PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Damian Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tim Horton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sanchez
vs
Horton

187 cm
27
199 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

185 cm
29
195 lbs
7 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Damian Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tim Horton!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Skip Squint and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horton throws a nice looking combination but Sanchez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sanchez misses with a takedown
and Horton counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Sanchez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Horton sprawls well initially but Sanchez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sanchez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Horton's head.
Horton tries to get to full guard but Sanchez has control of the leg.
Horton wants to get back to his feet.
Sanchez uses his free foot to push down on Horton's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Horton.
Sanchez throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Sanchez looking to finish with strikes here!

Sanchez jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Horton is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Horton and Sanchez has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horton tries to bench press Sanchez off him but Sanchez keeps the position.
Sanchez lands a nice forearm strike.
Sanchez working the ground and pound.
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.
Sanchez in side control, throwing shots but Horton defends.
Horton tries to bench press Sanchez off him but Sanchez keeps the position.
Horton is trying to control Sanchez's posture but Sanchez avoids it.
Sanchez landing strikes.
Sanchez cracks Horton with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanchez misses with the ground and pound.

Sanchez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Sanchez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Horton knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sanchez working the ground and pound but Horton is defending the strikes.
Sanchez landing strikes.
Horton defending against the ground and pound.

Sanchez goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Horton rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Sanchez's guard! Nice work there by Horton!
Sanchez will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Horton is aware though and is defending well.

Horton got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sanchez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Horton has managed to get both his arms back between Sanchez's legs - danger averted.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Horton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Sanchez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Horton defends well.
Horton postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sanchez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Horton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sanchez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanchez throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Horton wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.

Sanchez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Horton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horton working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sanchez's head.
Horton trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Horton must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Sanchez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Horton defends well.
Horton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sanchez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Horton trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Horton is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanchez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Horton avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Horton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Sanchez dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Horton throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Horton misses with an uppercut. Sanchez saw that one coming.
Sanchez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Horton counters with a series of strikes. Sanchez will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Horton sprawls well. Horton wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sanchez gets slowly back to his feet.
Sanchez shoots for a takedown but Horton saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damian Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez has a takedown stuffed.
Horton throws a lazy right hand but Sanchez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Horton looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sanchez dodges the punch combination from Horton.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sanchez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Horton's waist but Horton gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sanchez off to one side.
Tim Horton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Horton defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sanchez.
Horton displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sanchez.
Damian Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sanchez closes the distance and clinches up with Horton, looking for a takedown. Sanchez pushes Horton against the cage but Horton circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Damian Sanchez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sanchez slips under a jab from Horton.
Horton's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Horton duly obliges.
Horton misses with an uppercut.
Sanchez fails with the takedown
and Horton counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nice sprawl there from Horton as Sanchez shoots in.

Sanchez manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Horton on his heels. He'll look to pass Horton's guard now, I'm sure.

Horton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horton looking to control.

Horton throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sanchez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sanchez cracks Horton with a solid left hand.
Sanchez throwing strikes from guard but Horton blocks nicely.
Horton preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Horton utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sanchez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throws and elbow that misses. Horton uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sanchez's guard. Nice move by Horton!

Sanchez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sanchez throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Horton wants to pass the guard but Sanchez is keeping the position.

Sanchez has his foot on Horton's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Horton works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sanchez looking for a guillotine here but Horton defends easily.
Sanchez throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Sanchez is looking for a triangle but Horton pushes his legs off easily.
Horton scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Horton stands up and waves to Sanchez to follow him.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Horton as he avoids it easily.
Horton lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Sanchez dives in and scores a takedown into Horton's guard.
Sanchez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Sanchez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Horton is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sanchez, into his guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanchez keeping full guard, as Horton tries to pass.
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 Damian Sanchez will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Sanchez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Horton sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sanchez somewhat.
Horton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sanchez moves away.
Sanchez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Horton circles away.
Horton throws a series of punches but Sanchez moves out of range.
Sanchez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Horton counters with a two punch combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damian Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horton misses with a low kick.
Horton moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Sanchez moves out of range of the strikes.
Sanchez shoots for a takedown but Horton saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sanchez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Horton tries to avoid it but Sanchez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Horton to the ground. Horton escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horton fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Horton getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The fighters circling - Horton throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but Horton shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Horton just misses with a punch to the body.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Horton sprawls well. Horton wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sanchez gets slowly back to his feet.
Horton stalks Sanchez and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sanchez's face. Sanchez staggers backwards, shaken.
Sanchez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sanchez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Horton counters with a nice uppercut.

Sanchez manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Horton on his heels. He'll look to pass Horton's guard now, I'm sure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sanchez throws and elbow that misses. Horton uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sanchez's guard. Nice move by Horton!
Sanchez thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Horton trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Horton throwing strikes from guard but Sanchez blocks nicely.
Horton works over Sanchez with some ground and pound from guard.

Sanchez has his foot on Horton's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Horton works his way back into a safe position though.
Horton thows a big elbow that misses.

Sanchez is looking for a triangle but Horton pushes his legs off easily.
Horton trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horton wants to stand but Sanchez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sanchez throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Horton scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Horton wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
Horton throwing strikes but missing.
Horton wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
Sanchez wants to sweep but no luck.
Horton trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tim Horton wasn't active enough on the ground.
Sanchez misses with a takedown attempt
and Horton counters with a series of strikes. Sanchez will be more careful next time no doubt.
Horton displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sanchez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Horton is fending him off so far but Sanchez persists. Nope, Horton circles away and we're back to standing.
Tim Horton seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sanchez with a poor takedown
and Horton counters with a straight right hand.
Sanchez walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Tim Horton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Horton will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sanchez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Horton stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Horton wants it to stay on the feet.
Horton looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Horton looks to land a right hand but Sanchez moved out of range.
Sanchez defending well as Horton loads up on a big left hand.
Sanchez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tim Horton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sanchez 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damian Sanchez!