PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Flavio Sandoval (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Hanks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Sandoval
vs
Hanks

182 cm
37
178 lbs
38 - 22 - 0

179 cm
35
175 lbs
29 - 15 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

AnonymouS

Conviction
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 38 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Flavio Sandoval!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Craig Hanks!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Daniel Bishop and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hanks gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Sandoval avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Hanks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sandoval moves away.
Sandoval is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sandoval has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Hanks connects with a solid leg kick.
Sandoval throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Hanks.
Hanks thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Sandoval if he has to take too many more of those.
Sandoval moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Hanks checks the leg kick nicely there.
Sandoval feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hanks's calf.
Hanks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice cross by Hanks.
Sandoval tries to score with a low kick but Hanks moves his leg out of the way.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A slow jab from Sandoval misses its intended target.
Sandoval stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hanks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sandoval.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sandoval. Hanks does a little dance to reset his feet.
Craig Hanks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sandoval wants to clinch up but Hanks keeps it at a distance.
Sandoval takes one to the chin there.
Hanks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hanks has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Hanks fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hanks lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Sandoval has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sandoval and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Hanks slips a jab and a cross from Sandoval.
Sandoval avoids the head kick by Hanks.
Hanks throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sandoval stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hanks slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Sandoval swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Sandoval avoids the head kick by Hanks.
Sandoval changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hanks tries to avoid it but Sandoval manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hanks to the ground. Hanks escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval checks the leg kick.
Hanks throws a leg kick which misses Sandoval's front leg but catches the back leg as Sandoval tries to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A low kick from Sandoval misses
and Hanks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Craig Hanks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sandoval throws a lazy right hand but Hanks sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Hanks has taken the fight to the clinch.

Hanks breaks from the clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hanks.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hanks. Sandoval does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hanks throws a head kick but Sandoval moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Sandoval on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Sandoval checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Hanks has closed the distance and engaged Sandoval in a clinch.
Hanks misses with a short punch on the inside.

Sandoval breaks from the clinch.
Hanks bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanks throws a series of punches but Sandoval avoids them all with ease.
It looked like Sandoval wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Sandoval sizes up Hanks with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Hanks throws a sloppy head kick and Sandoval moves out of range easily.
Sandoval lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Sandoval gets a double leg takedown into Hanks's guard.
Sandoval works over Hanks with some ground and pound from guard.
Sandoval throwing strikes but missing.
Sandoval looking to pass the guard.
Sandoval wants to control from the top but Hanks keeps moving.
Hanks pulls Sandoval in to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanks controls Sandoval momentarily but Sandoval frees himself.
Sandoval trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hanks pulls Sandoval in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A shot to the body from Hanks misses
and Sandoval cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sandoval takes a swing at Hanks's ribcage but misses.
Hanks is trying to counter with his kicks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hanks throws a sloppy head kick and Sandoval moves out of range easily.
Sandoval steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hanks.
Sandoval drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hanks sprawls and moves away.
Hanks throws a low kick, looking for Sandoval's leg but Sandoval calmly moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Hanks dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sandoval throws a body punch but Hanks moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sandoval.
Hanks throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hanks throws a leg kick but Sandoval moved away.
Hanks looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A leg kick checked by Sandoval.
Sandoval was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hanks swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hanks uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sandoval.
Hanks throws a looping overhand right but Sandoval ducks down to avoid it.
Sandoval thinks about countering with a head kick.
Hanks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sandoval was well out of range. Poor timing from Hanks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sandoval connects with a nice looking jab.
Hanks misses with a right hand
and Sandoval counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Sandoval is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hanks's half guard.
Sandoval has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sandoval throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Hanks to regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanks is pulling down on Sandoval's head to control his posture.
Sandoval is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hanks manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sandoval manages to get himself to full guard.

Hanks wanted to stand there but Sandoval had control of the position.
Hanks controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sandoval wants to sweep here but Hanks controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanks's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hanks won't allow Sandoval to sweep him here.
Sandoval throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sandoval wants to sweep but no luck.
Hanks's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hanks dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sandoval lands a head shot.
Hanks throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hanks tries to close the distance and clinch but Sandoval swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sandoval throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanks lands with an uppercut that bounces Sandoval off the cage and back into range.
Sandoval lands with a straight right. Hanks didn't see that one coming.
Sandoval misses with a straight left.
Hanks now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Hanks scores with a hook.
Sandoval fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Hanks looks to land a combination but Sandoval avoids it well.
Sandoval changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hanks scoring well with a low kick there.
Sandoval scores with a body shot.
Hanks takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sandoval checks a low kick from Hanks.
Sandoval throws a big shot that misses.
Hanks lands with a slapping head kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sandoval takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanks tries to score with a low kick but Sandoval moves his leg out of the way.
Hanks connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Hanks throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sandoval sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sandoval throws a combination that misses
and Sandoval takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hanks scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Hanks throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
It looked like Sandoval wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hanks throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Sandoval is rocked!
Hanks throws a sloppy head kick and Sandoval moves out of range easily.
Oh Sandoval is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sandoval throws a lazy right hand but Hanks sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A combination from Hanks does no damage.
Sandoval throws an overhand right that lands on Hanks's shoulder, as Hanks tries to avoid the shot.
Sandoval on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Sandoval seems to have got his legs back now.
Sandoval dodges the punch combination from Hanks.
As Hanks backs away, Sandoval returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Sandoval tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hanks was well out of range. Poor timing from Sandoval.
Hanks flicks out a counter leg kick but Sandoval steps away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Hanks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hanks bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sandoval's head.
Hanks swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sandoval.
Hanks chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sandoval can pounce on him.
Hanks checks a leg kick.
Hanks dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sandoval. That did some damage!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sandoval checks a leg kick.
And Sandoval counters with a quick kick to the body but Hanks blocks it.
Hanks has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sandoval uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hanks.
Sandoval scores with a decent looking hook.
Sandoval tests Hanks's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanks swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hanks fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A head kick misses from Hanks.
Sandoval is looking to counter punch.
Sandoval connects with a nice looking jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sandoval slips under a jab from Hanks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanks fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sandoval manages to avoid it.
Hanks throws a series of punches but Sandoval avoids them all with ease.
Hanks misses with the body kick
and Sandoval counters with a thumping low kick.
Hanks throws a right and a left that Sandoval avoids nicely.
Craig Hanks seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sandoval.
Sandoval slips under a jab from Hanks.
Hanks misses with a jab to the body
and Sandoval cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sandoval.
Sandoval blocks a low kick nicely.
Hanks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sandoval lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sandoval swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sandoval throws a body punch but Hanks moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanks throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Hanks stuffs the takedown.
Hanks feints a counter leg kick.
Nice body punch from Hanks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hanks looks for the body kick but Sandoval saw that one coming.
Sandoval takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Sandoval takes one on the button.
Flavio Sandoval has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sandoval checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Sandoval is looking to counter punch.
Sandoval scores with a nice head shot.
Hanks attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
It looked like Sandoval was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Hanks.
Hanks blocks a head kick by Sandoval.
Hanks misses with a two punch combination.
Sandoval chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hanks can pounce on him.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sandoval or perhaps it was just good defense by Hanks, which made it look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval avoids a kick to the body.
Hanks misses with a few strikes there.
Sandoval slips a jab from Hanks.

Hanks gets caught flat footed, as Sandoval shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hanks wants to sweep but no luck.
Sandoval wants to control from the top but Hanks keeps moving.
Hanks trying to keep a closed guard but Sandoval is proving a slippery customer.
Hanks looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sandoval is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Sandoval throwing strikes from guard but Hanks blocks nicely.
Hanks looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sandoval is one step ahead there.
Sandoval working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Craig Hanks.
I've got Hanks 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Hanks!
A relieved looking Craig Hanks thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.