PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Carmelo Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Koron Maafi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sanchez
vs
Maafi

182 cm
23
170 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

190 cm
24
179 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carmelo Sanchez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Koron Maafi!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maafi wants to clinch up but Sanchez keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maafi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Maafi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Maafi is looking to clinch.
Sanchez throws a front kick that sends Maafi stumbling back into the cage.
Maafi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanchez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Maafi tries to clinch there but Sanchez circles away.
Maafi wants to clinch up but Sanchez keeps it at a distance.
Maafi tries to clinch but Sanchez is having none of it.
Sanchez cracks the inside of Maafi's front leg.
Sanchez connects with the punch.
Maafi tries to clinch but Sanchez moves out of range.
Maafi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Maafi tries to clinch up.
Maafi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sanchez swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maafi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Maafi tries to clinch up.
Maafi throws a head kick that misses.
Sanchez keeps the fight on the outside.
Maafi throws a head kick but Sanchez moves out of range.
Sanchez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Maafi tries to close the distance and clinch but Sanchez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maafi tries to clinch but Sanchez is having none of it.
Sanchez scores with a hook to the body. Maafi takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Maafi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Maafi looks gassed!
Sanchez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sanchez punishes Maafi's body with a nice straight punch.
Maafi wants to clinch up but Sanchez keeps it at a distance.
Sanchez lunges at Maafi with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Maafi's hand.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sanchez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maafi is looking to clinch but Sanchez is avoiding it.
Sanchez slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Sanchez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Maafi's calf.
Sanchez throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Maafi on the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanchez scores with a shot to the body.
Sanchez stuns Maafi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sanchez scores with a shot to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sanchez.
Maafi shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Sanchez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sanchez cracks Maafi with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Maafi on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Sanchez lands a really nice looking cross but Maafi seems unphased.
Sanchez throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
A shot to de liver by Sanchez. Beautiful body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez lands with a right hand.
Sanchez lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Sanchez moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Sanchez works the jab nicely.
Maafi takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Koron Maafi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maafi takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Sanchez takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maafi takes a kick to the side of the head.
Sanchez throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sanchez lands a jab to the nose.
Sanchez connects with a single shot there.
Sanchez with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sanchez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maafi takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Maafi tries to clinch there but Sanchez circles away.
Maafi moves in looking to clinch but Sanchez pushes him off.
A jab from Sanchez finds it's way through Maafi's defenses.
Maafi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nice uppercut lands for Sanchez. That snapped Maafi's head back.
Sanchez catches Maafi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Sanchez pushes Maafi away with a front kick.
Sanchez throws a good cross that connects.
Sanchez lands a jab to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sanchez dips to his left and cracks Maafi with an uppercut!
Sanchez scores with a shot to the body.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Sanchez - that will leave a mark!
Sanchez is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Sanchez scores with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carmelo Sanchez dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A kick lands to the mid section there for Sanchez.
Carmelo Sanchez is winning the standup battle so far.
Maafi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sanchez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Maafi moves in looking to clinch but Sanchez pushes him off.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Maafi might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Sanchez has got the better of the exchanges.
Maafi takes one to the side of the head.
Sanchez connects with a good right hand that stumbles Maafi. Maafi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Maafi tries to clinch there but Sanchez circles away.
Maafi wants to clinch.
Sanchez lands a head kick!
Maafi throws a sloppy head kick
and Sanchez counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Maafi tries to clinch up
and Sanchez counters with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Maafi is breathing heavily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sanchez. That's going to slow Maafi down.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sanchez.
Sanchez with a jab.
Sanchez lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A punch lands to the side of Maafi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Maafi tries to move into range but Sanchez moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sanchez with a nice cross.
Sanchez scores with a jab to the body.
Sanchez darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Sanchez getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
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!
Sanchez lands a jab to Maafi's midsection.
Maafi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Sanchez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maafi can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maafi darts in trying to clinch
and Sanchez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Maafi tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sanchez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Maafi on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Good exchange - Sanchez coming out on top.
Sanchez lands the left hand.
Maafi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Maafi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Koron Maafi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maafi closes the distance but Sanchez moves to the side
and Sanchez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Maafi's head.
Sanchez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Sanchez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sanchez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Maafi has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Sanchez.
Sanchez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sanchez with a nice cross.
Maafi throws a sloppy head kick
and Maafi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sanchez scores with a nice head shot.
Nice shot by Sanchez.
Maafi takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sanchez scores with a spinning back kick!
A shot to de liver by Sanchez. Beautiful body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Sanchez finds it's way through Maafi's defenses.
Maafi takes one on the button.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanchez thuds his right hand into Maafi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sanchez connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Maafi's hands.
Sanchez throws a head kick that Maafi semi-blocks.
Sanchez scores with a nice head shot.
Maafi tries to move into range but Sanchez moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sanchez connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sanchez cracks Maafi with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Maafi's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sanchez connects with a jab.
Maafi takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Maafi has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Sanchez scores with a sloppy right hand. Maafi should have avoided that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carmelo Sanchez dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Maafi moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Sanchez uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Maafi has time to react.
Maafi wants to clinch but Sanchez slips to the side
and Sanchez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sanchez connects with a body shot.
Sanchez scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Sanchez dips to his left and cracks Maafi with an uppercut!
Maafi tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sanchez counters with a stiff right hand.
Sanchez throws out a powerful jab.
Maafi blocks a head kick by Sanchez.
Maafi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sanchez jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Sanchez throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maafi takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Maafi takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Sanchez lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Nice uppercut lands for Sanchez. That snapped Maafi's head back.
Sanchez fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sanchez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Maafi's calf.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Maafi doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Maafi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Maafi throws a sloppy head kick
and Sanchez counters with a nice uppercut.
Sanchez throws a nice inside leg kick.
Maafi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Sanchez throws a head kick but Maafi moves out of range.
Sanchez cracks Maafi with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Maafi misses
and Sanchez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sanchez throws a nice outside leg kick.
A left lands for Sanchez.
Sanchez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sanchez wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sanchez lands a head kick!
Sanchez swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Maafi.
Maafi takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Sanchez.
Sanchez scores with a shot to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sanchez. That's going to slow Maafi down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maafi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Maafi there as he acknowledges the shot.
Sanchez scores with a nice head shot.
Maafi takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sanchez scores with a head kick.
Maafi tries to clinch but Sanchez moves away
and Sanchez counters with a nice uppercut.
Sanchez scores with a jab.
Maafi tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sanchez counters with a nice uppercut.
Maafi closes the distance but Sanchez moves to the side
and Sanchez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sanchez tests Maafi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sanchez scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maafi throws a head kick that misses
and Sanchez counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sanchez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Maafi takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Sanchez thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Maafi if he has to take too many more of those.
Maafi walks into a stiff left hand from Sanchez.
Sanchez swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Maafi.
Maafi wants to clinch but Sanchez slips to the side
and Sanchez counters with a good, hard body kick but Maafi shrugs it off.
Sanchez scores with a punch to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanchez thuds a left hand into Maafi's body.
Sanchez throws a good cross that connects.
Sanchez uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carmelo Sanchez clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Maafi takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sanchez's corner calls for a 1-2. Sanchez obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Maafi wants to clinch
and Sanchez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Maafi tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sanchez counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Maafi takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Sanchez scores with a sloppy right hand. Maafi should have avoided that one.
Sanchez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Sanchez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Maafi takes a jab right on the kisser.
Sanchez catches Maafi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Maafi is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Maafi tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sanchez counters with a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez lands with a nice body punch.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Sanchez.
Maafi tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sanchez makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sanchez lands with a nice body punch.
A shot to de liver by Sanchez. Beautiful body shot.
Maafi tries to clinch up
and Sanchez counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sanchez fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Sanchez's corner calls for a 1-2. Sanchez obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sanchez fakes the leg kick and cracks Maafi in the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maafi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Sanchez swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Maafi.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanchez lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Maafi at a distance.
Sanchez connects with a good right hand that stumbles Maafi. Maafi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Maafi wants to clinch
letting Sanchez counter with a right hand.
Sanchez scores with a punch to the head.
Sanchez lands with a cross.
Maafi takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sanchez connects with a nice looking jab.
Sanchez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Sanchez counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Sanchez throws a head kick that half lands.
Sanchez lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sanchez cracks Maafi with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Maafi tries to move into range but Sanchez moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sanchez lands a jab to the nose.
Maafi takes one to the chin there.
Maafi closes the distance but Sanchez moves to the side
and Sanchez counters with a nice leg kick.
Maafi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sanchez tests Maafi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Maafi gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Sanchez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Sanchez throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maafi walks into a stiff left hand from Sanchez.
Nice body punch from Sanchez.
Sanchez scores with a jab to the body.
Sanchez scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Sanchez - that will leave a mark!
Sanchez connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanchez slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Sanchez lands the left hand.
Maafi looks to clinch
and Sanchez counters with a solid body kick.
A head kick by Maafi misses
and Sanchez counters with an inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carmelo Sanchez had his way with Koron Maafi in that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sanchez cracks the inside of Maafi's front leg.
Maafi tries to clinch up
and Sanchez counters with a thumping low kick.
Maafi clinches but Sanchez breaks the clinch
and Sanchez makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sanchez scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Maafi doesn't seem bothered though.
Sanchez digs a good body shot into Maafi's ribs.
Sanchez buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Maafi with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sanchez to score with a decent uppercut.
Sanchez lands a jab to the nose.
Maafi is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
A head kick misses from Sanchez.
Maafi tries to clinch
and Sanchez counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maafi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Sanchez connects with a looping right hand.
Sanchez's corner calls for a 1-2. Sanchez obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sanchez connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Maafi tries to clinch but Sanchez moves away
enabling Sanchez to counter with a crisp jab.
Sanchez smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sanchez scores with a jab to the head.
A jab from Sanchez does it's job there.
Maafi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Sanchez connects with a solid leg kick.
Maafi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sanchez lands a head kick. Maafi smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sanchez slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanchez scores with a head kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Sanchez.
Sanchez chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nice shot lands for Sanchez.
Sanchez digs a good hook to Maafi's body.
Maafi throws a sloppy head kick
and Sanchez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sanchez throws a head kick that misses.
Sanchez scores with a decent looking hook.
Sanchez scores with a jab. Maafi acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Maafi throws a head kick that misses
and Sanchez counters with a stiff right hand.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sanchez.
Sanchez stuns Maafi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a good cross that connects.
Maafi throws a sloppy head kick
letting Sanchez counter with a right hand.
Sanchez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Sanchez counters with an outside leg kick.
Maafi moves forwards but Sanchez connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Sanchez looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sanchez thuds his right hand into Maafi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sanchez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Sanchez counters with a slapping leg kick.
Sanchez lands with an uppercut that bounces Maafi off the cage and back into rage.
Sanchez lands a head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maafi moves forwards but Sanchez connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Maafi wants to clinch
and Sanchez counters with a good low kick that Maafi was not able to check.
Maafi closes the distance looking to clinch
and Sanchez counters with a right hand to the body.
Maafi takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Maafi closes the distance looking to clinch
and Sanchez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Koron Maafi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Carmelo Sanchez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head kick by Maafi misses
and Sanchez counters with a leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carmelo Sanchez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sanchez 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 50:40
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 50:40
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 50:40

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carmelo Sanchez!
Carmelo Sanchez retains his welterweight title!