PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Diego Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kim Young Il (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Il has chosen RATM - Renegades of Funk as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sanchez
vs
Young Il

188 cm
28
158 lbs
25 - 11 - 2

160 cm
30
156 lbs
16 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Merciless Gladiators

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 11 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Diego Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Kim Young Il!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Robert Douchet and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Il.
Il's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sanchez connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Il scrambles back to his feet.
Sanchez fakes the leg kick and cracks Il in the body.
The fighters circling - Sanchez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Il lands with a nice body punch.
Sanchez leaves Il with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sanchez ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Sanchez connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Il momentarily.
Il turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Il shoots for a double leg takedown but Sanchez sprawls well. He's pushed Il's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A jab from Il misses.
Sanchez throws a lazy right hand but Il sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Il shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Il throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sanchez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Il.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Il throws a leg kick that misses.
Sanchez has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Barracks - LOD in the buildup to the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Il misses with a leg kick.
Sanchez thuds a left hand into Il's body.
Il tries to work over Sanchez's front leg with a kick but Sanchez checks it.
Diego Sanchez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sanchez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Good standup being displayed there by Sanchez as he connects with a hook.
Sanchez jabs Il to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Sanchez scores with a jab to the jaw.
Il tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sanchez was well out of range. Poor timing from Il.
Il throws a push kick but Sanchez slaps the foot to one side.
A slapping body kick lands there for Sanchez.
Il throws a leg kick but Sanchez moved away.
Sanchez throws a lazy right hand but Il sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Il connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sanchez momentarily.
Sanchez checks a leg kick nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Il looks to land a combination but Sanchez avoids it well.
Il on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Sanchez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Good standup being displayed there by Sanchez as he connects with a hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Il throws a poor cross that misses
letting Sanchez counter with a right hand.
Sanchez scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A left lands for Sanchez.
Sanchez misses with a hook. Il ducked under it nicely.
Sanchez swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Il.

Il is rocked!
Sanchez is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Sanchez connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Il is still on wobbly legs! Can Sanchez finish him?
Il slips a jab from Sanchez.
Sanchez misses with a hook.
Il slips under a jab from Sanchez.
Il shoots in but Sanchez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Diego Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kim Young Il.
Sanchez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sanchez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Il.
Il seems to have recovered his senses.
Sanchez scores with a hook.
Il fails with a takedown attempt.
Il throws a leg kick but Sanchez sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez misses with a body shot.
Sanchez lands with a hook. Il tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Il is trying desperately to land a takedown but Sanchez is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Il.
Sanchez throws a hook but Il avoids it easily.
Il misses with a straight left.
Sanchez lands with a right hand.
The fighters circling - Sanchez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sanchez wants to slow Il down by chopping away at his legs.
Il takes a swing at Sanchez's ribcage but misses.
Sanchez moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Sanchez lands a right hook to the body.
Sanchez misses with a hook

and Il counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sanchez's guard now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Il postures up in Sanchez's guard and throws a big left but Sanchez blocks it.
Il makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Il trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Il is looking to advance position but Sanchez has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Il tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sanchez trying to control but Il is having none of it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Il wants to control but Sanchez is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Sanchez dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Il scores with a nice body kick.
Sanchez throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Il counters with a nice leg kick.
Sanchez throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Il on the side of the head.
Sanchez throws a right hand that misses

and Il counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Il wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
Il trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Il is looking to advance position but Sanchez has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Il tries to hold on but Sanchez postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Il is wriggling around trying to escape.
Il is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Il regains half guard.
Il tries to roll over but Sanchez keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Il is trying to maintain the position but Sanchez is very close to passing his half guard.
Sanchez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Il throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sanchez's waist but Sanchez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Il off to one side.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sanchez. Il does a little dance to reset his feet.
Il takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Il throws a wild body kick that Sanchez sees coming a mile off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Il ducks under a wild hook from Sanchez.
Sanchez avoids a kick to the body.
Il throws a hook but Sanchez avoids it easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sanchez.
Il takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Il with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sanchez to score with a decent uppercut.
Sanchez is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Il.
Sanchez throws a jab but it's blocked by Il.
Sanchez fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Il looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Il misses with a low kick.
Sanchez takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Il avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sanchez looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sanchez blocks the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Il lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Sanchez just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Sanchez. No joy for Il on that attempt.
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!
Il fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sanchez takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sanchez 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.
Diego Sanchez is winning the standup battle so far.
Il looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sanchez slaps away a takedown attempt from Il, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Diego Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kim Young Il.
Il throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Il blocks a jab.
Sanchez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Il was well out of range. Poor timing from Sanchez.
Il looks to land a body kick but Sanchez moved away.
Sanchez misses with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kim Young Il showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Sanchez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sanchez misses with a straight left.
Il walks into a left hand.
Sanchez slips under a jab from Il.
Il tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sanchez defends well and Il ends up having to push Sanchez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Il goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Il.
Il has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sanchez after a bit of a struggle.
Il misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Il slowing the pace effectively.
The referee calls for Sanchez to work.
Sanchez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Il is keeping busy.
Il stalling in the clinch but Sanchez improves position.
Il swings wildly with an uppercut but Sanchez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sanchez lands a shoulder strike.
Il is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Il fails to land.
Il can't find room to land a body shot as Sanchez controls the action.
Il scores with a shot to the side of Sanchez's head.
Il takes a shot to the head.
Sanchez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Il blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Il lands a nice uppercut.
A body shot lands from Sanchez.
Il wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Il blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Il wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Il can't find room to land a body shot as Sanchez controls the action.
Il has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sanchez after a bit of a struggle.
Diego Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kim Young Il.

Il breaks from the clinch.
Sanchez moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Il tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sanchez was well out of range. Poor timing from Il.
Il feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sanchez's calf.
Sanchez listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Il is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sanchez.
Il throws the kick towards the body but Sanchez avoids it.
Il attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Sanchez.
A shot to the liver by Sanchez. Beautiful body shot.
Sanchez tests Il's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sanchez blocks a jab.
A jab from Il misses.
A big right from Sanchez misses.
Il takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Il.
Il throws a nice looking combination but Sanchez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sanchez lands a jab to Il's midsection.
Sanchez fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Il looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Il thows a body kick. Sanchez tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Sanchez loads up on a big right hand but Il slips the punch.
Il tries to land a body kick
and Sanchez counters with an inside leg kick.
Il lands with a shot to the body.
Sanchez lands an overhand right.
Sanchez bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Il's head backwards.
Sanchez scores with a jab. Il acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Il takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Il misses with a head kick.
Sanchez misses with a kick to the body.
Il shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sanchez as he jumps to the side.
A slapping leg kick lands for Il.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Il takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Il closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Sanchez quickly recovers to half guard.
Il takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sanchez trying to control but Il postures up.
Sanchez tries to roll over but Il keeps him under control.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Il working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Il is looking for a kimura here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Diego Sanchez.
I think Sanchez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Diego Sanchez!
Our winner, Diego Sanchez, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.