PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between DJ Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Powers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Sanchez might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to WALK BY PANTERA. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Sanchez
vs
Powers

195 cm
21
275 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

196 cm
24
269 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, DJ Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Powers!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Powers closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Powers trying to control the action but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Powers throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sanchez wants to get back to full guard.

Powers seems to be looking for submissions.
Sanchez slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Sanchez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sanchez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Powers is one step ahead there.
Powers really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sanchez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Powers 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.

Sanchez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sanchez trying to strike off his back.
Powers won't allow Sanchez to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez is working hard here to advance position.
Powers looking to pass the guard.
Powers preventing the sweep.
Sanchez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez wants to free his trapped foot but Powers is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Powers is defending against the submission attempts here by Sanchez.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sanchez looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Sanchez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Powers tries to get to full guard but Sanchez has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sanchez moves into full mount! Powers won't be happy about that!
Powers tries to lock up and control but Sanchez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Powers manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Sanchez passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Powers!
Powers is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Sanchez looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Powers tries to reverse the position but Sanchez maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers is controlling an arm, preventing Sanchez from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Powers is looking to get to half guard.
Sanchez works his way to his opponent's back.

Sanchez is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Powers tries to escape but Sanchez has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Sanchez is looking for the choke from the back position but Powers is controlling his hands well.

Sanchez is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Powers defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.

Powers preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Sanchez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Powers can't escape the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Sanchez working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Sanchez working for a choke but Powers is defending well.
Powers turns into Sanchez and is now in his guard.
Powers trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Powers is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Powers passes Sanchez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez actively working from the bottom here.
Sanchez wants to improve his position but Powers is controlling well.
Sanchez is not content to let Powers control the position.
Sanchez gets back to full guard.
Powers content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Powers wants to pass the guard but Sanchez is keeping the position.

Sanchez has his foot on Powers's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Powers works his way back into a safe position though.
Sanchez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Sanchez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Powers passes Sanchez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sanchez wants to improve his position but Powers is controlling well.
Powers is looking to take a break and control but Sanchez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sanchez tries to roll over but Powers keeps him under control.

Sanchez is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Powers pulls his head out easily.
Powers is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Sanchez!
A nice elbow there by Powers.
Sanchez takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Powers looking to control but Sanchez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is trying to escape the mount.

Sanchez defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Powers.
Sanchez manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Sanchez moves into full guard.
Powers trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Sanchez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

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

Sanchez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Powers is just riding it out for now. Sanchez eventually gives up the hold.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Powers!

Sanchez has hold of Powers's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Powers manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Sanchez prevents Powers from getting the reversal.

Sanchez wants to finish this one by submission but Powers is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Sanchez.
Powers is desperately trying to improve his position but Sanchez has a good base and remains in mount.

Sanchez working for a guillotine from mount but Powers is in no mood to give up.
Powers keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Powers tries to hold on but Sanchez pushes him away.

Sanchez is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Powers can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Powers regains half guard.
Powers slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

DJ Sanchez dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ouch! a nice leg kick from Powers, right into the meat.
Powers tries a head kick but it misses.
Powers tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Powers looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nice takedown defense from Sanchez. No joy for Powers on that attempt.
Powers fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
DJ Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Powers.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez stuffs the takedown attempt from Powers. Powers gets slowly back to his feet.
Powers is breathing heavily.

Sanchez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez lands with some strikes.

It looks like Michael Powers has been cut.
Sanchez scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That has opened up Michael Powers's cut even more.
Sanchez looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Michael Powers's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Michael Powers's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). DJ Sanchez!