PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Willy Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Hill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Willy Sanchez had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Sanchez
vs
Hill

189 cm
22
211 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

192 cm
22
209 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Rastafarii Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Willy Sanchez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Hill!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Damien Edna and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez fails in his attempt to clinch.

Sanchez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Hill looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hill wants to improve his position but Sanchez is controlling well.
Hill is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sanchez seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sanchez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Sanchez is trying to work for a kimura but Hill is defending well.

Hill is defending against the submission attempts here by Sanchez.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanchez is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Hill has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sanchez frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Sanchez cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hill is working to get back to half guard.
Sanchez lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Hill hang on?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hill manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Sanchez looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hill with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hill is trying to maintain the position but Sanchez is very close to passing his half guard.
Sanchez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Sanchez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sanchez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sanchez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Sanchez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Sanchez 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.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill manages to get to full guard.
Hill lands a couple of shots from the bottom.

Hill escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sanchez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sanchez drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hill looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hill looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hill!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hill working the ground and pound.
Sanchez manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Sanchez actively working from the bottom here.
Hill has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Hill jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Sanchez manages to avoid the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sanchez gets a takedown into half guard.
Sanchez prevents Hill from improving his position.
Hill trying to control but Sanchez postures up.

Sanchez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hill is just riding it out for now. Sanchez eventually gives up the hold.
Sanchez scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanchez is working for a kimura but Hill is defending it quite comfortably.
Sanchez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Sanchez is working for a submission of some sort.

Hill looking for a kimura from the bottom but Sanchez passes into side control!
Hill is breathing heavily.

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.

Sanchez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hill knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Sanchez goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hill has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Sanchez but great work by Hill.
Sanchez throws a few strikes from the bottom but Hill takes advantage and mounts!
Sanchez flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill cracks Sanchez with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Sanchez swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Hill is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Sanchez can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Hill blocks Sanchez's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Hill working the ground and pound effectively.
Sanchez throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Sanchez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sanchez is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hill is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Sanchez working to try and regain half guard.
Hill pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Hill jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Sanchez is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Sanchez and Hill has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Sanchez gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Sanchez slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
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 Willy Sanchez will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sanchez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hill sprawls well initially but Sanchez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hill wants to get back to full guard.

Sanchez 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.
Sanchez passes the guard and advances to mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanchez avoids the attempt from Hill to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hill flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Hill slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Sanchez is working for a submission of some sort.
Sanchez lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hill sees it coming and defends easily.
Sanchez looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hill wants to get back to full guard.

Sanchez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Sanchez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hill doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sanchez.
Hill slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sanchez preventing the sweep.
Sanchez is in close to Hill's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sanchez thows a big elbow that misses.
Hill utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hill preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Hill has his foot on Sanchez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sanchez works his way back into a safe position though.
Sanchez postures up and lands a big shot to Hill's brow.
Sanchez is working Hill over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hill working a defensive guard but Sanchez passes into half guard.

Sanchez is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Hill has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hill throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sanchez slips a straight right by Hill.

Sanchez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Hill is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sanchez off and has taken his back!
Hill loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Sanchez hold on?
Sanchez turns into Hill and is now in his guard.
Sanchez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Sanchez is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hill lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sanchez!
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Sanchez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Sanchez throwing hammer fists to the chest of Hill. What's that going to do exactly?
A nice elbow there by Hill.
Sanchez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hill wants to control the pace but Sanchez is squirming around nicely.
Hill looking to ground and pound but Sanchez is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sanchez regains half guard.
Sanchez moves into full guard.

Hill has gone for a leg lock! Sanchez slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hill's guard.

Sanchez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Willy Sanchez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez postures up in Hill's guard and throws a big left but Hill blocks it.
Sanchez lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Hill has an active guard here but Sanchez has managed to pass into half guard.
Sanchez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Sanchez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sanchez lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Sanchez is looking for a kimura here.

Sanchez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hill is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Willy Sanchez had his way with Steve Hill in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sanchez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sanchez pushes down on Hill's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sanchez prevents Hill from improving his position.

Sanchez is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hill sees it coming and defends easily.
Hill is trying to maintain the position but Sanchez is very close to passing his half guard.
Hill manages to get to full guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez preventing the sweep.

Sanchez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Hill is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sanchez, into his guard.
Sanchez wants to sweep here but Hill controlling him for the moment.

Sanchez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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.

Sanchez looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Hill has picked Sanchez up and slammed him! Sanchez can't keep hold of the triangle and Hill manages to pass to side control!
Sanchez is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Sanchez strikes from the bottom but Hill takes advantage and advances to full mount!
Sanchez is working to get back to half guard.
Hill working the ground and pound effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill prevents Sanchez from getting the reversal.
Hill with good strikes from the mount here!
Sanchez throwing hammer fists to the chest of Hill. What's that going to do exactly?
Sanchez can't escape the position.
Sanchez flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Hill landing strikes, looking to finish!
Sanchez manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sanchez wants to get back to full guard but Hill has mounted him!
Sanchez flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Hill lands with some strikes.
Sanchez can't escape the position.
Steve Hill has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sanchez bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Sanchez preventing the sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

Sanchez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Willy Sanchez.
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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 50:45
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 50:45
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Willy Sanchez!
Willy Sanchez retains his light heavyweight title!