PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raphel Ortiz Figueroa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Sanderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanderson has chosen Pantera - This Love as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Ortiz Figueroa
vs
Sanderson

174 cm
26
164 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

183 cm
28
155 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Raphel Ortiz Figueroa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ryan Sanderson!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Eddie Farnsworth and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ortiz Figueroa misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Sanderson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Ortiz Figueroa shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sanderson's guard.
Sanderson 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.

Sanderson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ortiz Figueroa defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ortiz Figueroa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ortiz Figueroa connects with a couple of short punches.
Sanderson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ortiz Figueroa manages to get himself to full guard.
Ortiz Figueroa wants to stand but Sanderson is controlling the position.
Sanderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ortiz Figueroa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanderson is fighting to break Ortiz Figueroa's control of his arms but Ortiz Figueroa is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanderson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sanderson trying to move into half guard but instead Ortiz Figueroa has managed to sweep!
Sanderson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ortiz Figueroa is one step ahead there.
Sanderson keeping moving, preventing Ortiz Figueroa from controlling successfully.
Ortiz Figueroa postures up in Sanderson's guard and throws a big left but Sanderson blocks it.
Ortiz Figueroa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sanderson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Sanderson pushes Ortiz Figueroa off and gets back to his feet.
Sanderson lands with a good body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ortiz Figueroa enables Sanderson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ortiz Figueroa manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sanderson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ortiz Figueroa is keeping the position for now.
Sanderson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ortiz Figueroa is trying to stand up here but Sanderson is controlling him well.
Sanderson is trying to control the action in half guard but Ortiz Figueroa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sanderson is thwarting Ortiz Figueroa's attempts to control the position.
Ortiz Figueroa is looking to improve his position.
Sanderson prevents Ortiz Figueroa from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz Figueroa won't allow Sanderson to pass to mount.

Sanderson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Sanderson is looking for a kimura but Ortiz Figueroa is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sanderson to get the leverage.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sanderson lands a nice short elbow.
Ortiz Figueroa wants to control but Sanderson is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Sanderson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ortiz Figueroa has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ortiz Figueroa is trying to get back to full 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.
Ortiz Figueroa keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Sanderson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ortiz Figueroa keeps working.
Ortiz Figueroa is looking to escape.
Ortiz Figueroa has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sanderson is working away from the top position though.
Sanderson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sanderson is keen to just control but Ortiz Figueroa is a slippery customer.

Sanderson is looking for a kimura but Ortiz Figueroa is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sanderson to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Sanderson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A lazy left from Sanderson finds it's target.
Sanderson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sanderson lands a nice hook to Ortiz Figueroa's body. Ortiz Figueroa takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ortiz Figueroa throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ortiz Figueroa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ortiz Figueroa misses with an uppercut

and Sanderson counters with a shoot takedown. Ortiz Figueroa fights it but they end up in guard.
Ortiz Figueroa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ortiz Figueroa controls Sanderson momentarily but Sanderson frees himself.
Ortiz Figueroa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sanderson is controlling him.

Sanderson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ortiz Figueroa keeping moving, preventing Sanderson from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanderson won't allow Ortiz Figueroa to get back to his feet.
Sanderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ortiz Figueroa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanderson wants to control from the top but Ortiz Figueroa keeps moving.
Sanderson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Ortiz Figueroa looking for a sweep. Not yet Ortiz Figueroa, not yet.

Ryan Sanderson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sanderson sizes up Ortiz Figueroa with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Nice straight punches there by Sanderson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sanderson.

Ortiz Figueroa shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sanderson's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanderson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ortiz Figueroa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ortiz Figueroa postures up and lands a big shot to Sanderson's brow.
Sanderson is pulling down on Ortiz Figueroa's head to control his posture.
Ortiz Figueroa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ortiz Figueroa connects with a couple of short punches.
Sanderson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Sanderson isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Ortiz Figueroa stacks Sanderson on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Ortiz Figueroa!
Ortiz Figueroa is looking to take a break and control but Sanderson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ortiz Figueroa cracks Sanderson with a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ortiz Figueroa's best efforts.
Sanderson wants to get back to full guard.
Sanderson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sanderson is trying to control but can't.
Ortiz Figueroa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sanderson's head.
Ortiz Figueroa lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ortiz Figueroa looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sanderson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sanderson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sanderson.
Ortiz Figueroa wants to control from the top but Sanderson keeps moving.
Ortiz Figueroa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanderson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sanderson keeping moving, preventing Ortiz Figueroa from controlling successfully.
Ortiz Figueroa is working Sanderson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sanderson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sanderson trying to keep a closed guard but Ortiz Figueroa is proving a slippery customer.
Sanderson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ortiz Figueroa is one step ahead there.
Sanderson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Sanderson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sanderson connects with a looping right hand.
Sanderson lands a head shot.
Sanderson lands with a good body shot.
Sanderson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Ortiz Figueroa backs up against the cage.
Sanderson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Ortiz Figueroa gets a double leg takedown into Sanderson's guard.
Ortiz Figueroa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ortiz Figueroa being controlled here momentarily.
Sanderson looking to control.
Sanderson wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz Figueroa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ortiz Figueroa trying to control but Sanderson is working from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Ortiz Figueroa working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ortiz Figueroa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sanderson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ortiz Figueroa!
Ortiz Figueroa's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanderson lands a big elbow.
Sanderson breaks from Ortiz Figueroa's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Ortiz Figueroa wants to control but Sanderson is having none of it.
Ortiz Figueroa is in a horrible position here. Sanderson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Ortiz Figueroa is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sanderson unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Ortiz Figueroa wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Sanderson celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ryan Sanderson!