PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rick Lo (ranked 5452 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kolton Sanford (ranked 5508 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Lo
vs
Sanford

170 cm
25
175 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
170 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rick Lo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kolton Sanford!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Daniel Franklin and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanford misses with a low kick.
Sanford doesn't manage to clinch there - Lo circles away.
Lo throws out a loose jab but Sanford uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice side step and Sanford releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Lo throws a hook to the side of Sanford's head but Sanford sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lo looks to land a left hand but Sanford moved out of range nicely.
Sanford tries to clinch but Lo moves out of range.

Lo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sanford is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lo stalling away here and it's allowed Sanford to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Sanford is trying to keep Lo in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lo trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanford is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lo postures up.

Lo drops back looking for a leg! Sanford is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sanford manages to kick Lo off! Lo jumps back into Sanford's guard.
Sanford is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sanford is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Sanford keeping full guard, as Lo tries to pass.

Lo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sanford working a defensive guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Lo throws a looping overhand right but Sanford ducks down to avoid it.
Sanford throws out a loose jab but Lo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lo swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Sanford misses with a hook.

Lo drives through with a takedown into guard.

Sanford looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Lo has picked Sanford up and slammed him! Sanford can't keep hold of the triangle and Lo manages to pass to side control!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sanford is trying to improve his position.
Lo wants to control but Sanford is keeping him busy.
Lo taking a break here but Sanford is having none of it and regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanford is looking to improve his position.
Lo trying to control the pace.

Lo looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sanford tries to roll over but Lo keeps him under control.
Sanford gets back to full guard.

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.
Sanford is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanford is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Sanford is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sanford pulls Lo in close to prevent any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lo wants to control from the top but Sanford keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sanford misses with a wild body shot.
Sanford wants to slow Lo down by chopping away at his legs.
Sanford wants to clinch but Lo slips to the side

and Lo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Sanford throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lo wants to control from the top but Sanford keeps moving.
Lo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanford is trying to keep Lo in close.
Lo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sanford is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanford is keeping the position for now.

Sanford has his foot on Lo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lo works his way back into a safe position though.
Lo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sanford trying to control the position.
Lo wants to pass the guard but Sanford is keeping the position.

Sanford looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sanford is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Sanford is looking for a triangle but Lo pushes his legs off easily.
Sanford trying to control the position.
Sanford keeping moving, preventing Lo from controlling successfully.
Lo stands and throws Sanford's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Lo tries for a kimura but Sanford is defending well.
Lo has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Sanford!
Sanford tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lo goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Sanford is on top in guard.
Sanford postures up.
Sanford pushing down on Lo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sanford wants to pass the guard but Lo is defending well.
Lo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Lo tries to get out of the position.

Sanford is trying to work for a kimura but Lo is defending well.
Lo tries to get to full guard but Sanford has control of the leg.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanford is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Lo!
Sanford wants to take his opponent's back but Lo doesn't allow it.
Lo is trying to escape the mount but Sanford keeps good control and instead manages to take Lo's back.
Sanford is hanging on to Lo's back as he tries to escape.
Lo trying to control the action but Sanford just sinks the hooks in.

Sanford has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Lo is in real trouble here. Sanford gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Lo is tapping out! Sanford wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Kolton Sanford!
An out of breath Kolton Sanford thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.