PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Sanna (ranked 3894 p4p, 475 weight class) and Manuel Vasquez (ranked 5092 p4p, 582 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sanna
vs
Vasquez

192 cm
25
218 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
223 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Sanna!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Manuel Vasquez!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Luis Engracia and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasquez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sanna swivels and escapes.
Vasquez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sanna sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Sanna forces Vasquez back against the cage and clinches.
Sanna stalling the fight.

Sanna's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Sanna moves into the clinch successfully.
Vasquez is trying to push Sanna away but Sanna has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sanna has Vasquez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Vasquez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Sanna jumps guard and drags Vasquez to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Vasquez wants to control from the top but Sanna keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vasquez wants to stand and escape but instead Sanna has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sanna accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sanna trying to control the position from guard on top but Vasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vasquez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanna wants to pass the guard but Vasquez is keeping the position.
Vasquez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Sanna decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two 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.
Sanna goes for a double leg but Vasquez avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Vasquez continues to drive forward.

Sanna has closed the distance and engaged Vasquez in a clinch.
Sanna has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Vasquez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Sanna. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vasquez jumps guard but Sanna turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Sanna breaks from the clinch.
Vasquez works Sanna's body with a nice hook.
Sanna stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sanna wants it to stay on the feet.
Sanna tries to counter with a takedown but Vasquez is quick to defend against it.
Sanna throws a hook but Vasquez avoids it easily.
Sanna blocks a head kick by Vasquez.
Vasquez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sanna defends it nicely.
Sanna throws a quick counter head kick but Vasquez was just out of range.
Vasquez lands with a nice combination. Sanna backs away looking to recover.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez wants to clinch up but Sanna keeps it at a distance.
Sanna shoots in for a takedown but Vasquez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Vasquez with the counter takedown but Sanna avoids it easily.
Sanna throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vasquez's waist but Vasquez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sanna off to one side.
Sanna shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Vasquez as he jumps to the side.
Vasquez steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Sanna.
Vasquez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vasquez swinging wildly here.

Sanna moves into the clinch.
Vasquez is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanna breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vasquez tries to clinch up.

Sanna drives through and clinches with Vasquez against the cage.
Sanna avoiding damage as Vasquez throws knees to the body.
Vasquez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sanna.
Sanna is trying to pull guard but Vasquez has him pressed against the cage.
Sanna stalling.
Vasquez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanna tries for a takedown. No joy.

Sanna breaks from the clinch.
Sanna shoots in for a takedown but Vasquez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Sanna dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Vasquez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vasquez misses with a low kick.
Vasquez moves out of range of the body kick from Sanna.
Vasquez slaps away a takedown attempt from Sanna, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sanna shoots in looking for a takedown but Vasquez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sanna's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Sanna clinches up against the cage.
Sanna is working for takedown but Vasquez is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Sanna. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanna tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Vasquez just stands there and leans against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanna is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Vasquez is defending well for now.
Vasquez looking for a takedown.
Vasquez is trying to stall.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanna goes for a double leg but Vasquez avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Vasquez continues to drive forward.
Vasquez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sanna sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Manuel Vasquez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vasquez shoots for a takedown but Sanna saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Vasquez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Sanna gets a clinch.
Vasquez is looking to take this one to the mat.
Vasquez pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Vasquez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Vasquez is trying to push Sanna away but Sanna has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sanna tries to pull guard but Vasquez won't allow it.

Sanna breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanna shoots in but Vasquez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sanna shoots in for a takedown but Vasquez shows good takedown defense.
Sanna avoids a punch combination nicely.
Vasquez shoots in and drives through. Sanna sprawls well.
Sanna stuffs the takedown attempt from Vasquez. Vasquez gets slowly back to his feet.
Sanna is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Sanna gets a clinch.

Sanna has picked Vasquez up - he's going for a ride! Sanna dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanna has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanna can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Vasquez is looking to escape.
Sanna is stalling here but it's allowed Vasquez to get half guard.
Sanna seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Sanna seems to be working for a kimura but Vasquez defends the submission attempt.
Sanna trying to control from Vasquez's half guard. Vasquez has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Vasquez wants to sweep but no luck.

Vasquez is looking for a triangle but Sanna pushes his legs off easily.
Sanna is stalling in the full guard.
Sanna 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.

Michael Sanna dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Vasquez throws a right and a left that both miss.

Vasquez gets tackled into the cage by Sanna. Sanna maintains the clinch.
Vasquez wants to break free but Sanna has control.
Sanna throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Sanna pulls guard effortlessly.
Sanna is striking but Vasquez is not phased and passes to half guard.
Sanna trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasquez seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Sanna is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vasquez pulls his head out easily.
Sanna is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vasquez can do to turn this around?
Sanna trying to hold on to Vasquez's head to control him but Vasquez postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Vasquez connects with a nice short shot to Sanna's temple.
Vasquez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sanna defending well though.
Sanna is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vasquez trying to control from half guard but Sanna is working away.
Nice strikes from Vasquez there.
Sanna wants to improve his position but Vasquez is controlling well.

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.
Sanna is working hard here to advance position.
Sanna blocking the ground and pound attempt from Vasquez.
Still in half guard, Vasquez seems content to control.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Vasquez lands a nice short elbow.
Sanna wants to sweep but Vasquez has passed to side control!

Vasquez decides to stand back up.
Sanna keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanna drives through and clinches with Vasquez against the cage.

Sanna pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Vasquez shoots in for a double leg but Sanna sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Vasquez tries to clinch but Sanna moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Vasquez. Those never looked like landing.

Sanna closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Vasquez sneaks out the side door and pushes Sanna away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Vasquez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vasquez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sanna as he avoids it easily.
Michael Sanna has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manuel Vasquez.
Sanna throws a front kick that sends Vasquez stumbling back into the cage.
Vasquez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanna has his takedown stuffed
letting Vasquez counter with a right hand.
Sanna dives in for a single leg takedown but Vasquez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Vasquez appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sanna.
Vasquez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Vasquez wants it to stay on the feet.

Sanna moves into the clinch.
Sanna is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Vasquez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sanna keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Vasquez's efforts to push away.
Vasquez jumps guard but Sanna stands there with Vasquez around his waist. Vasquez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Manuel Vasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Sanna is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vasquez misses with a body punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manuel Vasquez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sanna 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Sanna!