PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Raines (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raines comes to the cage accompanied by All Nightmare Long - Metallica. Alex Sanders has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Raines
vs
Sanders

197 cm
23
279 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

225 cm
25
300 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Xavier Raines!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alex Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Steve Montenegro and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raines throws out a loose jab but Sanders uses good head movement to avoid it.
Raines moves into range and connects with a jab.

It looks like Alex Sanders has been cut.
Raines moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sanders looks gassed!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Raines darts in and clinches Sanders up against the cage.

Raines pulls Sanders into guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Sanders won't allow Raines to get back to his feet.
Sanders tries to free his leg and advance position but Raines is retaining full guard.
Raines wants to stand and escape but Sanders is having none of it.

Raines pushes Sanders off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Sanders scores with a jab.
Sanders throws a nice looking combination but Raines bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sanders staying out of range there.
Sanders ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Raines moves away.

Raines clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raines breaks the clinch.
Raines slips a straight right by Sanders.
Raines takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Sanders moves away from the strike by Raines.

Raines has Sanders up against the cage in a clinch.
Sanders is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Raines pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Raines breaks from the clinch.
Sanders uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Raines.
Raines ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sanders throws a big shot that misses.
Raines stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Sanders moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Raines gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sanders is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Raines to keep the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raines lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Raines's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Raines lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sanders defending well as Raines loads up on a big left hand.
Raines displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sanders throws out the jab.
Raines swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sanders.
Sanders paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Raines is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Raines tries to clinch there but Sanders circles away.
Raines gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Raines lands a jab.
Raines is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Raines takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sanders scores with a sloppy right hand. Raines should have avoided that one.
Raines on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sanders. Sanders obviously looking to wear him down.
An inside leg kick lands from Sanders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Raines.
Raines takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Sanders slips a straight right by Raines.
Sanders connects with a body shot.
Raines blocks a leg kick.
Sanders lands a head shot.
Raines avoids the body shot from Sanders.
Sanders has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Raines finds it's way round the side to connect with Sanders's head.
Sanders tries to score with a low kick but Raines moves his leg out of the way.
Sanders avoids the head kick by Raines.
Sanders waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Raines.
Raines misses with an uppercut. Sanders saw that one coming.
Raines slips a straight right by Sanders.
Nice body punch from Sanders.
Raines lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sanders throws a jab but it's blocked by Raines.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Raines throws a shot from downtown. Sanders moves away and avoids it.
Raines moves out of range of the leg kick from Sanders.
Raines uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Sanders has time to react.
Sanders lands a nice leg kick that just misses Raines's sensitive parts.
Sanders waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Raines.
Raines steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sanders.
Raines throws a big shot that misses.
Raines throws a jab when Sanders was well out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raines throws a big shot that misses.
Sanders pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Raines back to the cage. Sanders follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Sanders stalks Raines and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Raines's face. Raines staggers backwards, shaken.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Raines throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sanders shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Raines eats them both and turns towards Sanders to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Sanders cracks the inside of Raines's front leg.
Some wild striking there from Raines.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Raines dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alex Sanders's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Raines rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Sanders counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Raines misses with a looping left.
Raines throws a lazy right hand but Sanders sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sanders throws the left hand but Raines avoids the punch easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Sanders misses the target.
Nice shot by Raines.

Raines has closed the distance and engaged Sanders in a clinch.
Raines is trying to pull guard but Sanders turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Sanders takes a shot to the head.

Raines pulls Sanders into guard.
Raines is looking to stand up but Sanders isn't so interested in that idea.
Sanders's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Raines wants to stand but Sanders is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raines trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders wants to control from the top but Raines keeps moving.
Raines knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sanders on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Alex Sanders wasn't active enough on the ground.
A good leg kick by Sanders.
A good leg kick by Sanders.
Raines walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Raines loads up on a big right hand but Sanders slips the punch.
Sanders scores with a jab to the head.
Raines lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Sanders lands with a straight right. Raines didn't see that one coming.
Raines bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Sanders throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sanders misses with a few strikes there.
Sanders lands a lovely overhand right.
Sanders connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Raines's hands.
Raines throws a jab when Sanders was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Raines misses.
Raines walks into a stiff left hand from Sanders.
Sanders tries to score with a low kick but Raines moves his leg out of the way.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sanders bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sanders swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Raines takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanders moves out of range of the strikes.
Sanders connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sanders thuds his right hand into Raines's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sanders swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sanders throws a big shot that misses.
Sanders has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Raines throws a jab but it's blocked by Sanders.
Sanders closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Sanders with a nice cross.
Sanders displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Raines throws out the jab.
Sanders stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Sanders throws an overhand right that lands on Raines's shoulder, as Raines tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders connects with the punch.
Sanders lands a slapping body shot.
Sanders throws a shot to the body.
Some wild striking there from Sanders.
Sanders is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Sanders slips a straight right by Raines.
Sanders darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Raines takes one to the side of the head.
Sanders with a hook.
Raines moves forwards but Sanders connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Raines connects with a right hand. Sanders shakes it off.
Raines takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
The fighters circling - Sanders throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Raines scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sanders in his tracks.
Sanders scores with a nice strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raines doesn't manage to clinch there - Sanders circles away.
Sanders dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
An inside leg kick from Sanders misses.
Sanders lands with a nice body punch.
Sanders lands a really nice looking cross but Raines seems unphased.
Raines looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Sanders connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Sanders avoids the head kick by Raines.
Raines on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
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!
A solid leg kick lands there for Sanders.
Raines throws an overhand right that lands on Sanders's shoulder, as Sanders tries to avoid the shot.
Sanders swinging wildly here.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sanders darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raines on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Sanders fails to land with a series of punches.
Sanders takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Raines is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Raines tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanders paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Sanders showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Alex Sanders's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Raines's corner calls for a 1-2. Raines obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Raines throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A swing and a miss from Raines.
Sanders showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Raines.
Raines misses with a straight right.
Nice uppercut there from Sanders.
Raines tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Raines throws a jab but it's blocked by Sanders.
Raines on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Sanders lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sanders displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Raines throws out the jab.
The crowd cheers as Sanders lands an impressive looking overhand right. Raines doesn't seem phased though.
Sanders jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Sanders misses with the combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
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!
Sanders lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Raines.
Sanders lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Sanders misses with a looping right.
Raines throws a hook but Sanders avoids it easily.
Sanders lands with a cross.
Raines dodges the punch combination from Sanders.
Sanders jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Raines throws a looping overhand right but Sanders ducks down to avoid it.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sanders, as that shot connected.
Alex Sanders seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Raines misses with a hook.
Sanders throws a combination. Raines tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Raines throws a head kick but Sanders moves out of range.
Raines misses the jab.
Raines walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Raines lands an overhand right.
Raines throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Sanders as he connects with a hook.
Raines slips a jab and a cross from Sanders.
Raines chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sanders can pounce on him.
A telegraphed right hand from Raines misses the target.
Nice defenses there by Raines.
Raines throws a big shot that misses.
Sanders works Raines's body with a nice hook.
Sanders is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Raines moves into range and connects with a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A swing and a miss from Raines.
Sanders ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Raines moves away.
Sanders drops his hands momentarily and Raines takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Nice shot by Raines.
Raines walks into a jab.
Sanders misses with a wild body shot.
Sanders misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Raines.
Sanders scores with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Sanders, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sanders scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Raines lands a jab to the nose.
Good leg kick by Sanders there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Raines tries to work over Sanders's front leg with a kick but Sanders checks it.
Raines gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Raines uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sanders.
Sanders throws out a leg kick but Raines moves out of range and Sanders only half commits.
Nice jab there from Raines.
Raines pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sanders throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Raines on the side of the head.
Sanders misses with a few strikes there.
Sanders scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Sanders ducks under a wild hook from Raines.
Sanders throws a leg kick but Raines sees it coming and moves out of range.
Sanders loads up on a big right hand but Raines slips the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raines gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Raines feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Sanderss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Raines connects with a jab.
Sanders's jab looks to have found its range, popping Raines under the eye.
Raines slips a straight right by Sanders.
Raines tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Sanders manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sanders looks to land a left hand but Raines moved out of range nicely.
Sanders throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Raines sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sanders misses with an uppercut. Raines saw that one coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sanders connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Sanders thows a body shot but no joy.
Sanders throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Raines moves into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sanders pulls guard successfully.
Raines wants to stand and escape but instead Sanders has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Raines is looking to stand up but Sanders isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Sanders comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sanders has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29

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