PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Harry Wates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santiago Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Wates
vs
Sanchez

190 cm
18
260 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
250 lbs
4 - 8 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Harry Wates!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 1, fighting out of London, Santiago Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Glass and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez slaps away a takedown attempt from Wates, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Wates tries to clinch up but Sanchez circles away and keeps his distance.
Wates fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sanchez shoots in for a double leg but Wates sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Wates closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sanchez circles away.
Wates tries for a takedown but Sanchez circles away easily
and Sanchez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harry Wates. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wates fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wates throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sanchez is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wates takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Sanchez fails with a takedown attempt.
Wates darts in looking for a takedown but Sanchez gets double underhooks and turns Wates into the cage.
Sanchez feints the counter takedown.
Wates shoots in for a takedown but Sanchez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Wates could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Wates.
Sanchez has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Wates finds it's way round the side to connect with Sanchez's head.
Wates tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wates tries to clinch up but Sanchez circles away and keeps his distance.
Sanchez is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Sanchez throws a quick inside leg kick.
Wates doesn't manage to clinch there - Sanchez circles away.
Wates definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Wates but Wates pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Sanchez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sanchez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Wates smiles and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wates looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Sanchez has one foot on Wates's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanchez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wates.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Wates as he avoids it easily.
Wates throws a quick counter kick to the body but Sanchez avoids it.
Wates tries to clinch but Sanchez moves out of range.
Sanchez wants to counter with a clinch but Wates pushes him away.
Sanchez shoots in and drives through. Wates sprawls well.
Sanchez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Wates is fending him off so far but Sanchez persists. Nope, Wates circles away and we're back to standing.

Sanchez rushes Wates and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wates wants a takedown but no success here.

Wates breaks from the clinch.
Wates tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wates tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanchez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sanchez wants to counter the offense by Wates and move into the clinch position.
Wates misses with a takedown attempt - Sanchez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Wates throws a head kick but Sanchez moves out of range.
Wates throws a sloppy head kick and Sanchez moves out of range easily.
Sanchez throws a counter combo.

Sanchez drives through and clinches with Wates against the cage.
Sanchez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Wates gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Wates jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sanchez walks away with a smile on his face. Wates gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wates shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Wates is trying to control. Sanchez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Wates is thwarting Sanchez's attempts to control the position.
Wates takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Sanchez wants to control but Wates is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santiago Sanchez dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sanchez tries for a takedown but Wates sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Wates shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Wates showed some decent athleticism there.
Wates performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Wates throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Sanchez to regain full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wates trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Wates wants to get up but he can't break Sanchez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Wates is controlling him.
Wates is looking to pass into half guard but Sanchez pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Sanchez is in guard.

Wates wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Sanchez manages to pass to side control.
Wates is looking to get back to full guard here but Sanchez has managed to pass to side control instead.
Wates is pushing Sanchez's head away, looking to escape. Sanchez manages to hold on to the position though.
Wates tries to bench press Sanchez off him but Sanchez keeps the position.
Sanchez throws a strike aimed at the side of Wates's head but Wates avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wates is looking to reverse the position.
Sanchez is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Wates will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Wates tries to buck Sanchez off but Sanchez is having none of it.
The strikes coming from Sanchez are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Sanchez stands up.
Sanchez darts in looking for a takedown but Wates gets double underhooks and turns Sanchez into the cage.
Wates is looking to clinch but Sanchez is avoiding it.
Sanchez tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Sanchez moves into the clinch.
Sanchez is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wates is fighting off a takedown attempt but Sanchez is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Wates to the mat. Wates regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Wates is trying to control the position but Sanchez postures up.
Sanchez is pushing down on Wates's leg trying to pass to half guard. Wates is fighting to maintain full guard but Sanchez has managed to sneak the leg through.

Sanchez is looking for a kimura here.
Sanchez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sanchez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sanchez passes to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wates is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Wates reaches up to try and control the position but Sanchez seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Wates rolls and tries to escape and now Sanchez has his back!
Sanchez just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sanchez is hanging on to Wates's back as he tries to escape.

Sanchez is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santiago Sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sanchez has a takedown stuffed.

Sanchez closes the distance and clinches.
Wates is trying to stall.
Wates wants to break the clinch but can't.

Sanchez gets control of Wates's arms and successfully pulls guard. Sanchez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sanchez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wates is one step ahead there.
Santiago Sanchez has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wates with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez can't keep his opponent in guard - Wates advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sanchez has his hands clasped together around Wates's back. He's all about the action.
Sanchez trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Wates manages to pass to mount!
Sanchez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Wates content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wates with good strikes from the mount here!
Wates prevents Sanchez from getting the reversal.
Wates looking to control but Sanchez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Wates looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Sanchez avoids a series of strikes thrown by Wates.
Wates trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Wates goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Sanchez is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wates utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Wates keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Sanchez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sanchez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sanchez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Wates keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.

Wates working for a triangle but Sanchez defends it easily.
Wates looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sanchez is one step ahead there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harry Wates showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sanchez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Santiago Sanchez!