PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Sandulescu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Morais (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sandulescu
vs
Morais

170 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Antonio Sandulescu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Andre Morais!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Eliza Hachem and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sandulescu fails to land the takedown.
Sandulescu is trying hard to land a takedown here. Morais sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sandulescu displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Morais.

Morais shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Sandulescu keeping moving, preventing Morais from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morais's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sandulescu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Morais is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sandulescu is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Morais presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Sandulescu dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Morais unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sandulescu lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Morais is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sandulescu to keep the fight standing.
Morais jumps guard but Sandulescu stands there with Morais around his waist. Morais gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Antonio Sandulescu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Morais.
Morais gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Morais tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sandulescu just stands there and leans against the cage.
Sandulescu avoids the elbow strike from Morais, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morais breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Sandulescu clinches up with Morais and pushes him back against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Sandulescu managing to block the knees to the body from Morais.
Morais tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Morais fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Morais escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Sandulescu has managed to clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Morais tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Morais is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sandulescu has had enough of the clinch but Morais keeps him there for the moment.
Sandulescu drops down looking for an ankle pick but Morais pulls his leg out and moves away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Morais.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sandulescu throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Morais was covering up waiting for the punch and Sandulescu finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Morais looks winded!

Sandulescu gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Morais tries for a takedown but Sandulescu circles away easily
and Sandulescu counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Morais leaves Sandulescu with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sandulescu looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Morais is fending him off so far but Sandulescu persists. Nope, Morais circles away and we're back to standing.
Morais darts in looking for a takedown but Sandulescu gets double underhooks and turns Morais into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sandulescu gets a clinch.

Sandulescu manages to pull guard.
Morais preventing the sweep.

Sandulescu has his foot on Morais's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Morais works his way back into a safe position though.
Sandulescu controlling Morais's posture.
Sandulescu is trying to control the position but Morais postures up.

Sandulescu has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Morais can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sandulescu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Morais closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Sandulescu manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Morais keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Morais is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Morais looking to stall.
Morais using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sandulescu has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Morais looking to slow down the pace here.

Morais pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Morais takes the fight into the clinch.
Sandulescu wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Morais takes a shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandulescu is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Morais to keep the fight standing.
Sandulescu is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Morais pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sandulescu is trying to push Morais away but Morais has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Morais is working for takedown but Sandulescu is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sandulescu is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Sandulescu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morais is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sandulescu is keeping busy.
Sandulescu stops a takedown attempt from Morais.
Sandulescu tries for a takedown but Morais manages to get underhooks.
Sandulescu wants to break the clinch but can't.

Morais breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two 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.
Sandulescu slaps away a takedown attempt from Morais, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Morais is breathing heavily.
No luck for Morais with that takedown attempt.
Morais tries to clinch but Sandulescu moves away
and Sandulescu counters with a nice uppercut.

Morais drives through and clinches with Sandulescu against the cage.
Sandulescu tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Morais just stands there and leans against the cage.
Sandulescu tries to circle away but Morais has him pinned against the cage.
Morais is looking for a takedown.
Sandulescu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sandulescu has Morais pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Morais manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sandulescu looking to throw knees to the head but Morais is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morais tries to pull guard but Sandulescu won't allow it.
Morais has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Morais gets underhooks to prevent Sandulescu's takedown attempt.
Sandulescu wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sandulescu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Antonio Sandulescu has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sandulescu has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Morais avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sandulescu tries for a takedown but Morais manages to get underhooks.
Morais tries to pull guard but Sandulescu holds him up against the cage and eventually Morais drops back down to his feet.
Sandulescu tries to break the clinch but Morais is controlling the position.
Sandulescu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Morais can do to turn this around?
Morais stops a takedown attempt from Sandulescu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Sandulescu decides to pull guard.
Morais stops Sandulescu from standing up.

Morais gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Morais throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sandulescu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Morais shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sandulescu sprawls well. Sandulescu wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Morais gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Morais fakes the leg kick and cracks Sandulescu in the body.
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 Antonio Sandulescu will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Sandulescu closes the distance and pushes Morais back into the cage.
Morais leaning his opponent against the cage.
Sandulescu is trying to force a seperation but Morais has the dominant position.
Sandulescu has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Morais after a bit of a struggle.
Sandulescu throws an elbow but it misses.

Morais escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sandulescu throws a solid leg kick but Morais takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Sandulescu.
Sandulescu fails to land the takedown.

Sandulescu drives through and clinches with Morais against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morais wants a takedown.
Morais wants to take the fight to the mat but Sandulescu manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Sandulescu has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Morais uses from the top position.
Sandulescu pulls Morais in to control the position.
Morais trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Sandulescu had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Morais defends it easily.
Sandulescu keeping moving, preventing Morais from controlling successfully.
Sandulescu trying to keep a closed guard but Morais is proving a slippery customer.

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.
Morais trying to control the position from guard on top but Sandulescu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morais preventing the sweep.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Morais dives in for a single leg takedown but Sandulescu sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Antonio Sandulescu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Morais.
Sandulescu fails in his attempt to clinch.
As Sandulescu backs off Morais throws a huge counter combo but Sandulescu manages to avoid it all.

Morais scores with a takedown into Sandulescu's guard.

Morais drops back looking for a leg! Sandulescu is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sandulescu manages to kick Morais off! Morais jumps back into Sandulescu's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sandulescu holds on and takes a little breather.
Morais throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Morais wants to control from the top but Sandulescu keeps moving.
Sandulescu preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four 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.
Sandulescu looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Morais trying to control but Sandulescu is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Morais defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sandulescu.
Morais changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Andre Morais seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sandulescu fails with a takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sandulescu takes one to the side of the head.
Andre Morais has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sandulescu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Andre Morais.
I think Sandulescu has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight for Antonio Sandulescu!
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight for Antonio Sandulescu!
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight for Antonio Sandulescu!

Antonio Sandulescu wins by unanimous decision!