PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jierdan Firkragg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fred Sanford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Firkragg kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Wake Up. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Firkragg
vs
Sanford

195 cm
27
270 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

186 cm
42
254 lbs
28 - 26 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Knockout power

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jierdan Firkragg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fred Sanford!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Firkragg bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Firkragg will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Firkragg moves out of range of the body kick from Sanford.
Firkragg blocks a head kick by Sanford.
Firkragg appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Sanford misses with a body shot.
Sanford fails to land with a series of punches.
Firkragg appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Firkragg throws a body punch but Sanford moves out of range.
A low kick from Sanford is predictable there

and Firkragg counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sanford is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Firkragg controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Firkragg pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanford is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanford is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sanford is trying to control the position but Firkragg postures up.
Sanford looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sanford is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Firkragg wants to control from the top but Sanford keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A slow jab from Sanford misses its intended target.
Firkragg tries to counter with a takedown but Sanford is quick to defend against it.

That's two 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.
Sanford throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Sanford connects with the punch.
Sanford tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Firkragg is able to avoid easily.
Firkragg half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Sanford tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A clash of legs there as Firkragg blocks the low kick.
Firkragg half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Sanford tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Firkragg connects with a solid leg kick.
Sanford pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Firkragg appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Sanford throws a good cross that connects.
Sanford bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Sanford fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Firkragg.
Sanford looks to land a combination but Firkragg avoids it well.
Sanford takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

It looks like Fred Sanford has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Firkragg misses its intended target.
Good leg kick by Sanford there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Sanford throws a head kick but Firkragg moves out of range.
Firkragg is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Firkragg jabs Sanford right on the nose. Sanford blinks but takes it well.
Fred Sanford is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sanford pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Firkragg rushes Sanford and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sanford tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Firkragg avoids it.

Firkragg has picked Sanford up - he's going for a ride! Firkragg dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Well, if Firkragg is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Firkragg is pressing down on Sanford's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sanford is holding on for now.
Sanford is looking to improve his position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sanford is trying to control but can't.
Firkragg passes the guard and advances to mount!
Firkragg controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fred Sanford will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Fred Sanford's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Firkragg shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sanford manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sanford has Firkragg pulled in close to control his posture.
Sanford wants to sweep here but Firkragg controlling him for the moment.
Firkragg pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanford is keeping the position for now.
Sanford wants to sweep here but Firkragg controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Firkragg wants to control from the top but Sanford keeps moving.
Firkragg is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sanford is on top in guard.

Firkragg working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sanford.
Sanford wants to control from the top but Firkragg keeps moving.
Firkragg is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Firkragg bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sanford's guard.

Sanford is controlling Firkragg's posture.
Firkragg passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Firkragg wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sanford, who protects the arm well.
Sanford tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sanford is trying to control Firkragg's posture but Firkragg avoids it.
Jierdan Firkragg overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Firkragg is trying to get an arm triangle but Sanford is defending well.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Sanford's face as Firkragg controls the position.
Sanford manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Sanford wants to get back to full guard.
Sanford moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sanford being controlled here, momentarily.
Firkragg pushing down on Sanford's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Firkragg trying to control the action but Sanford is working from the bottom.

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.
Firkragg is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sanford is trying to get back to full guard.

Firkragg seems to be looking for submissions.
Sanford is looking to control Firkragg's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sanford avoid being mounted?
Sanford is pressing down on Firkragg's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sanford being controlled here, momentarily.
Firkragg preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jierdan Firkragg dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Fred Sanford's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A leg kick checked by Firkragg.
Sanford throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Firkragg feinted with a counter takedown.
Sanford throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Firkragg changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Firkragg blocks a jab.
Firkragg misses with a low kick.
Sanford looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Sanford throws a sloppy head kick and Firkragg moves out of range easily.
Sanford will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Sanford lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sanford fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Firkragg checks it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Firkragg scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Firkragg tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanford paws at him with a jab and circles away.
It seemed like Sanford was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sanford throws a leg kick that misses.
Sanford throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanford lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sanford rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Firkragg counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Sanford!
Sanford is trying to improve his position.

Firkragg looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sanford is trying to get back to half guard.
Firkragg content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Firkragg advances to full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Firkragg takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Firkragg wants to control the pace but Sanford is squirming around nicely.
Sanford working to try and regain half guard.
Firkragg controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanford is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Firkragg moves to his opponent's back but Sanford bucks him off and ends up in guard. A bit of a disaster there for Firkragg.
Sanford postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sanford must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sanford throwing strikes from guard but Firkragg blocks nicely.

Firkragg working for a triangle but Sanford defends it easily.
Firkragg looking for a sweep. Not yet Firkragg, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Firkragg is trying to control the position but Sanford postures up.
Firkragg is adopting a defensive guard.
Sanford preventing the sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanford missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sanford wants to pass the guard but Firkragg is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Fred Sanford.
I think Sanford has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Fred Sanford!
Fred Sanford thanked the fans post fight for their support.