PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ville Sakkinnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakkinnen has chosen ...When Gjallarhorn Will Sound as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sanchez
vs
Sakkinnen

176 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Thiago Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ville Sakkinnen!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sakkinnen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sanchez is trying to control Sakkinnen's posture but Sakkinnen avoids it.
Sakkinnen scoring with punches and elbows.
Sanchez manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sakkinnen's best efforts.

Sanchez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Sanchez looking for submissions off his back.
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet.
Sanchez trying to control here.
Sakkinnen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Sanchez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sakkinnen tries to pass to full mount but Sanchez defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakkinnen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Sanchez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sanchez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Sanchez pushes Sakkinnen off and gets back to his feet.

Sanchez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.
Sanchez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sanchez thows a huge punch but Sakkinnen dodges it nicely.
Sanchez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sakkinnen is looking to escape.
Sanchez lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakkinnen wants to improve his position but Sanchez is controlling well.
Sanchez with the ground and pound but Sakkinnen uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Sakkinnen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sanchez manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Sakkinnen shoots in for a takedown but Sanchez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Sanchez shoots in and gets a takedown into Sakkinnen's guard.
Sakkinnen has momentary wrist control but Sanchez slips an elbow through the middle.
Sakkinnen is looking to stand up but Sanchez isn't so interested in that idea.

Sanchez stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sakkinnen tries to avoid it but Sanchez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sakkinnen to the ground. Sakkinnen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Sakkinnen looking to score a takedown here. Sanchez is defending well but Sakkinnen drives through and ends up in Sanchez's guard.

Sanchez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Sanchez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sakkinnen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sakkinnen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sakkinnen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez trying to keep a closed guard but Sakkinnen is proving a slippery customer.

Sanchez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Sanchez looking for a guillotine here but Sakkinnen defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakkinnen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sanchez's guard.

Sanchez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sakkinnen postures up.

Sanchez throws his legs up looking for a submission but Sakkinnen uses it to pass to side control.
You can see the frustration on Sanchez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanchez tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Sakkinnen easily slips into full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakkinnen fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Sanchez dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sakkinnen throws a body punch but Sanchez moves out of range.
Sanchez scores with a punch to the head.

Sanchez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sanchez lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sanchez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sanchez drops an elbow to the side of Sakkinnen's head.
Thiago Sanchez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sakkinnen is looking to escape.
Sanchez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sakkinnen works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sakkinnen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sanchez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sanchez landing with the ground and pound.
Sanchez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sakkinnen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sanchez prevents Sakkinnen from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakkinnen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sanchez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sanchez throwing strikes but missing.
Sanchez throwing strikes but missing.
Sanchez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sanchez working some strikes from top position.
Sanchez working some strikes from top position.
Sanchez is looking to work some ground and pound but Sakkinnen has wrist control.
Sakkinnen avoiding any damage from 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 lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sanchez's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sakkinnen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Sanchez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sakkinnen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sanchez has managed to get both his arms back between Sakkinnen's legs - danger averted.
Sanchez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sakkinnen wants to stand and escape but Sanchez is having none of it.

Sanchez stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Sanchez gets caught flat footed, as Sakkinnen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sanchez tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Sanchez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sakkinnen defends it easily.

Sanchez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sakkinnen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakkinnen forces his way into half guard.

Sanchez looking for submissions off his back.
Sanchez is looking to control Sakkinnen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sanchez avoid being mounted?

Sanchez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sanchez tries to kick Sakkinnen off but Sakkinnen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

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.
Sanchez wants to sweep but Sakkinnen has passed to side control!
Sanchez is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Sanchez taking a bit of punishment here - Sakkinnen scoring with strikes.
Sakkinnen throws an elbow but Sanchez slips to the side and avoids it well.
Sanchez sneaks back into half guard.

Sanchez actively working from the bottom here.
Sanchez pushes Sakkinnen off looking to stand but Sakkinnen dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Sanchez dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sakkinnen looks for a takedown but Sanchez sprawls well.
Sanchez with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sakkinnen counters with a single leg into guard. Sanchez didn't expect that.

Sanchez pushes a forearm under Sakkinnen's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Sakkinnen is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Thiago Sanchez!