PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zick VanDan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zick VanDan has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

VanDan
vs
Sanders

150 cm
25
130 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

225 cm
20
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zick VanDan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bob Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanders lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
VanDan fails in his attempt to clinch.
VanDan dodges the punch combination from Sanders.
VanDan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sanders circles away.
Sanders closes the distance but VanDan moves to the side

and VanDan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sanders's guard now.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
VanDan is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Zick VanDan.
Sanders looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Sanders. Those never looked like landing.
Sanders looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sanders tries to clinch there but VanDan circles away.
Sanders feints a jab promting VanDan to slip. Sanders then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. VanDan slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Sanders has managed to clinch.

VanDan has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Sanders regains guard immediately.
VanDan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sanders is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

VanDan moves into range and clinches up with Sanders.
Sanders prevents a takedown attempt there.

VanDan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sanders misses with a double jab

and VanDan counters with a takedown into side control.

Sanders is rocked!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Sanders bucks up and tries to throw VanDan off but instead VanDan has got his back!
Sanders looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

VanDan working for a choke but Sanders is defending well.
Sanders is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
VanDan controlling from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
VanDan has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zick VanDan dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sanders gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows VanDan to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanders working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from VanDan.
VanDan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

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

Sanders closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
VanDan is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sanders creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Sanders wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Sanders breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sanders.
Sanders wants to clinch up but VanDan keeps it at a distance.
Bob Sanders is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sanders lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but VanDan circles away quickly and effectively.
Sanders throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sanders fails to land with a series of punches.
Sanders swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and VanDan counters with a shoot takedown. Sanders fights it but they end up in guard.
Sanders is breathing heavily.
VanDan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Zick VanDan has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Sanders fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanders misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
VanDan fails with a takedown attempt.
Sanders misses with a wild combination.
Sanders misses with a body kick.

VanDan has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sanders is trying to break free.
Sanders tries to break free but VanDan pushes him back against the cage.
Sanders tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
VanDan changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sanders fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zick VanDan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Sanders. No joy for VanDan on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
VanDan shoots in for a takedown but Sanders shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sanders wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but VanDan has him pressed against the cage.

Sanders breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

VanDan fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sanders sprawls well initially but VanDan persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
VanDan is pressing down on Sanders's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sanders is holding on for now.
VanDan not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Zick VanDan.
Sanders lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Bob Sanders seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

VanDan closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sanders to the mat! Sanders manages to get full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
VanDan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
VanDan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

We're going to have a standup here because Zick VanDan wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A right-left combo lands from Sanders.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
VanDan looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
VanDan fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zick VanDan dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sanders drives through and clinches with VanDan against the cage.
VanDan can't get the takedown.
Sanders with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sanders looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sanders wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sanders.
Sanders is trying to push VanDan away but VanDan has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sanders stops a takedown attempt from VanDan.
Sanders with a knee to the head.
Sanders has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sanders is trying to break free.
Sanders is trying to push VanDan away but VanDan has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sanders takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders with an attempt at a knee that misses.
VanDan changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sanders fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zick VanDan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanders throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

VanDan closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Sanders quickly recovers to half guard.
Zick VanDan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
VanDan is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Zick VanDan wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Sanders scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
VanDan throws a sloppy head kick and Sanders moves out of range easily.
Sanders tries a head kick but it misses.
Sanders tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and VanDan counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sanders won't be happy with that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zick VanDan wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sanders looks to land a combination but VanDan avoids it well.

VanDan forces Sanders back against the cage and clinches.

VanDan gets a trip takedown into half guard.
VanDan is figuring out what he wants to do next.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

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

VanDan looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Sanders!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! VanDan has taken his back!
Zick VanDan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
VanDan controlling the position well here. Sanders rolled but VanDan kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sanders won't enjoy being in this position. VanDan looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Sanders is tapping - it's over boys! VanDan picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Zick VanDan!