PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ishod Izgoev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Izgoev
vs
Sanchez

185 cm
23
260 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

199 cm
22
240 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ishod Izgoev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tom Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Izgoev throws a jab but it's blocked by Sanchez.
Izgoev misses with a jab, cross combination.
Izgoev circles away from the clinch attempt.

Sanchez gets the takedown into side control.
Izgoev avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Sanchez.
Sanchez grinds an elbow into Izgoev's temple.
Sanchez in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Izgoev regains half guard, as Sanchez was trying to land strikes.
Nice strikes from Sanchez there.
Izgoev might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sanchez thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Izgoev to regain full guard.
Sanchez connects with a couple of short punches.
Sanchez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Izgoev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Izgoev has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez throws and elbow that misses. Izgoev uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sanchez's guard. Nice move by Izgoev!
Izgoev controls from within his opponent's guard.
Sanchez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sanchez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sanchez wants to sweep here but Izgoev controlling him for the moment.
Izgoev throwing strikes but missing.
Sanchez throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sanchez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Sanchez is looking for a triangle but Izgoev pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sanchez trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A chopping leg kick lands by Izgoev.
Sanchez looks gassed!
Izgoev throws a hook to the side of Sanchez's head but Sanchez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Izgoev misses with an uppercut. Sanchez saw that one coming.
Izgoev listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

It looks like Tom Sanchez has been cut.
Izgoev scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Izgoev throws a shot from downtown. Sanchez moves away and avoids it.
Izgoev closes the distance but Sanchez moves to the side

and Sanchez counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Izgoev!
Izgoev wants to hold on but Sanchez pushes him away.
Izgoev is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Sanchez landing shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Izgoev wants to hold on but Sanchez pushes him away.
Izgoev blocking the ground and pound.
Sanchez looking to finish with strikes here!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Izgoev wants to control but Sanchez is having none of it.
Izgoev keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Izgoev is bucking up trying to escape but Sanchez cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

It looks like Ishod Izgoev has been cut.
Sanchez putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Sanchez landing shots from mount.
Izgoev tries to hold on but Sanchez pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Izgoev?
Sanchez lands a heavy elbow.
Sanchez postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Izgoev looks a forlorn figure.
Sanchez lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Sanchez lands a heavy elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanchez throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Izgoev tries to lock up and control but Sanchez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sanchez looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Sanchez punishing his opponent with strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sanchez lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Sanchez lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Izgoev is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tom Sanchez will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sanchez moves into the clinch.
Sanchez lands with a light punch inside.
Izgoev blocking some punches.
Sanchez lands a hook that snaps the head of Izgoev backwards.
A shot in the inside from Sanchez.

Izgoev breaks the clinch.
Izgoev misses with an attempted mid kick.
Izgoev swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sanchez stalks Izgoev and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Izgoev's face. Izgoev staggers backwards, shaken.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but Izgoev shows good takedown defense.
Ishod Izgoev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanchez shoots in but Izgoev avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Izgoev waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Sanchez.
Sanchez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Izgoev.
A big right from Izgoev misses.
Izgoev misses with a wild body shot.

Sanchez clinches up against the cage.
Sanchez misses with the head strike.

Izgoev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Izgoev lands a body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Izgoev misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Izgoev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sanchez closes the distance and clinches up with Izgoev, looking for a takedown. Sanchez pushes Izgoev against the cage but Izgoev circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ishod Izgoev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Sanchez.
Jab from Izgoev.
Izgoev uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Izgoev throws a lazy right hand but Sanchez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Izgoev lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Izgoev misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Sanchez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sanchez defending well as Izgoev loads up on a big left hand.
Izgoev throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Izgoev throws a jab but it's blocked by Sanchez.
Sanchez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Sanchez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Still in the clinch, Sanchez scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sanchez lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Izgoev throws a head punch that misses.

Izgoev breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nice sprawl there from Izgoev as Sanchez shoots in.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sanchez slips a jab from Izgoev.
Izgoev swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ishod Izgoev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Izgoev connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Sanchez's hands.
Sanchez fails to land the takedown.
Izgoev throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sanchez.
Tom Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Izgoev throws a looping overhand right but Sanchez ducks down to avoid it.
Sanchez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Izgoev.
Izgoev throws a hook but Sanchez blocks it.
Izgoev walks into a jab.
Izgoev misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Sanchez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Sanchez has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Izgoev is trying to keep an underhook but Sanchez manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Izgoev trying to control but Sanchez postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Izgoev blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sanchez.
Sanchez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Izgoev defending well though.
Sanchez working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sanchez misses with a head shot. Izgoev uses the momentum to regain guard.
Izgoev is controlling Sanchez's posture.
Sanchez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sanchez postures up.
Sanchez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Izgoev throws a series of punches but Sanchez avoids them all with ease.

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.
Sanchez tries to clinch up but Izgoev circles away and keeps his distance.

Sanchez takes the fight into the clinch.
Izgoev misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sanchez tries to score a body lock takedown but Izgoev shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Izgoev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sanchez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sanchez takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Sanchez instigates a clinch.
Izgoev tries to break the clinch but Sanchez is controlling the position.
Sanchez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sanchez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Izgoev pulls his leg out and moves away.
Izgoev is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sanchez.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanchez looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ishod Izgoev is winning the standup battle so far.
Izgoev looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Izgoev misses with a body shot.

Sanchez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
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 Ishod Izgoev will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Izgoev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A telegraphed right hand from Izgoev misses the target.
Sanchez fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Izgoev looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Sanchez wants to clinch up but Izgoev keeps it at a distance.
Izgoev misses the jab.

Sanchez rushes Izgoev and presses him up against the cage.
Sanchez lands a hook that snaps the head of Izgoev backwards.

Sanchez has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Izgoev clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Sanchez has Izgoev flattened out and is raining down punches.
Izgoev finds himself mounted whilst avoiding strikes.
Izgoev swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Sanchez misses with a head shot.
Sanchez looking to finish with strikes here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Izgoev keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tom Sanchez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Izgoev in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Izgoev is wriggling around trying to escape.
Izgoev wants to hold on but Sanchez pushes him away.
Sanchez with the ground and pound from mount.
Sanchez lands a nice shot to the head.
Izgoev in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez breaks from Izgoev's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Sanchez lands a big shot there that rocks Izgoev but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Sanchez putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Sanchez lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Izgoev hang on?
Sanchez lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Izgoev is desperately trying to improve his position but Sanchez has a good base and remains in mount.
Sanchez lands a big shot there that rocks Izgoev but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Izgoev is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sanchez with a couple of short strikes.
Sanchez working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Sanchez lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez with the ground and pound from mount.
Sanchez throwing strikes here but Izgoev is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Sanchez has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Izgoev's face.
Sanchez thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Sanchez avoids the attempt from Izgoev to control.
Sanchez unloading with bombs!
Sanchez misses with a head shot.
Izgoev flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Sanchez postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Izgoev looks a forlorn figure.
Izgoev tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Sanchez moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Izgoev has worked his arm free - good work by Izgoev!
Izgoev is trying to control Sanchez's posture but Sanchez avoids it.
Izgoev is looking to regain half guard here but Sanchez keeps moving and retains side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Sanchez.
Izgoev struggling a bit here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanchez misses with the ground and pound.
Sanchez trying to control the position but Izgoev is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sanchez 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!