PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zen Yi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Sandford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yi comes to the cage accompanied by Wild for the Night. Sandford has chosen Two steps from hell-Heart of courage as his entrance music. James Sandford is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Yi
vs
Sandford

190 cm
20
258 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

194 cm
21
240 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Great elbows
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zen Yi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Sandford!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sandford swings for the body but Yi moves out of range.
Sandford scores with a jab.

Yi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sandford lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Yi backwards.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
We've been hearing reports that Yi has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Sandford tries to score a body lock takedown but Yi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Yi lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like James Sandford has been cut.
Yi misses with the head strike.
Yi looking to slow down the pace here.
Yi is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Sandford is looking for a takedown.
Sandford tries for a takedown but Yi manages to get underhooks.
Zen Yi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Sandford.
Sandford being controlled against the cage.
Yi gets underhooks to prevent Sandford's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandford blocks an elbow strike from Yi.
Yi lands an elbow inside.
Yi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sandford blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Yi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sandford misses with a punch to the body.
Yi is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sandford is keeping busy.
Yi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sandford misses with a punch to the body.
Yi is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Sandford blocks an uppercut.
Yi leaning against his opponent.
A short right from Sandford.
Yi gets underhooks to prevent Sandford's takedown attempt.
Sandford gets through Yi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yi trying to stall but Sandford improves his position.

Sandford has clasped his hands together around Yi's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sandford tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Yi is not content to let Sandford control the position.
Yi trying to control but Sandford flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

Yi is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Sandford is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Yi defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yi is having to fend off submission attempts from Sandford, who is looking to sink in the choke. Sandford doesn't have the hooks in though and Yi manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Yi wants to pass the guard but Sandford is keeping the position.
Yi lands a couple of elbows.
Our spies down at at Combat Sports Training Center inform us that Sandford has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Sandford manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yi stops Sandford from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

Yi defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Sandford.
Yi is trying to escape the mount.

Sandford is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Yi to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Yi shrugs it off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yi tries to reverse the position but Sandford maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yi throws a right hand that Sandford ducks under and follows up with a left that Sandford also avoids with ease.
Yi tries to clinch up but Sandford circles away and keeps his distance.
Yi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sandford defends well and Yi ends up having to push Sandford into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Yi lands an elbow just above Sandford 's eye.
Sandford drops down looking for an ankle pick but Yi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Yi walks into a jab.
Sandford tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Yi defends well and Sandford ends up having to push Yi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Yi lands a shoulder strike.
Yi missing with knees to the body.
Yi lands a right hand.
Yi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sandford backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sandford tries for a takedown. No joy.
Zen Yi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Sandford.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sandford.
Sandford takes an elbow to the forehead.

That has opened up James Sandford's cut even more.
Yi is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sandford.

Sandford lands a takedown into guard.
Yi is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Sandford wants to control from the top but Yi keeps moving.

Sandford has gone for a leg lock! Yi slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sandford's guard.
Sandford is adopting a defensive guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Yi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Yi postures up.
Yi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Yi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Yi being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandford looking for a sweep. Not yet Sandford, not yet.
Yi trying to control but Sandford is working from the bottom.
Yi wants to stand but Sandford is controlling his posture from full guard.
Yi stopping the sweep attempt from Sandford.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Yi misses the shot to the body.
Sandford lands with a good body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Yi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sandford is trying to drag Yi to the mat but Yi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sandford misses with a punch to the body.
Sandford lands a left hand.
Yi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Yi prevents a body shot from Sandford.
Yi stalling in the clinch but Sandford improves position.
Sandford is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Yi pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sandford has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Yi after a bit of a struggle.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
With the fighters up against the cage, Yi throws an elbow but misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Yi is pushing Sandford up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Sandford can't get the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Zen Yi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on James Sandford's cut.
That's time! Yi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sandford misses the jab.

Yi closes the distance and pushes Sandford back into the cage.
Sandford is looking to take this one to the mat.
Yi lands an elbow inside.
Sandford drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Yi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Sandford misses with the head strike.
Sandford blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sandford has Yi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Yi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Zen Yi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Sandford.

Sandford has hold of one of Yi's legs. Yi is fighting the takedown attempt but Sandford gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Yi looking for a sweep. Not yet Yi, not yet.
Sandford wants to control from the top but Yi keeps moving.
Sandford passes Yi's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandford is looking to advance position but Yi won't allow it.

Sandford is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Yi is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Sandford looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sandford is trying to control the action in half guard but Yi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sandford is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Sandford seems to be working for a kimura but Yi defends the submission attempt.
Sandford is looking to take a break and control but Yi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Sandford is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Yi defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandford seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Yi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sandford stalling away here and it's allowed Yi to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Sandford tries to free his leg and advance position but Yi is retaining full guard.

Sandford drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Yi manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Sandford has Yi in his guard.
Sandford is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yi is not content to let Sandford control the position.

Sandford is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sandford wants to pass the guard but Yi is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yi is looking to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Sandford comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sandford 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Sandford!
James Sandford took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Merciless Gladiators for their support in the buildup to the fight.