PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Diego Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bernardo Muriel (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.

Sanchez
vs
Muriel

190 cm
25
211 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

187 cm
27
205 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Diego Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bernardo Muriel!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, David Hoff and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Muriel uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sanchez.
Muriel connects with a nice looking jab.
Sanchez seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Muriel throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Muriel clinches with his opponent.
Muriel softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Muriel tries to throw a body punch but Sanchez avoids it by throwing Muriel back against the cage.
Muriel stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Sanchez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Muriel has him pressed against the cage.
Muriel lands a right hand.
Sanchez wants to break the clinch but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Muriel is working Sanchez over against the cage.
Muriel lands a hook that snaps the head of Sanchez backwards.
A left hand lands to the body for Muriel.
Muriel makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Muriel lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muriel lands a body punch.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.
A hook to the body from Muriel.
A short left from Muriel.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Muriel.
Muriel lands an uppercut.
A short right from Muriel on the inside.
Muriel lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Muriel's coach down at The Hut - $50 was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Muriel's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Muriel digs a right hand underneath Sanchez's ribcage. Sanchez let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A shot in the inside from Muriel.
A short right from Muriel on the inside.
Muriel lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sanchez backwards.
Muriel scores with a nice hook to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Muriel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muriel lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Muriel lands a body shot.
Stalling in the clinch from Muriel.
Muriel lands a nice shot to the body.
Muriel lands a nice shot to the body.
A body shot lands from Muriel.
A short uppercut from Muriel.
Muriel controlling the action here for a moment.
Muriel just leaning against Sanchez, taking a breather.
Muriel continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
A nice right hand lands inside from Muriel.
Muriel lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sanchez backwards.
Muriel taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muriel stalling the fight.
Muriel makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Muriel lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sanchez backwards.
Muriel avoiding damage.
Muriel lands with a short shot to the head.
Muriel cracks Sanchez with a nice body shot.
Nice body punch from Muriel - that landed with a thud.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Muriel.
Muriel lands an uppercut.
The referee is keeping an eye on Muriel - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Muriel pushes Sanchez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muriel lands a nice shot to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Muriel.
Muriel lands a nice shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Muriel lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Muriel lands with a light punch inside.
A short right from Muriel on the inside.
Muriel has Sanchez pressed against the cage, preventing Sanchez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A short right from Muriel on the inside.
Sanchez is trying to force a seperation but Muriel has the dominant position.
Muriel lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sanchez.
Muriel lands a body shot in the clinch.
Muriel lands with a short shot to the head.
Muriel avoiding damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernardo Muriel dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Muriel cracks Sanchez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Muriel, as that shot connected.
Sanchez's jab looks to have found its range, popping Muriel under the eye.

Muriel clinches with his opponent.
Muriel lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sanchez backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Muriel.
Still in the clinch, Muriel scores with a nice short uppercut.
Muriel lands a shot to the body.
Sanchez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Muriel keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sanchez's efforts to push away.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Muriel.
Muriel lands a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muriel lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sanchez backwards.
Muriel slows down the pace here.
Muriel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A nice right hand lands inside from Muriel.
A shot in the inside from Muriel.
Muriel lands a shoulder strike.
Muriel lands with a short shot to the head.
Sanchez is trying to break the clinch but Muriel has him pressed against the cage.
Muriel gets through Sanchez's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Muriel.
Muriel lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Muriel lands a left hand.
Muriel throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Muriel lands a hook to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Muriel.
A right hook to the body lands for Muriel.
Muriel is leaning against Sanchez and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Muriel is working Sanchez over against the cage.
Muriel lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sanchez backwards.
Muriel lands a nice shot to the body.
A shot in the inside from Muriel.
Muriel lands a nice uppercut.
Muriel lands a shoulder strike.

Sanchez is rocked!
A right hook to the body lands for Muriel.
Oh Sanchez is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A short right from Muriel on the inside.
Muriel dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Muriel on the inside.
Muriel scores with a shot to the side of Sanchez's head.
Muriel throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Sanchez seems to have got his legs back now.
Sanchez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Bernardo Muriel seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A bit of stalling here from Muriel.
A short right from Muriel.
Muriel scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Muriel is working Sanchez over against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Muriel.
Muriel pushes Sanchez back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Muriel lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sanchez backwards.
Come on Muriel - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A short right from Muriel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A left hand lands to the body for Muriel.
Muriel lands a body shot in the clinch.
A short left from Muriel.
Muriel is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Muriel is leaning against Sanchez and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Muriel lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Muriel lands with a light punch inside.
Muriel lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sanchez or not.
Muriel lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sanchez or not.
A right hook to the body lands for Muriel.
Muriel softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernardo Muriel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Sanchez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nice straight punches there by Muriel. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Muriel.

Muriel clinches up against the cage.
Muriel digs a right hand into Sanchez's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sanchez's gas tank.
A body shot lands from Muriel.
Muriel works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Muriel lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Muriel will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sanchez up against the cage.
Muriel lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Muriel lands with a left to the head.
Muriel lands a nice shot to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Muriel.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Muriel creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muriel displaying some good clinch control by pressing Sanchez up against the cage.
Muriel lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sanchez backwards.
Sanchez has had enough of the clinch but Muriel keeps him there for the moment.
Muriel stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Muriel lands a shoulder strike.
Sanchez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Muriel lands a nice uppercut.
Sanchez is trying to break the clinch but Muriel is controlling him.
Muriel works on Sanchez's body with a couple of short punches.
Muriel scores with a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muriel lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Muriel lands with a light punch inside.
A short uppercut from Muriel.
Muriel lands a shot to the body.
Muriel lands a shoulder strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Muriel stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Muriel lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Muriel pushes Sanchez against the cage. Muriel is working some dirty boxing. Muriel pushes off with a quick right hook! Sanchez goes down! Sanchez tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Muriel moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bernardo Muriel!
Bernardo Muriel decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.