PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Martinez Eluard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harland Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Eluard kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Sail. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Eluard
vs
Sanders

180 cm
22
197 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

182 cm
21
185 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Martinez Eluard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Harland Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Micheangelo Fripello and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Eluard shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Eluard throws an off balance right hand
and Sanders counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Eluard seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Nice shot by Sanders.
Sanders scores with a shot to the body.
Eluard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sanders.
Sanders ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Eluard moves away.
Sanders throws a jab but it's blocked by Eluard.
Eluard avoids the body shot from Sanders.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanders throws out a loose jab but Eluard uses good head movement to avoid it.
Eluard throws a lazy right hand but Sanders sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sanders checks a leg kick.
Sanders dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eluard shoots in for a double leg but Sanders sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sanders checks a leg kick.
Eluard has a takedown stuffed.
Eluard swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Sanders cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Eluard tried to score with a low kick but Sanders checks it.
Sanders throws out a counter right but Eluard avoids it with no problem.
Eluard misses with a looping right.
Sanders tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Eluard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sanders loads up on a big right hand but Eluard slips the punch.
Sanders looks to land a right hand but Eluard moved out of range.
Eluard drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sanders sprawls and moves away.
Sanders throws a hook to the side of Eluard's head but Eluard sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Eluard appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanders throws a jab when Eluard was well out of range.
Eluard shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sanders as he avoids it easily.
Sanders was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martinez Eluard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanders throws a shot from downtown. Eluard moves away and avoids it.
Eluard changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Sanders avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sanders misses with a hook.
Eluard throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sanders sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sanders slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Harland Sanders is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sanders scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Sanders checks the leg kick.
Nice shot lands for Sanders.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice takedown defense from Sanders. No joy for Eluard on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Sanders misses its intended target.
Eluard swings for the body but Sanders moves out of range.
Sanders has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Sanders loads up on a big right hand but Eluard slips the punch.
Eluard feinted with a counter takedown.
Sanders misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Eluard.
Eluard cracks Sanders with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Sanders misses with a wild combination.
Sanders fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Sanders has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders can't find room to land a body shot as Eluard controls the action.
Eluard scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Eluard.
Sanders lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sanders misses with the head strike.
Eluard blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sanders misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sanders tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sanders fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sanders misses with a punch to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanders misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Eluard blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Eluard misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Eluard lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sanders backwards.
Eluard tries for a takedown. No joy.
Eluard lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sanders misses with the head strike.
Eluard wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sanders misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harland Sanders dominated that round.
That's time! Eluard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Eluard takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Eluard throws a jab when Sanders was well out of range.
A nice side step and Sanders releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Eluard throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sanders throws a body punch but Eluard moves out of range.
Sanders throws a big shot that misses.
Sanders swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Eluard counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Eluard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sanders swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Eluard trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eluard won't allow Sanders to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eluard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sanders swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Eluard wants to control from the top but Sanders keeps moving.
Eluard forces his way into half guard.

Eluard is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Sanders is defending against the submission attempts here by Eluard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Eluard trying to control from half guard but Sanders is working away.
Eluard missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Eluard is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sanders doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Eluard.

Eluard 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.
Sanders really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Eluard. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders is looking to control Eluard's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sanders avoid being mounted?

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Harland Sanders seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sanders looks to land a left hand but Eluard moved out of range nicely.
Eluard drops his hands momentarily and Sanders takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Sanders has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Eluard with a poor takedown
letting Sanders counter with a right hand.
Sanders moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sanders shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Eluard thows a leg kick but Sanders checks it
and Sanders cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jab by Eluard.
Good shot there by Sanders.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sanders wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nice jab there from Eluard.
Sanders lands with a good body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Harland Sanders will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Eluard misses with a few strikes there.
Sanders dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sanders scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Sanders misses with a looping left.
Eluard will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sanders fails in his attempt to clinch.
Eluard uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Sanders has time to react.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloppy strikes from Sanders. Those never looked like landing.
Eluard drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sanders sprawls and moves away.
Sanders misses with a body shot.
Sanders tries to clinch there but Eluard circles away.
Sanders throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eluard shoots in looking for a takedown but Sanders manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Eluard's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Eluard misses with a leg kick
and Sanders cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Eluard misses with a hook.
Eluard jabs Sanders to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Sanders throws a jab when Eluard was well out of range.
Sanders misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sanders takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A shot to the liver by Sanders. Beautiful body shot.
Sanders stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Sanders gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Martinez Eluard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanders misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sanders misses with the head strike.
Sanders misses with some punches.
Eluard lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Eluard lands a nice uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Eluard takes a shot to the head.
Eluard lands a body shot in the clinch.
Sanders misses with a punch to the body.
Sanders working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Eluard throws a punch but it's blocked by Sanders.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sanders.
Sanders throws a head punch that misses.
A short left from Sanders.
Eluard misses with a body punch.
Eluard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sanders blocks a body shot from Eluard.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sanders.
A short left from Sanders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eluard tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martinez Eluard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanders has a couple of punches blocked by Eluard.
Eluard lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sanders backwards.
Eluard wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sanders has him pressed against the cage.
Sanders lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Sanders lands a damaging elbow.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Sanders tries to throw a body punch but Eluard avoids it by throwing Sanders back against the cage.
Eluard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sanders just stands there and leans against the cage.
Eluard lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sanders backwards.
Eluard blocks the elbow strike.
Eluard misses with a hook to the ribs.
Eluard throws a head punch that misses.
Sanders lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Sanders tries to throw a body punch but Eluard avoids it by throwing Sanders back against the cage.
Eluard has Sanders pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sanders manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sanders lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Eluard backwards.
Harland Sanders is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Eluard jumps guard and drags Sanders to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Sanders's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sanders trying to control the position from guard on top but Eluard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Eluard striking off his back but it's not causing Sanders any problems.
Sanders trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Eluard escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sanders gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sanders must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanders looking to pass the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harland Sanders comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sanders winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harland Sanders!
In defeat, Martinez Eluard stepped up to the mic, saying ' '.