PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Justin Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Sanders acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Cage
vs
Sanders

186 cm
18
192 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

150 cm
19
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Justin Cage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mike Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Bruno Hogan and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cage fails with the takedown

so Sanders counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Sanders got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cage has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sanders has managed to get both his arms back between Cage's legs - danger averted.
Cage will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sanders postures up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sanders's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sanders works over Cage with some ground and pound from guard.
Cage 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cage is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Cage is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sanders is just riding it out for now. Cage eventually gives up the hold.
Cage controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sanders keeps working.
Cage tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sanders knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Sanders is defending against the submission attempts here by Cage.

That's two 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.

Cage is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Cage is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sanders sees it coming and defends easily.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sanders can do anything to dispel that myth.

Cage is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sanders preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sanders really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cage. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cage trying to control the action but Sanders is working from the bottom.
Cage passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Sanders!

That's four 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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cage fails to advance to Sanders's back.

Sanders defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Cage.
Sanders is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Cage tries to control but Sanders wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Cage dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cage misses with a takedown attempt

so Sanders counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sanders trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sanders throws a big right hand that misses.
Sanders throws a strike but Cage rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Cage is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Sanders keeping moving, preventing Cage from controlling successfully.

Cage is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders is adopting a defensive guard.
Sanders looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cage landing some decent shots from guard.
Cage looking to pass the guard.

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.
Cage trying to control but Sanders is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Justin Cage.
Cage with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sanders counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Cage!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Sanders cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Sanders cracks Cage with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Sanders landing punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cage really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Sanders goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Cage turns into him and now he's in Sanders's guard.
Cage pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanders is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cage trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mike Sanders has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cage trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cage sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sanders's guard.
Cage tries to pass to full mount but Sanders defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Sanders showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cage with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sanders counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sanders.
Sanders working some strikes from top position.
Cage is trying to control the position but Sanders postures up.
Sanders is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sanders throws a big right hand that misses.
Sanders postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Sanders drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Cage manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Sanders has Cage in his guard.
Cage is pushing down on Sanders's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sanders is fighting to maintain full guard but Cage has managed to sneak the leg through.
Cage trying to pass the guard but Sanders defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sanders preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Cage controlling the action here.
Sanders is refusing to be controlled, as Cage sits in half guard.

That's two 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.
Cage is pressing down on Sanders's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sanders is holding on for now.
Cage wants to take a breather but Sanders is having none of it.

We're going to have a standup here because Justin Cage wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Sanders closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sanders landing strikes.
Cage can't do much from the bottom here.
Cage manages to get back to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sanders's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sanders's back!

Cage looking for the RNC.
Sanders is keeping busy.

Sanders defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Cage's arms.
Sanders is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Cage looking for the choke from the back.

Cage is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Sanders knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Sanders for a finish.

Cage is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cage is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Sanders taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Cage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Justin Cage!