PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Sanna (ranked 3052 p4p, 393 weight class) and Maynor Luis (ranked 23227 p4p, 832 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Maynor Luis was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Sanna
vs
Luis

192 cm
25
218 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
29
222 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

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 1 - 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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Maynor Luis!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Edson Gomes and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanna tries to score a power double leg takedown but Luis sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sanna somewhat.
Luis tries to clinch up but Sanna circles away and keeps his distance.

Sanna closes the distance and clinches.
Luis is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Still in the clinch, Sanna scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sanna fails to pull guard.
Luis tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Luis looking to throw knees to the head but Sanna is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sanna breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Luis 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 Maynor Luis.
Luis moves in looking to clinch but Sanna pushes him off.

Luis gets tackled into the cage by Sanna. Sanna maintains the clinch.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sanna.

Luis sneaks out the side door and pushes Sanna away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Luis throws a body punch but Sanna moves out of range.
Sanna fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Luis avoids it really well and circles away.
Luis looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Luis missing with a left hand there. Sanna was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Sanna takes the fight into the clinch.
Sanna displaying some good clinch control by pressing Luis up against the cage.
Sanna pushes Luis back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Luis avoiding damage as Sanna throws knees to the body.
Sanna lands with a short shot to the head.

Sanna escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sanna changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Luis tries to avoid it but Sanna manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Luis to the ground. Luis escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sanna shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Luis as he jumps to the side.
Sanna shoots and misses
and Luis counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sanna avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Luis is defended easily by Sanna.

Luis instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanna wants a takedown.
Luis is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sanna pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Sanna ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sanna no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Luis is stalling in the full guard.

Sanna looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Luis controls from within his opponent's guard.
Sanna looking to control.

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.
Luis passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sanna is trying to control Luis's posture but Luis avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanna tries to bench press Luis off him but Luis keeps the position.
Luis working away.
Sanna is trying to improve his position.
Sanna looking for a sweep but Luis has passed into full mount! Oh no!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michael Sanna will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sanna misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Luis throws a big counter head kick but Sanna avoids it with no problem.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sanna or perhaps it was just good defense by Luis, which made it look bad.
Sanna changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Luis tries to avoid it but Sanna manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Luis to the ground. Luis escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Luis shoots in for a takedown but Sanna shows good takedown defense.
It looked like Sanna was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Sanna shoots in but no luck this time.
Luis wants to counter with a clinch but Sanna pushes him away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Sanna. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanna blocks a head kick by Luis.
Sanna fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Luis avoids it really well and circles away.
Luis drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Sanna defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Luis lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Sanna definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Sanna explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luis shoots in for a takedown but Sanna shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Luis misses with an attempted mid kick.

Sanna clinches with his opponent.

Luis gets control of Sanna's arms and successfully pulls guard. Luis will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sanna controls from within his opponent's guard.

Luis has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Sanna off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Luis fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A head kick from Sanna lands but Luis takes it in his stride.

It looks like Maynor Luis has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luis shoots in looking for a takedown. Sanna tries to sprawl out of it but Luis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sanna manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sanna pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Luis follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
A head kick misses from Sanna.
Sanna leaves Luis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sanna appears to be looking for a big counter.
Sanna defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Luis.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sanna avoids a punch combination nicely.
Luis doesn't manage to clinch there - Sanna circles away.
Sanna fails with the takedown

and Luis counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Luis.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Luis tries to pull guard but Sanna forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Sanna escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Luis shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sanna shoots in looking for a takedown. Luis tries to sprawl out of it but Sanna keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Luis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Sanna moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanna escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Michael Sanna is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sanna fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Luis fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sanna avoids it really well and circles away.
Sanna throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Sanna shoots in and drives through. Luis sprawls well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanna stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sanna wants it to stay on the feet.

Sanna moves into the clinch successfully.

Sanna breaks from the 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 Michael Sanna will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Maynor Luis's cut.
That's time! Sanna's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A left and a right from Luis both land. Nice combination.

Sanna moves into range and clinches up with Luis.
Sanna wants to take the fight to the mat but Luis manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Luis misses with a knee to the head.
Luis is looking to take this one to the mat.
Sanna prevents a takedown attempt there.

Sanna escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Luis is looking to clinch.
As Luis tries to get set, Sanna tries to push him back and clinch up but Luis manages to avoid the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luis tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sanna sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Luis somewhat.
Michael Sanna has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maynor Luis.
Luis shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sanna pinned against the cage. Sanna gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanna shoots in and drives through. Luis sprawls well.
Luis wants to clinch.
Sanna fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Sanna closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sanna pressing his opponent against the cage.
Sanna changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Luis fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Luis.
Sanna drops down looking for a counter takedown but Luis sprawls and moves away.

Sanna bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Luis is trying to control Sanna's posture but Sanna avoids it.
Sanna tries to advance to mount but Luis instead regains half guard.
Sanna wants to stand up but Luis is controlling the position.
Luis is trying to maintain the position but Sanna is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luis keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Luis regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Sanna.
Maynor Luis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Luis can't keep his opponent in guard - Sanna advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sanna wants to control but Luis is keeping him busy.

That's four 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.
Luis keeping control of the position.
Luis wants to control but Sanna is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Luis has one foot on Sanna's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Sanna lands with a nice body kick.

Sanna closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Luis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Luis jumps guard but Sanna turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Luis tries for a takedown. No joy.
Maynor Luis 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.
Sanna blocks a punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Michael Sanna.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sanna, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28

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