PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rex Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dj Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanchez has chosen WALK BY PANTERA as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Richards
vs
Sanchez

196 cm
38
272 lbs
22 - 29 - 1

195 cm
40
275 lbs
20 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Red Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 22 - 29 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Rex Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dj Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Chad Campbell and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Richards.
Sanchez felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Richards misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Richards working the ground and pound from side control.
Sanchez struggling a bit here.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Sanchez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sanchez taking punishment in the form of punches.
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!

Richards tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Richards is putting a hurting on Sanchez here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards is chipping away with strikes.
Sanchez taking a bit of punishment here - Richards scoring with strikes.
Sanchez can't do much from the bottom here.
Sanchez taking punishment in the form of punches.
Sanchez is looking for a sweep.
Sanchez is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Richards tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Richards has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Richards with the ground and pound but Sanchez regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Richards throwing shots but Sanchez is blocking nicely.
Richards is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is pressing down on Richards's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Richards throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sanchez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Richards.
Richards lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Richards trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sanchez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Richards is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Steel Penn/Heavy Hands Gym that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Richards throwing strikes but missing.
Richards is looking to work some ground and pound but Sanchez has wrist control.
Sanchez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Richards with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Richards accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Sanchez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Richards is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanchez is keeping the position for now.
Richards with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richards is fighting to break Sanchez's control of his arms but Sanchez is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sanchez is on top in guard.
Sanchez throws a big elbow that misses.

Richards escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sanchez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Richards had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sanchez defends it easily.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Sanchez looking to pass the guard.

Richards throws his legs up looking for a submission but Sanchez uses it to pass to side control.
Richards misses with a strike from the bottom.

Sanchez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Richards knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Richards is looking to reverse the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rex Richards dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sanchez swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Sanchez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Sanchez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Richards!
Richards manages to get back to half guard.

Richards with the active half guard here but Sanchez passes nicely into side control.
A lull in the action here.
Sanchez trying to control the action but Richards is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards sneaks back into half guard.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but Richards defending well.

Richards looking for submissions off his back.
Richards tries to get to full guard but Sanchez has control of the leg.

Richards looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Sanchez seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Richards actively working from the bottom here.

Richards looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Sanchez pushes past his half guard into mount!
Richards stops Sanchez from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Sanchez moves to take his opponent's back.
Richards staying busy and making it hard for Sanchez to control.
Sanchez controlling well, preventing Richards from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rex Richards overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Richards manages to reverse the position and now he's in Sanchez's guard. Nice work there by Richards.

Sanchez pushes a forearm under Richards's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Richards is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Dj Sanchez!
During a confident post fight interview, Dj Sanchez thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.