PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cristobal Gibson (ranked 24647 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Sanchez (ranked 5737 p4p, 0 weight class). Manny Sanchez has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Cristobal Gibson's chin.

Gibson
vs
Sanchez

170 cm
20
177 lbs
2 - 3 - 1

199 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Cristobal Gibson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Manny Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Daniel Blasius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gibson's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sanchez connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Gibson scrambles back to his feet.

Sanchez has closed the distance and engaged Gibson in a clinch.

Sanchez pulls Gibson into guard.
Sanchez is adopting a defensive guard.
Sanchez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gibson throwing strikes but missing.
Sanchez 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.
Gibson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sanchez on the ground.
Sanchez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez trying to control the position.

Sanchez is looking for a triangle but Gibson pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sanchez controls Gibson momentarily but Gibson frees himself.

Sanchez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Sanchez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gibson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gibson with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibson stands up over Sanchez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sanchez lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sanchez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sanchez trying to control but Gibson is working from the bottom.
Sanchez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sanchez stands and throws Gibson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sanchez lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Gibson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

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

Sanchez stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Sanchez clinches up against the cage.

Sanchez gets control of Gibson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Sanchez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sanchez is adopting a defensive guard.
Sanchez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibson postures up.
Gibson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Sanchez has his foot on Gibson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gibson works his way back into a safe position though.

Sanchez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sanchez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Sanchez working for a triangle but Gibson defends it easily.
Sanchez looks winded!

Gibson drops back looking for a leg! Sanchez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sanchez manages to kick Gibson off! Gibson jumps back into Sanchez's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gibson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Sanchez dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gibson gets caught napping as Sanchez dives in and scores a takedown. Gibson manages to retain guard.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Gibson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gibson has momentary wrist control but Sanchez slips an elbow through the middle.
Sanchez slips nicely into half guard.
Gibson wants to control but Sanchez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sanchez prevents Gibson from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez is looking to take a break and control but Gibson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sanchez sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanchez stands up and beckons Gibson to join him on the feet.

Gibson has Sanchez up against the cage in a clinch.

Sanchez has picked Gibson up - he's going for a ride! Sanchez dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Sanchez working over Gibson with some ground and pound. Gibson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Sanchez gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez instigates a clinch.
Gibson jumps guard but Sanchez stands there with Gibson around his waist. Gibson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gibson tries to pull guard but Sanchez won't allow it.
Gibson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

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

Sanchez feints and as Gibson raises his hands in defense, Sanchez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Gibson pushes Sanchez off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Gibson gets caught napping as Sanchez dives in and scores a takedown. Gibson manages to retain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Gibson keeps moving.
Gibson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sanchez looking to sit in guard and control but Gibson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sanchez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Sanchez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sanchez seems keen to control Gibson's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez trying to control the position.

Sanchez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gibson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gibson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.
Sanchez trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Gibson postures up in Sanchez's guard and throws a big left but Sanchez blocks it.
Gibson is fighting to break Sanchez's control of his arms but Sanchez is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sanchez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gibson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gibson throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. 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.

Gibson tries to sprawl but Sanchez drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Gibson is trying to maintain the position but Sanchez is very close to passing his half guard.
Gibson is trying to escape back to his feet but Sanchez uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Gibson is looking to reverse the position.
Sanchez trying to control the action but Gibson is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gibson is letting Sanchez control him for a moment.

Sanchez stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A counter left hand to the body from Gibson misses its target.

Sanchez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Sanchez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Manny Sanchez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gibson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Sanchez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gibson, pushing him back against the cage.
Gibson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sanchez to keep the fight standing.
Gibson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gibson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Sanchez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Sanchez has closed the distance and engaged Gibson in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Sanchez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Well, if Sanchez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Sanchez seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Manny Sanchez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gibson tries to get to full guard but Sanchez has control of the leg.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sanchez not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez trying to control the action but Gibson is working from the bottom.
Sanchez wants to pass the guard but Gibson is defending well.
Sanchez wants to take a breather but Gibson is having none of it.
Gibson is looking to improve his position.
Sanchez working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sanchez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Gibson is refusing to be controlled, as Sanchez sits in half guard.

Sanchez decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Sanchez moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

Gibson tries to keep at a distance but Sanchez has taken the fight into the clinch.

Sanchez gets control of Gibson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Sanchez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanchez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gibson.
Cristobal Gibson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Manny Sanchez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gibson with a flurry of punches that miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sanchez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manny Sanchez!