
Powers fails to land with a series of punches.
Powers misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Powers blocks a jab.
Powers works the jab nicely.
A leg kick checked by Sanders.
Sanders gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Powers counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Powers misses the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jerome Powers will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Powers loads up on a big right hand but Sanders slips the punch.
Powers is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Powers throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sanders moves out of range of the strikes.
Powers ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sanders moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Powers gets caught flat footed, as Sanders shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sanders postures up.
Powers wants to sweep but no luck.
Sanders scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powers keeping moving, preventing Sanders from controlling successfully.
Sanders passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Powers takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Sanders is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Powers with the ground and pound but Sanders uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Powers prevents Sanders from getting back to his feet.

Powers drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sanders dives on top into guard.
Powers keeping moving, preventing Sanders from controlling successfully.
Sanders preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders working some strikes from top position.
Powers not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sanders stays in close to Powers's body and controls the position.
Powers looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sanders is one step ahead there.
Sanders postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Powers not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sanders tries to free his leg and advance position but Powers is retaining full guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sanders forces his way into half guard.
Sanders landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Jerome Powers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Powers tries to roll over but Sanders keeps him under control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanders looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sanders is thwarting Powers's attempts to control the position.
Sanders not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sanders controlling the action here.
Sanders not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Michael Sanders has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanders controlling the pace.
Sanders trying to mount his opponent but Powers defends it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Sanders comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Powers 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jerome Powers!