PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Newton Sanford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saul Espadrilles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sanford
vs
Espadrilles

177 cm
25
151 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Newton Sanford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Saul Espadrilles!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Espadrilles.
Sanford throws a big counter combination but Espadrilles scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Espadrilles lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Espadrilles manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Sanford on his heels. He'll look to pass Sanford's guard now, I'm sure.
Sanford lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Espadrilles trying to keep a closed guard but Sanford is proving a slippery customer.

Espadrilles is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sanford defends well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Espadrilles is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sanford is looking to work some ground and pound but Espadrilles has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanford throws a big right hand that misses.
Sanford throwing strikes but missing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Espadrilles is on top in guard.

Sanford is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Espadrilles trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanford is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Espadrilles is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sanford looking to control.
Sanford is looking to stand up but Espadrilles isn't so interested in that idea.
Sanford trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Sanford can't keep his opponent in guard - Espadrilles advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sanford is refusing to be controlled, as Espadrilles sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espadrilles is pressing down on Sanford's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sanford is holding on for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Espadrilles works his way into side control.

Espadrilles tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Espadrilles throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Espadrilles is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sanford has escaped the position, nice work there.

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

Sanford instigates a clinch.
Sanford scores with a knee to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sanford tries to circle away but Espadrilles has him pinned against the cage.

Espadrilles breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saul Espadrilles dominated that round.
That's time! Sanford's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Espadrilles closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Espadrilles is trying to work for a kimura but Sanford is defending well.

Sanford kicks off Espadrilles and gets to his feet.

Sanford closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Espadrilles's guard.
Sanford postures up in Espadrilles's guard and throws a big left but Espadrilles blocks it.
Sanford lands a couple of elbows.
Espadrilles working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sanford.
Sanford is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Espadrilles looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espadrilles working a defensive guard here.
Sanford missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Sanford got a little sloppy there for a moment and Espadrilles has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sanford has managed to get both his arms back between Espadrilles's legs - danger averted.
Sanford throws a big right hand that misses.
Sanford stands up over Espadrilles, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sanford working some strikes from top position.

Espadrilles looking for a guillotine here but Sanford defends easily.
Sanford landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sanford is looking to work some ground and pound but Espadrilles has wrist control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sanford's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sanford postures up in Espadrilles's guard and throws a big left but Espadrilles blocks it.
Espadrilles has momentary wrist control but Sanford slips an elbow through the middle.
Sanford missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sanford scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sanford throwing strikes from guard but Espadrilles blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanford postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sanford throwing strikes from guard but Espadrilles blocks nicely.
Espadrilles looking to control but Sanford passes into half guard.
Sanford prevents Espadrilles from standing back up.
Espadrilles is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sanford's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sanford's back!
Espadrilles is hanging on to Sanford's back as he tries to escape.
Sanford is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Espadrilles is not going to allow Sanford to sit and survive in this position.
Espadrilles is looking to control Sanford but Sanford is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Espadrilles is trying to control but Sanford is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Sanford is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Espadrilles lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sanford hang on?
Espadrilles putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
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 Newton Sanford will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Espadrilles drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Espadrilles trying to control but Sanford is working from the bottom.

Espadrilles drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sanford dives on top into guard.

Sanford throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sanford throws a strike but Espadrilles rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Espadrilles wants to control from the top but Sanford keeps moving.
Sanford looking for a sweep. Not yet Sanford, not yet.
Sanford 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanford wriggles free and stands up.
Espadrilles tries to clinch up.
Sanford throws a nice looking combination but Espadrilles bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Espadrilles with a hook.
Espadrilles throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sanford.
Sanford shoots in looking for a takedown. Espadrilles tries to sprawl out of it but Sanford keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Espadrilles manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Espadrilles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Espadrilles shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sanford is trying to defend but Espadrilles finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanford is looking to escape.
Sanford trying to control but Espadrilles postures up.

Espadrilles seems to be working for a kimura but Sanford defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espadrilles is trying to control the action in half guard but Sanford is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Espadrilles wants to get back to his feet.
Sanford gets back to full guard.

Espadrilles sitting in guard doing not very much at all here. Sanford doesn't need a second invitation though! He's locked up a guillotine and he's squeezing tight! That is tiiiiiiiiight! Espadrilles paying the price for stalling here - he's pushing hard on the arm trying to free himself but it's no use! He's tapped! WOW, quick submission from Sanford - great work!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Newton Sanford!