PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Diego Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David North (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). North is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by 'Mr. Roboto' by Styx. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sanchez
vs
North

181 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
22
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Diego Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, David North!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Bruno Lombardi and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
North misses with a wild combination.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts North as he jumps to the side.

North gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Sanchez decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
North throws a head kick but Sanchez moves out of range.
Sanchez fails with a takedown attempt.
Sanchez is looking to clinch but North is avoiding it.
North throws a leg kick but Sanchez moved away.

Sanchez scores a takedown into full mount!

North bucks Sanchez off and manages to get back to his feet!
David North seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

North clinches up with Sanchez and pushes him back against the cage.
Sanchez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

North pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
North tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

North has managed to clinch.
Sanchez trying to land knees to the body.
Sanchez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. North gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
North lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sanchez backwards.
North with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sanchez wants to break the clinch but can't.
A knee to the head by North.
Sanchez misses with some punches.
North misses with an elbow over the top.
North scores with a knee to the head.
Sanchez tries to pull guard but North holds him up against the cage and eventually Sanchez drops back down to his feet.

North manages to break the clinch.

Sanchez tries to keep at a distance but North has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sanchez is looking to break free of the clinch but North has double underhooks.
Sanchez wants to break free but North has control.

North breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sanchez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has North pinned against the cage. North gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
North fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez blocks a head kick by North.
Sanchez looks for a takedown but North sprawls well.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.
Sanchez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Sanchez has North up against the cage in a clinch.

North breaks from the clinch.
North avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sanchez takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Sanchez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sanchez avoids the head kick by North.
North tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
North tries a head kick but it misses.

North pushes Sanchez up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is looking to control North's arms but North gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sanchez has his back to the cage.
North lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Sanchez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A knee to the head by North.
North gets underhooks to prevent Sanchez's takedown attempt.
Sanchez has had enough of the clinch but North keeps him there for the moment.
North using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
North with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

North's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
North plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

North pushes Sanchez up against the cage in a clinch.

North pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
North just misses with a punch to the body.
North tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
North lands a with a good body shot.
Sanchez throws a nice looking combination but North bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sanchez circles away from the clinch attempt.
North connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sanchez.

North scores a takedown into full mount!
Sanchez wants to hold on but North pushes him away.
North trying to control but Sanchez is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

North is standing up, even though he is in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David North dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sanchez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with North but North pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sanchez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but North swivels and escapes.
North lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
North throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sanchez's head.
North tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
North scores with a kick to the body.
North lands with a thumping leg kick.
North throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
North misses with a head kick.
North misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
North lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but North shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
North lands a head kick. Sanchez smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
North tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
North closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sanchez circles away.
Sanchez lands a body shot.
North swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Sanchez lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

North has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sanchez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. North smiles and moves away.
North fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sanchez.
A chopping leg kick lands by North.

North takes the fight into the clinch.
Sanchez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
North with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
North with a knee to the head.
Sanchez stalling the fight.

North breaks from the clinch.
North throws a head kick but Sanchez moves out of range.
A head kick misses from North.

Sanchez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sanchez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
North is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sanchez is controlling him.

Sanchez stands up from North's guard - Sanchez perhaps looking for a knockout.
Sanchez doesn't manage to clinch there - North circles away.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by North.
North tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez shoots in and drives through. North sprawls well.
Sanchez tries to clinch up.
North throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sanchez has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Sanchez blocks a head kick by North.
North tries to land a leg kick but Sanchez saw it coming and moves away.
Sanchez motions for North to come forward. Sanchez throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sanchez shoots in but North avoids the takedown attempt easily.
North pulls out of a head kick attempt.

North has managed to clinch.

North breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
North motions for Sanchez to come forward. North throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sanchez has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

North gets in close and instigates a clinch.
North tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
North unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sanchez lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
North looking to throw knees to the head but Sanchez is blocking nicely.
North throws a knee to the head but misses.
North on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
North tries a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks it.
Sanchez wants a takedown but no success here.
Sanchez is trying to break the clinch but North has him pressed against the cage.
North tries to land a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks with his arms.
North missing with knees to the body.
Sanchez tries for a takedown. No joy.
North keeps control of Sanchez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
North looking to throw knees to the head but Sanchez is blocking nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
North with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
North is looking to control Sanchez's arms but Sanchez gets an underhook and turns him. Now North has his back to the cage.

North breaks the clinch.
Sanchez fails in his attempt to clinch.
North throws a head kick but Sanchez moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David North showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sanchez shoots for a takedown but North saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Sanchez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
North keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Sanchez wants to stand but North is controlling his posture from full guard.
North wants to stand up but Sanchez is controlling him.
North keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
North wants to stand up but Sanchez is controlling him.
North 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
North keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

North has managed to clinch.
North lands a nice knee to the body.
North tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sanchez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. North avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
North blocking some punches.

North manages to break the clinch.
North fails to land the takedown.
North tries a head kick but it misses.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but North shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
North throws a head kick but Sanchez moves out of range.
North misses with a head kick.

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.
North throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
North lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sanchez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
North thumps Sanchez with a low kick.
North throws a head kick but Sanchez moves out of range.
Sanchez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but North swivels and escapes.

Sanchez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
North is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Sanchez asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Check out the look on Sanchez's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez in side control lands a decent elbow.

North throws Sanchez to one side and escapes!
Sanchez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but North swivels and escapes.
North throws a head kick that misses.
North looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sanchez lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sanchez.
North looks to clinch
and Sanchez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
North throws a nice head kick!
Sanchez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
North throws a leg kick

and Sanchez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in North's guard now.
Sanchez won't allow North to get back to his feet.

Sanchez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez closes the distance and clinches up with North, looking for a takedown. Sanchez pushes North against the cage but North circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
North throws a sloppy head kick and Sanchez moves out of range easily.

Sanchez gets a takedown into half guard.
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!
Sanchez is pressing down on North's thigh, looking to free his foot. North is holding on for now.
David North is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
North pushes Sanchez off looking to stand but Sanchez dives back in and keeps control.

Sanchez decides to stand and escape the position.
North tries a head kick but it misses.
Diego Sanchez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
North tries to clinch there but Sanchez circles away.

North has managed to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diego Sanchez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think North 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David North!