PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cael Sanderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Martin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanderson comes to the cage accompanied by Hurricane. James Martin is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Sanderson
vs
Martin

183 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

182 cm
29
185 lbs
12 - 18 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cael Sanderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Martin!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Martin.
Martin is looking to clinch.
Martin throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Cael Sanderson has been cut.
Martin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sanderson sprawls well. Sanderson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Martin gets slowly back to his feet.
Sanderson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Martin shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Martin was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Martin throws some wild stikes that Sanderson manages to avoid easily.
Sanderson trying desperately to get to his feet.

Martin looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Martin has hold of Sanderson's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Sanderson manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanderson really wants to buck Martin off and get back to his feet.
Martin lands a heavy elbow.

Martin looking for a guillotine from mount but Sanderson is having none of it.
Martin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sanderson is looking to escape.
Sanderson is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Martin is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Sanderson has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Martin tries to control but Sanderson wriggling away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martin is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
James Martin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Martin lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Martin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Sanderson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sanderson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Martin is defending well for now.
Sanderson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Martin is defending well.
Martin taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sanderson dodges an elbow strike from Martin.

Sanderson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sanderson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Martin looks for a takedown but Sanderson sprawls well.
Cael Sanderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Martin.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Martin throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head kick by Martin misses

and Sanderson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Martin won't be happy with that.
Martin tries to bench press Sanderson off him but Sanderson keeps the position.
Martin is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Sanderson is controlling him well.

Sanderson decides to stand back up.
Martin tries to clinch but Sanderson is having none of it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sanderson is defended easily by Martin.
Sanderson fails to land the takedown.
Sanderson is breathing heavily.
Martin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Sanderson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sanderson clinches up with Martin and pushes him back against the cage.
Sanderson tries a body shot but Martin blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Martin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cael Sanderson's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sanderson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Martin moves in looking to clinch but Sanderson pushes him off.
A lazy left from Martin finds it's target.
Sanderson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Martin is fending him off so far but Sanderson persists. Nope, Martin circles away and we're back to standing.
Sanderson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Sanderson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Martin tries to avoid it but Sanderson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Martin to the ground. Martin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanderson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Martin darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanderson is trying to stand back up but Martin is controlling him
Sanderson taking some punishment here, with Martin in his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanderson is refusing to be controlled, as Martin sits in half guard.
Martin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Martin is just content to waste time from the top position. Sanderson takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Martin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Martin lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin trying to control but Sanderson is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Martin might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sanderson kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Sanderson wants to stand but Martin is controlling the position.
Martin throws a big elbow that misses.
Sanderson keeping moving, preventing Martin from controlling successfully.

James Martin has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sanderson has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cael Sanderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Martin moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Martin pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Martin softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Martin trying to stall but Sanderson improves his position.

Martin jumps into guard, dragging Sanderson to the mat.

Martin manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Martin or perhaps it was just good defense by Sanderson which made him look bad.
Sanderson avoids the head kick by Martin.
Sanderson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sanderson avoids the head kick by Martin.

Martin moves into the clinch successfully.
Martin stops a takedown attempt from Sanderson.
Martin lands a shot to the body.

Martin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Martin moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Martin lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Sanderson backs up against the cage.

Cael Sanderson's cut is getting worse.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Martin.
Martin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sanderson pinned against the cage. Sanderson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Martin throws a head kick but Sanderson moves out of range.
Martin connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Sanderson's hands.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Martin.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Martin wants to clinch up but Sanderson keeps it at a distance.
Martin throws a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Martin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Cael Sanderson's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Martin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sanderson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Martin.
Martin connects with a right hand. Sanderson shakes it off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Martin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Martin lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Martin.
Sanderson keeps the fight on the outside.
Martin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sanderson shoots in but Martin avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Martin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanderson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Martin is fending him off so far but Sanderson persists. Nope, Martin circles away and we're back to standing.
Martin misses with a few strikes there.
Sanderson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Martin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sanderson somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cael Sanderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sanderson closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Martin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Martin pushes Sanderson up against the cage in a clinch.

Sanderson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sanderson misses with a kick to the body.
Sanderson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sanderson with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin throws a nice looking combination but Sanderson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sanderson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Sanderson gets tackled into the cage by Martin. Martin maintains the clinch.
Sanderson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Martin has him pressed against the cage.
Martin blocks the elbow strike.

Martin pulls guard.
Martin trying to keep a closed guard but Sanderson is proving a slippery customer.
Sanderson wanted to stand there but Martin had control of the position.
Sanderson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Martin on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sanderson won't allow Martin to get back to his feet.
Sanderson tries to stand but Martin is controlling from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Martin wants to improve his position but instead Sanderson has moved into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martin actively working from the bottom here.
Martin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Martin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
James Martin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Martin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Martin scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Martin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Martin goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Cael Sanderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martin looks to land a combination but Sanderson avoids it well.
Martin shoots in for a takedown but Sanderson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Martin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Sanderson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sanderson has his takedown stuffed

and Martin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sanderson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sanderson tries to get out of the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Martin looking to pass the guard.

Martin gets to his feet. Sanderson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Martin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sanderson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sanderson blocks a head kick by Martin.
Martin shoots for a takedown but Sanderson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Martin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Martin has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Martin!