PBP Commentary

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

Anastasia
vs
Sanders

178 cm
23
161 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
160 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Johnny Anastasia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Barry Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Anastasia, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Anastasia misses with a double jab.
Sanders throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sanders fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Anastasia doesn't manage to clinch there - Sanders circles away.
Anastasia stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Anastasia wants it to stay on the feet.
Sanders fails with the takedown.
Johnny Anastasia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barry Sanders.
Anastasia swings for the body but Sanders moves out of range.
Anastasia misses with a body shot

and Sanders counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sanders.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Anastasia has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Sanders off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Anastasia misses with a series of wild punches.
Anastasia has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sanders finds it's way round the side to connect with Anastasia's head.
Sanders fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sanders shoots in looking for a takedown but Anastasia manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sanders's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Anastasia. No joy for Sanders on that attempt.
Sanders blocks a leg kick.
Anastasia swinging wildly here.
Sanders fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sanders.
A punch combination from Sanders misses.
Sanders shoots in for a takedown but Anastasia shows good takedown defense.
Anastasia feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sanders's calf.
Johnny Anastasia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanders looks gassed!
Anastasia misses with a series of wild punches.
Anastasia misses with a wild combination.
Sanders closes the distance and clinches up with Anastasia, looking for a takedown. Sanders pushes Anastasia against the cage but Anastasia circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanders shoots in but Anastasia avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Anastasia lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sanders's sensitive parts.

Anastasia feints and as Sanders raises his hands in defense, Anastasia changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Anastasia decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sanders, up you get!
Anastasia lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sanders's sensitive parts.
Anastasia throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sanders counters with a series of strikes. Anastasia will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sanders takes a swing at Anastasia's ribcage but misses.
Anastasia misses with a low kick.
Anastasia throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sanders counters with a series of strikes. Anastasia will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sanders with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Anastasia to score with a decent uppercut.
Anastasia throws a combination that misses
and Sanders counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Anastasia throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sanders works Anastasia's body with a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Anastasia does no damage.
Sanders throws a series of strikes that have Anastasia backpedaling.
Sanders swats away the attempt to clinch by Anastasia.
Anastasia gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Sanders shoots in for a takedown but Anastasia shows good takedown defense.
Anastasia stuffs the takedown attempt from Sanders. Sanders gets slowly back to his feet.
Sanders tries to land a leg kick but Anastasia saw it coming and moves away.
Anastasia scores with a jab to the body.

Anastasia looking to score a takedown here. Sanders is defending well but Anastasia drives through and ends up in Sanders's guard.
Sanders bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Anastasia's guard.

Anastasia pushes Sanders off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanders scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Sanders shoots in but Anastasia avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Anastasia wants to clinch.
Sanders shoots in looking for a takedown. Anastasia tries to sprawl out of it but Sanders keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Anastasia manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sloppy strikes from Sanders. Those never looked like landing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Anastasia misses with a few strikes there.
Anastasia blocks the body kick.
Danga de danga de dang - Sanders scores with a four punch combination!
Anastasia throws a nice looking combination but Sanders bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
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 Johnny Anastasia will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Anastasia gets a takedown into half guard.

Anastasia stands up and beckons Sanders to join him on the feet.
Sanders closes this distance looking for a takedown but Anastasia circles away.
A combination from Anastasia does no damage.
Jab by Sanders.
Sanders shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Anastasia sprawls well. Anastasia wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sanders gets slowly back to his feet.
Sanders shoots in but no luck this time.
Johnny Anastasia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barry Sanders.
Anastasia looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sanders drops his hands momentarily and Anastasia takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

It looks like Barry Sanders has been cut.
Barry Sanders seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Anastasia pinned against the cage. Anastasia gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sanders is breathing heavily.
Sanders shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Anastasia pinned against the cage. Anastasia gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Anastasia throws the left hand but Sanders avoids the punch easily.
Anastasia tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Anastasia gets the takedown into side control.

Anastasia looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Anastasia trying to control the position but Sanders is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Anastasia stands up.
Anastasia just misses with a punch to the body.
Anastasia 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.
Anastasia defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sanders.
Sanders slips a jab from Anastasia.
Sanders has a takedown stuffed.
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 scores with a sloppy right hand. Anastasia should have avoided that one.
Anastasia lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Sanders lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Anastasia looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sanders scores with a one two! Anastasia had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Johnny Anastasia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sanders is trying hard to land a takedown here. Anastasia sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Anastasia fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Anastasia missing with a left hand there. Sanders was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sanders shoots in looking for a takedown but Anastasia manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sanders's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Anastasia has Sanders up against the cage in a clinch.

Anastasia pulls guard successfully.
Anastasia manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Anastasia is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanders looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Anastasia!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Anastasia bucks Sanders off and manages to get back to his feet!
Anastasia takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Sanders looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanders takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Anastasia works over Sanders's head and body with a nice combination.
Anastasia keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Anastasia dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Barry Sanders's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sanders walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Anastasia checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Sanders misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Anastasia throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Sanders to counter with a crisp jab.

Anastasia bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Johnny Anastasia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Anastasia wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sanders, who protects the arm well.

Anastasia stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Anastasia feints and as Sanders raises his hands in defense, Anastasia changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanders is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anastasia stands up from Sanders's guard - Anastasia perhaps looking for a knockout.
Sanders fails with the takedown.
Anastasia misses with an uppercut. Sanders saw that one coming.
Anastasia is looking to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Anastasia as Sanders shoots in.
Johnny Anastasia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barry Sanders.

Anastasia darts in and clinches Sanders up against the cage.

Anastasia pulls Sanders into guard.
Anastasia has a closed guard, preventing Sanders from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanders postures up.
Sanders has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Anastasia is proving hard to escape from.
Sanders preventing the sweep.
Sanders wants to get up but he can't break Anastasia's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Anastasia connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Anastasia throws a right and a left that both miss.
No luck for Sanders with that takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Sanders misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anastasia misses with the combination.
A head kick misses from Sanders.
Sanders throws a right hand that Anastasia ducks under and follows up with a left that Anastasia also avoids with ease.
Sanders shoots in but no luck this time.
Sanders lands a right hook to the body.
Barry Sanders has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anastasia displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sanders throws out the jab.
No luck for Sanders with that takedown attempt.
Anastasia buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Anastasia throws a combination. Sanders tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Sanders throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Anastasia's waist but Anastasia gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sanders off to one side.
Sanders has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Anastasia finds it's way round the side to connect with Sanders's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Anastasia throws a sloppy body shot
and Sanders counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Anastasia thinking.
Anastasia misses with a combination
and Sanders counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sanders shoots for a takedown but Anastasia saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Anastasia misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sanders looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Johnny Anastasia is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sloppy strikes from Anastasia. Those never looked like landing.

Anastasia drives through with a takedown into guard.
Anastasia wants to control from the top but Sanders keeps moving.
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 fight!
Johnny Anastasia showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Anastasia has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Anastasia!
A very excited looking Johnny Anastasia made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.