PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carl Sands (ranked 2134 p4p, 62 weight class) and Mr Joshua (ranked 1090 p4p, 32 weight class). Sands comes to the cage accompanied by Hip Hop - By: Dead Prez. Joshua is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Problem Child. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Sands
vs
Joshua

191 cm
25
260 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

193 cm
26
255 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

IniTech Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carl Sands!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mr Joshua!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Steve Montenegro and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joshua drops his hands momentarily and Sands takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Sands throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Joshua tries to move into range but Sands moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sands swats away the attempt to clinch by Joshua.
Joshua scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Carl Sands has been cut.
Sands jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice cross by Sands.
A telegraphed right hand from Joshua misses the target.

Sands shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Joshua napping and manages to drive through into side control!
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!
Joshua parries the strikes from Sands easily there. Sands is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Joshua to escape.
Sands in side control, throwing shots but Joshua defends.
Sands tries to score with some ground and pound. Joshua controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sands with the ground and pound but Joshua regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Sands trying to control the action but Joshua is working from the bottom.
Sands not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sands lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sands lands a nice short elbow.
Joshua on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sands throws a strike but Joshua avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sands accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sands loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Joshua keeping moving, preventing Sands from controlling successfully.
Sands showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sands working some strikes from top position.
Sands trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sands throwing strikes but missing.
Sands has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sands wants to pass the guard but Joshua is keeping the position.
Joshua is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sands is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sands accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sands throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sands postures up in Joshua's guard and throws a big left but Joshua blocks it.
Joshua utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sands loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sands works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sands throwing shots but Joshua is blocking nicely.
Joshua blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sands.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sands scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sands thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sands missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Joshua is trying to stand back up but Sands is controlling him
Sands thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Joshua's head.
Sands stops Joshua from getting back to his feet.
Sands looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Joshua with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Joshua looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sands not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sands thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sands trying to mount his opponent but Joshua defends it.
Sands missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sands throwing shots but Joshua is blocking nicely.
Sands working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joshua keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Joshua on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sands thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sands throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sands looks to land a strike but Joshua avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Sands with a flurry of punches that miss.
Joshua keeping moving, preventing Sands from controlling successfully.
Sands postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sands working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sands throws an elbow that misses. Joshua uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sands's guard. Nice move by Joshua!

Sands is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Sands dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Carl Sands's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Joshua swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Sands on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Sands with a hook.
Joshua has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Joshua there as he acknowledges the shot.
Sands lands a jab.
Joshua throws out a leg kick but Sands moves out of range and Joshua only half commits.
Sands dives in for a single leg takedown but Joshua sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Joshua throws a right hand that Sands ducks under and follows up with a left that Sands also avoids with ease.
Joshua tries to clinch but Sands moves out of range.
Joshua gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Sands.
Sands throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sands throws out a loose jab but Joshua uses good head movement to avoid it.
Joshua changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
The fighters circling - Sands throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sands takes a swing at Joshua's ribcage but misses.
It looks like Sands has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Sands throws a lazy right hand but Joshua sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Joshua takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sands looks for a takedown but Joshua sprawls well.
Sands bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Joshua's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sands smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sands lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Joshua tries to land a front kick but Sands steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sands throws a body punch but Joshua moves out of range.
Good leg kick by Joshua there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Sands staying out of range there.
Sands cracks Joshua with an open hand slap.
A big right from Sands misses.
Joshua misses with a low kick.
Jab by Sands.
Joshua swings for the body but Sands moves out of range.
Joshua is looking to slow Sands down with leg kicks.
Joshua throws a leg kick that misses.
Joshua digs a good hook to Sands's body.
Sands tries to bum rush Joshua with a series of wild strikes but Joshua uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
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!
Joshua moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Sands avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Sands misses.
Joshua staying out of range there.

Joshua gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sands to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Joshua pushes Sands off and gets back to his feet.
Joshua punishes Sands's body with a nice straight punch.
Mr Joshua is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Joshua throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Joshua scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Joshua cracks Sands with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Joshua.
Joshua moves out of range of the strikes.
Joshua is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Sands tries to clinch but Joshua moves out of range.
Joshua throws a jab when Sands was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sands tries to close the distance and clinch but Joshua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Joshua throws a head kick that misses.
Sands tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Joshua was well out of range. Poor timing from Sands.
Sands uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Joshua goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Joshua makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sands blocks a body shot from Joshua.
Sands goes for a takedown attempt but Joshua pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carl Sands. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Joshua connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sands swats away the attempt to clinch by Joshua.

Joshua drives through and clinches with Sands against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joshua swings wildly with an uppercut but Sands uses good head movement to avoid it.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Joshua tries a body shot but Sands blocks it.

Sands manages to break the clinch.
Sands missing with a left hand there. Joshua was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sands steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Joshua.
Sands throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Joshua sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Joshua drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Sands defends it well.
Sands missing with a left hand there. Joshua was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A solid leg kick lands there for Joshua.
Sands is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Joshua can do to turn this around?
This has been an exciting period of action!

Joshua gets caught napping as Sands dives in and scores a takedown. Joshua manages to retain guard.
Carl Sands overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Joshua keeping moving, preventing Sands from controlling successfully.
Sands postures up in Joshua's guard and throws a big left but Joshua blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mr Joshua will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Carl Sands's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Joshua fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sands.
Joshua does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Sands closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Joshua quickly recovers to half guard.

Joshua kicks Sands off and gets back to his feet.
A solid leg kick lands there for Joshua.
Sands shoots in for a takedown but Joshua shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Joshua with the counter takedown but Sands avoids it easily.
Sands keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sands lands a jab to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Joshua lands with an overhand left.
Joshua pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sands is out of range and Joshua settles back down.
Sands scores with a decent looking hook.
Joshua throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sands swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Joshua lands a jab to the nose.
Carl Sands is winning the standup battle so far.
Sands misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Good leg kick by Joshua there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Joshua throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sands stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Joshua fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sands, pushing him back against the cage.
Joshua lands with a light punch inside.
Joshua swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Joshua makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Joshua swings wildly with an uppercut but Sands uses good head movement to avoid it.
Joshua lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sands or not.
Sands prevents a body shot from Joshua.
Joshua being controlled against the cage.
Sands blocking some punches.
Joshua softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Joshua.
Joshua throws a punch but it's blocked by Sands.
Joshua digs a right hand into Sands's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sands's gas tank.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A short right from Joshua.

Joshua drops Sands onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Sands is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!

Sands is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Joshua tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Oh Sands is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Joshua throws a punch but it's blocked by Sands.

Sands breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sands seems to have got his legs back now.
Joshua ducks under a wild hook from Sands.
Joshua throws a jab but it's blocked by Sands.
Joshua wants to clinch.
Joshua slips a straight right by Sands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sands throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sands uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Joshua.
Sands tries to counter by clinching up but Joshua breaks away and moves out of range.

Joshua fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sands, pushing him back against the cage.
Sands is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Joshua throws a punch but it's blocked by Sands.
Joshua digs a right hand underneath Sands's ribcage. Sands let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Joshua leaning his opponent against the cage.
Joshua tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Joshua working aggressively here.
Sands blocks an uppercut.
Joshua looking to slow down the pace here.
Joshua scores with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joshua tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Joshua misses with a short punch on the inside.
Joshua tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Joshua lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Joshua misses with a punch on the inside.
Joshua working aggressively here.
Joshua is struggling to control the position.
Joshua misses with a body punch.
Joshua working aggressively here.
Joshua goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mr Joshua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Joshua 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!