PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Harry Poppins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Poppins's entrance music is Mama Said Knock You Out. A fine choice. Sanders has chosen Con te Partiro as his entrance music. Chris Sanders told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Poppins
vs
Sanders

193 cm
21
218 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

189 cm
21
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Harry Poppins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Wesley Smith and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poppins shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sanders as he avoids it easily.
Poppins lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Poppins misses with a leg kick.
Poppins pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sanders moves away from the strike by Poppins.
Harry Poppins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Poppins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Poppins shoots for a double leg takedown but Sanders sprawls well. He's pushed Poppins's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Poppins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanders paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Poppins throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sanders's waist but Sanders gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Poppins off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harry Poppins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanders doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sanders staying out of range there.
Poppins throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Poppins tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanders feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Poppins wants to stand but Sanders is controlling the position.
Poppins is trying to keep Sanders in close.
Sanders trying to control the position from guard on top but Poppins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanders stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Poppins swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanders stopping the sweep attempt from Poppins.

Sanders stands up from Poppins's guard - Sanders perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poppins misses with a body kick.
Sanders throws a right and a left that Poppins avoids nicely.

Poppins drives through and clinches with Sanders against the cage.
Sanders blocks the elbow strike.
Poppins trying to land knees to the body.
Poppins tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Poppins trying to land knees to the body.
Sanders takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sanders is trying to maintain a safe position but Poppins gets an underhook and turns Sanders into the cage.
Poppins misses with a punch on the inside.
Sanders is trying to break the clinch but Poppins has him pressed against the cage.
Sanders blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Poppins using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sanders has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Sanders breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sanders shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poppins doesn't manage to clinch there - Sanders circles away.
Sanders fails to land the takedown.
Sanders throws a sloppy head kick and Poppins moves out of range easily.
Poppins tries to close the distance and clinch but Sanders swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Poppins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sanders moves away.
Poppins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanders paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Poppins throws a chopping leg kick but Sanders manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Sanders takes a kick to the side of the head.
Sanders moves in looking to clinch but Poppins pushes him off.
Sanders circles away from the clinch attempt

and Sanders decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Poppins's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders is looking to work some ground and pound but Poppins has wrist control.
Sanders missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sanders with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sanders throws a big right hand that misses.

Sanders postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Poppins is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sanders, into his guard.
Poppins wants to pass the guard but Sanders is keeping the position.
Sanders wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Chris Sanders will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Poppins!
Poppins throws a head kick that misses

and Sanders counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sanders missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Sanders decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Poppins, up you get!
The fight stays on the outside here - Poppins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Poppins tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sanders swivels and escapes.
A nice combination there by Sanders.
Harry Poppins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice cross by Poppins.
Poppins closes the distance but Sanders moves to the side
and Sanders counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sanders closes this distance looking for a takedown but Poppins circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders blocks a head kick by Poppins.
Poppins misses with a double jab.
Poppins throws a lazy right hand but Sanders sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sanders tries a head kick but it misses.
Sanders blocks a head kick by Poppins.
Poppins tries to clinch but Sanders is having none of it.
Sanders avoids the head kick by Poppins.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Poppins throws a sloppy head kick and Sanders moves out of range easily.
Sanders is looking to clinch but Poppins is avoiding it.
Poppins throws a lazy head kick

and Sanders counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sanders is trying to control the action in half guard but Poppins is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Poppins blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sanders.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poppins has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sanders is working away from the top position though.
Sanders thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Poppins's head.
Sanders missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sanders winds up and cracks Poppins with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Sanders seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Poppins has recovered full guard.
Sanders stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Poppins swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanders throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sanders looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poppins is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Poppins preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Poppins wants to get back to his feet but Sanders is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sanders is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Poppins is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Poppins has escaped and now he's on top!
Poppins trying to control but Sanders is working from the bottom.
Poppins preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sanders is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Poppins dives into side control.
Sanders manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Sanders wants to sweep but Poppins has passed to side control!
Sanders misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Sanders is trying to control Poppins's posture but Poppins avoids it.
Sanders gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Sanders has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sanders is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Poppins's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Poppins's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Sanders showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Sanders pushes Poppins up against the cage in a clinch.

Sanders breaks the clinch.
Poppins avoids a punch combination nicely.
Poppins misses the shot to the body.
Sanders doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Poppins counters with a series of strikes. Sanders will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sanders throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sanders takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sanders has his takedown stuffed
and Poppins counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Sanders has his takedown stuffed
and Poppins counters with a leg kick.
Harry Poppins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Sanders.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanders slips under a jab from Poppins.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poppins misses with a double jab

and Sanders counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sanders wants to control from the top but Poppins keeps moving.
Sanders prevents Poppins from getting back to his feet.

Sanders drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Poppins dives on top into guard.
Sanders lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Poppins!

Sanders goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Poppins is on top in guard.
Poppins stays in close to Sanders's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Poppins avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Sanders is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sanders keeping moving, preventing Poppins from controlling successfully.
Poppins has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sanders is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sanders not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sanders throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sanders works his way into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Poppins is squirming around, avoiding Sanders's attempts to control the action.
BOOM! Sanders connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Poppins is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

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.
Poppins is working to get back to half guard.
Poppins tries to hold on but Sanders postures up.
Poppins is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sanders in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Poppins is trying to stand up.
Poppins slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Harry Poppins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Poppins wants to get back to full guard.
Poppins keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sanders is thwarting Poppins's attempts to control the position.
Sanders trying to control from Poppins's half guard. Poppins has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Sanders comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sanders 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Sanders!