PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Xiahou Dun (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sanji Sanpun (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dun kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is 挚爱 (Premier Love) - 醉人/Crazy Chef(龙ſ. Sanpun is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Snacktime - Barenaked Ladies. Sanji Sanpun is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Dun
vs
Sanpun

173 cm
29
157 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

178 cm
28
157 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

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 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Xiahou Dun!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sanji Sanpun!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice leg kick lands there from Dun.
Dun fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sanpun manages to avoid it.
Dun misses with a leg kick.
Dun tries to work over Sanpun's front leg with a kick but Sanpun checks it.
Dun takes a body punch but keeps moving.
No luck for Sanpun with that takedown attempt.
Sanpun throws a sloppy head kick and Dun moves out of range easily.

Sanpun is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Dun's half guard.
Dun avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sanpun.
Dun has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sanpun is working away from the top position though.
Sanpun prevents Dun from improving his position.
Sanpun missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sanpun is trying to control. Dun wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dun is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Sanpun is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sanpun throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Dun gets back to full guard.
Sanpun looking to pass the guard.
Dun looking for a sweep. Not yet Dun, not yet.
Sanpun looking to sit in guard and control but Dun gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Dun stands and throws Sanpun's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanpun tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Dun wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Dun slows the pace down.
Dun wants to control but Sanpun is keeping him busy.
Sanpun tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Dun wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sanpun keeps trying to improve his position.
Sanpun manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Dun passes to side control.
Dun wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sanpun keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dun tries to stand but Sanpun is controlling his head.
Dun is looking to take a break and control but Sanpun is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sanpun is looking for a sweep.
Sanpun struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanpun is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanpun gets back to half guard.
Dun passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanpun is looking to get to half guard.
Dun wants to control the pace but Sanpun is squirming around nicely.
Sanpun manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Dun is just content to waste time from the top position. Sanpun takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Sanpun keeping moving, preventing Dun from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dun trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanpun looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dun is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sanji Sanpun will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sanpun feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Dun looking to control.
Dun looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sanpun is one step ahead there.
Dun seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Sanpun pushing down on Dun's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sanpun throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Dun keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanpun wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dun keeps working.
Sanpun not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sanpun is trying to control the action in half guard but Dun is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dun keeping hold of Sanpun's head, controlling as best he can.
Dun wants to control but Sanpun is keeping busy.
Dun wants to improve his position but Sanpun is controlling well.
Sanpun has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dun wants to control but Sanpun is keeping busy.
Sanpun trying to control the action but Dun is working from the bottom.
Dun gets back to full guard.
Dun manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sanpun manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanpun looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Dun is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sanpun can't keep his opponent in guard - Dun advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Dun is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sanpun is just riding it out for now. Dun eventually gives up the hold.
Sanpun wants to control but Dun is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sanpun tries to roll over but Dun keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dun is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Dun continues to stall.

Dun is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Dun seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sanpun does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Dun is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Dun prevents Sanpun from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sanpun trying to hold on to Dun's head to control him but Dun postures up.
Dun trying to control from half guard but Sanpun is working away.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Dun throws a leg kick but Sanpun checks it.
No luck for Sanpun with that takedown attempt.
Sanpun blocks a low kick nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sanpun tries to bum rush Dun with a series of wild strikes but Dun uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sanpun chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Dun can pounce on him.
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 Xiahou Dun will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sanpun darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sanpun slips a nice elbow through Dun's hands, connecting with Dun's forehead.
Sanpun working the head and body with strikes.
Dun holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Sanpun seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dun does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sanpun sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dun defending well though.
Dun works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sanpun lands a couple of digs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanpun looking to pass the guard.
Dun trying to keep a closed guard but Sanpun is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dun is looking for a triangle but Sanpun pushes his legs off easily.
Dun working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sanpun.
Sanpun trying to control but Dun is working from the bottom.
Dun preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sanpun stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dun swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sanpun trying to control but Dun is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Dun motions for Sanpun to come forward. Dun throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Dun throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Dun avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Xiahou Dun is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dun bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sanpun's head backwards.
Dun connects with a leg kick. Sanpun looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Sanpun looks to score with a jab to the body but Dun is just out of range.
Sanpun tries to clinch but Dun is having none of it.
Sanpun throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dun.
Sanpun jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Dun blocks a jab.
Dun throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sanpun misses with a wild body shot.
A big right from Sanpun misses.
Sanpun stuns Dun with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A low kick from Sanpun misses
and Dun counters with an outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanpun throws a body punch but Dun moves out of range.
Dun avoids the body shot from Sanpun.
Sanpun looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sanpun gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Dun jabs Sanpun right on the nose. Sanpun blinks but takes it well.
A good leg kick by Dun.
Sanpun changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dun tries to avoid it but Sanpun manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dun to the ground. Dun escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sanpun throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Dun misses with a right hand
and Sanpun counters with a nice body kick.
A low kick from Dun misses
and Sanpun counters with a thumping low kick.
Sanpun tries a low kick but Dun avoids it.
Xiahou Dun is winning the standup battle so far.
Sanpun tries to close the distance and clinch but Dun swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dun fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Sanpun checks a low kick from Dun.
Dun scoring well with a low kick there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanpun avoids the body shot from Dun.
Dun looks to score with a jab to the body but Sanpun is just out of range.
No joy there for Dun, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sanpun is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Dun rather than just go for the knockout.
Sanpun ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sanpun 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.
Sanpun takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Sanpun feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Dun's calf.
Sanpun fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dun manages to avoid it.
Sanpun throws a body kick that misses.

Sanpun shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Dun manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sanji Sanpun.
I think Sanpun 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Sanji Sanpun!
An out of breath Sanji Sanpun thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.