PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Miranda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diego Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Sanchez's choice of entrance music: Not Afraid - Eminen. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Miranda
vs
Sanchez

225 cm
25
300 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

167 cm
19
142 lbs
12 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Rodrigo Miranda!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Diego Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Alexandre Firmino and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miranda misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sanchez drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Miranda defends it well.
Sanchez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Miranda.

Sanchez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Sanchez trying to control the action but Miranda is working from the bottom.
Miranda struggling a bit here.
Miranda is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Sanchez is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miranda is looking for a sweep.
Miranda isn't going anywhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez wants to control but Miranda is keeping him busy.
Miranda can't do much from the bottom here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Miranda on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Miranda tries to get out of the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Miranda pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Sanchez closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Miranda's guard.
Miranda not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sanchez won't allow Miranda to sweep him here.
Miranda is trying to control the position but Sanchez postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miranda thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Miranda looking for a guillotine here but Sanchez defends easily.
Miranda wants to sweep but no luck.
Miranda knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sanchez on the ground.
Miranda wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Sanchez is now in half guard.
Sanchez is thwarting Miranda's attempts to control the position.
Miranda works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Miranda looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Miranda is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Miranda tries to close the distance and clinch but Sanchez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Sanchez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Miranda to the ground. Sanchez is now in Miranda's guard.
Miranda keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Miranda wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sanchez won't allow Miranda to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miranda has Sanchez pulled in close to control his posture.
Miranda is looking to stand back up but Sanchez counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Miranda.
Sanchez is keen to just control but Miranda is a slippery customer.
Miranda wants to improve his position but Sanchez is controlling well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Miranda is trying to stand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rodrigo Miranda is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Miranda tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sanchez is able to avoid easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Sanchez dominated that round.
That's time! Miranda's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Miranda tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanchez paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Sanchez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Miranda's guard.
Miranda keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Miranda tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sanchez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Miranda is keeping the position for now.
Miranda looking for a sweep. Not yet Miranda, not yet.
Miranda will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miranda wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Sanchez is now in half guard.
Miranda wants to improve his position but Sanchez is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miranda is trying is best to control the position here.
Miranda wants to get back to his feet.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Miranda trying to control here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Miranda throws a leg kick but Sanchez sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Sanchez gets a takedown into half guard.
Miranda tries to get to full guard but Sanchez has control of the leg.
Sanchez passes to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miranda tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Sanchez trying to control but Miranda is having none of it.
Miranda wants to control but Sanchez is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miranda is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Miranda is wriggling around trying to escape.

Sanchez looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Miranda can't escape the position.

Sanchez get's back to his feet.
Sanchez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Miranda.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Miranda's half guard.
Miranda wants to improve his position but Sanchez is controlling well.

Miranda is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sanchez pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Miranda wants to control but Sanchez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Miranda tries to kick Sanchez off in order to stand up. Sanchez Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

Sanchez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sanchez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Sanchez 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!

Miranda throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Miranda fails with an attempt to clinch.
Miranda looks to land a combination but Sanchez avoids it well.
Rodrigo Miranda is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
An inside leg kick from Miranda misses.
Sanchez blocks a head kick by Miranda.

Sanchez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Miranda to the ground. Sanchez is now in Miranda's guard.
Sanchez stopping the sweep attempt from Miranda.
Miranda not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miranda is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sanchez is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Miranda is trying to control the position but Sanchez postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miranda looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Miranda keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Sanchez tries to keep at a distance but Miranda has taken the fight into the clinch.

Miranda breaks the clinch.

Miranda gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Miranda is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Sanchez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miranda looking for a sweep. Not yet Miranda, not yet.
Miranda working a defensive guard here.
Miranda wants to stand but Sanchez is controlling the position.
Miranda is controlling Sanchez's posture.
Miranda has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Sanchez has passed into side control.
Miranda tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Sanchez presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miranda slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Sanchez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Miranda has managed to free his arm - good work.
Miranda tries to roll over but Sanchez keeps him under control.

Miranda is defending against the submission attempts here by Sanchez.
Miranda trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miranda controlling the position well.
Sanchez prevents Miranda from improving his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Miranda keeping hold of Sanchez's head, controlling as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Sanchez really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sanchez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Miranda keeps working.
Miranda is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Miranda's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miranda wants to get back to his feet but Sanchez drags him back down.
Sanchez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Miranda keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miranda holds on to Sanchez's head and controls the position momentarily.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Miranda sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Miranda is trying is best to control the position here.
Miranda's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Miranda moves in looking to clinch but Sanchez pushes him off.

Miranda rushes Sanchez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Sanchez has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Miranda regains guard immediately.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez stopping the sweep attempt from Miranda.
Miranda is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miranda keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.

Miranda has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sanchez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Miranda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sanchez stands and steps away. Miranda gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miranda tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sanchez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Sanchez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Miranda looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Sanchez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Miranda is looking to regain half guard here but Sanchez keeps moving and retains side control.
A control attempt from Miranda but he's now mounted!
Sanchez wants to take his opponent's back but Miranda doesn't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miranda is looking to get to half guard.

Sanchez working for a submission but Miranda is keeping him at bay.
Miranda working to try and regain half guard.
Miranda is working hard here to advance position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Sanchez dominated that fourth round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Miranda tries to clinch but Sanchez moves out of range.
Sanchez feints the counter takedown.
A punch combination from Miranda misses.

Sanchez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Miranda holds on to Sanchez's head and controls the position momentarily.
Miranda is looking for a sweep.
Sanchez working away.

Sanchez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Miranda is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Sanchez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Miranda is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Miranda is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miranda wants to get back to his feet but Sanchez is dominant here and he's now got Miranda's back!

Sanchez tightening his grip on Miranda, looking for the choke.
Miranda is trying to get back to his feet but Sanchez has full control of the position and if anything, Miranda has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diego Sanchez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Miranda trying to control the position but Sanchez manages to sink in the hooks.
Miranda is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Miranda trying to control the hands but Sanchez won't let him.
Sanchez trying to control momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miranda trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Sanchez has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Miranda! Can he survive? No! He's out! Sanchez gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Diego Sanchez!
Diego Sanchez is the new super heavyweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Diego Sanchez thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.