PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jesus Saez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saez kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Earthquake. The crowd seem to be enjoying Sanchez's choice of entrance music: Written in the stars. Jesus Saez has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Saez
vs
Sanchez

225 cm
26
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
150 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI
SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jesus Saez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ricardo Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Ivan Kurochkin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sanchez throws a sloppy head kick and Saez moves out of range easily.
Saez wants to clinch.
Sanchez throws a head kick but Saez moves out of range.
Saez keeps the fight on the outside.
Saez sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Saez is looking to clinch but Sanchez is avoiding it.

Saez clinches with his opponent.

Saez has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Sanchez uses from the top position.
Sanchez stopping the sweep attempt from Saez.
Sanchez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Saez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Saez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanchez drops back looking for a leg! Saez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Saez manages to kick Sanchez off! Sanchez jumps back into Saez's guard.
Sanchez trying to control but Saez is working from the bottom.
Saez pulls Sanchez in to control the position.
Sanchez trying to control but Saez is working from the bottom.
Sanchez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Saez kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ricardo Sanchez wasn't active enough on the ground.
No luck for Sanchez with that takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Saez. No joy for Sanchez on that attempt.
Jesus Saez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Sanchez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saez rushes Sanchez and presses him up against the ropes.

Saez breaks the clinch.
Sanchez throws a head kick but Saez moves out of range.

Saez clinches.

Saez breaks from the clinch.
Saez is looking to clinch.
Saez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sanchez closes the distance and clinches up with Saez, looking for a takedown. Sanchez pushes Saez against the ropes but Saez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Saez tries to clinch there but Sanchez circles away.

Saez closes the distance and clinches.

Saez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saez moves to clinch but Sanchez breaks away
and Sanchez makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Saez really felt that one!
Sanchez shoots in but no luck this time.
Saez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Sanchez paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saez darts in and clinches Sanchez up against the ropes.
Sanchez tries to stall but Saez uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Saez manages to break the clinch.
Saez wants to clinch but Sanchez slips to the side

and Sanchez counters with a takedown into side control.
Saez keeps Sanchez under control for a moment.

Sanchez looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sanchez advances nicely into full mount.
Sanchez is trying to control here but Saez has managed to regain half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanchez is looking to stall here but Saez recovers full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sanchez is controlling him.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Saez keeps moving.
Sanchez preventing the sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saez keeping full guard, as Sanchez tries to pass.

Sanchez drops back, looking for a kneebar! Saez looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Saez looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Saez!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jesus Saez will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

A head kick misses from Sanchez.

Saez closes the distance and clinches.
Sanchez wants to take the fight to the mat but Saez manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Saez breaks the clinch.
Sanchez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Sanchez tries to sprawl but Saez drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Saez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Saez seems to be working for a kimura but Sanchez defends the submission attempt.

Sanchez looking for submissions off his back.
Well, if Saez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saez is looking for a kimura but Sanchez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Saez to get the leverage.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Sanchez moves into full guard.

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

Saez gets to his feet. Sanchez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Sanchez throws a half hearted mid kick.
Sanchez throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Saez tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sanchez counters with an inside leg kick.
Jesus Saez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saez tries to clinch but Sanchez moves out of range.
Saez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Sanchez paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Saez has Sanchez up against the ropes in a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Saez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sanchez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Saez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sanchez, pushing him back against the ropes.
Sanchez putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Saez in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Saez is trying to force a seperation but Sanchez has the dominant position.
Saez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sanchez working hard to break the clinch.
Saez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Saez tries to pull guard but Sanchez won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Saez has managed to clinch.

Saez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Saez moves into the clinch.

Saez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sanchez dives in and grabs Saez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Saez pushes down on Sanchez's head and hops out.
Jesus Saez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Sanchez.
Sanchez fails with the takedown

and Saez counters by moving into the clinch.
Saez is looking to break free of the clinch but Sanchez has double underhooks.

Saez breaks the clinch.

Sanchez gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Saez to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sanchez trying to keep a closed guard but Saez is proving a slippery customer.
Saez throwing strikes from guard but Sanchez blocks nicely.
Sanchez has momentary wrist control but Saez slips an elbow through the middle.
Sanchez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Saez is one step ahead there.

Sanchez has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Saez should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Sanchez has tightened it up now! Saez should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Ricardo Sanchez!
Ricardo Sanchez took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.