PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Steve Sanchez (ranked 1377 p4p, 162 weight class) and Gary Day (ranked 1958 p4p, 225 weight class). Sanchez comes to the cage accompanied by Where is My Mind? by Pixies. Day has chosen Last minute - Great day to choke you out as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sanchez
vs
Day

178 cm
27
158 lbs
14 - 16 - 0

178 cm
28
160 lbs
13 - 13 - 3

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steve Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 13 - 3, fighting out of Helsinki, Gary Day!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Albert Achterberg and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez throws a good cross that connects.
Day bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sanchez throws a hook to the side of Day's head but Day sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sanchez sets himself, and Day steps forward looking for the clinch! Sanchez avoids it this time.
Day defending well as Sanchez loads up on a big left hand.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Day has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Sanchez is looking to clinch.
Day throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Day lands a nice hook to Sanchez's body. Sanchez takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sanchez moves out of range of the body kick.
Sanchez rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Day counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Steve Sanchez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanchez with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sanchez throws a leg kick but Day moved away.
Day lands a jab to the head.
Day pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sanchez is out of range and Day settles back down.
A big right from Day misses.
Day misses with a body shot.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Day swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sanchez wants to land a leg kick but Day is out of range.
Day drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Sanchez defends it well.
Day misses with a head kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sanchez stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Day.
A left lands for Sanchez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a shot from downtown. Day moves away and avoids it.
Day throws a half hearted mid kick.
Day has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Day there as he acknowledges the shot.
Sanchez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Day was well out of range. Poor timing from Sanchez.
Sanchez backing away here, and Day unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Day slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Day works Sanchez's body with a nice hook.
Sanchez wants to clinch up but Day keeps it at a distance.
Sanchez misses the jab.
Day moves out of range of the strikes.
Sanchez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Day throws out a loose jab but Sanchez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sanchez has been working on his boxing with his coaches at 3Band MMA ($700/week) in the buildup to the fight.
Day slips a jab from Sanchez.
Day fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sanchez manages to avoid it.
Sanchez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Day comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sanchez lands a lovely overhand right.
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!
Sanchez misses with a straight left.
Steve Sanchez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sanchez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Day.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Day tries to clinch but Sanchez is having none of it.
Day misses the jab.
Sanchez throws a hook to the side of Day's head but Day sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Day throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sanchez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Day keeps Sanchez at a distance using the push kick.
Day bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Day looks to land a left hand but Sanchez moved out of range nicely.
Sanchez misses with a looping right.
Day throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sanchez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sanchez throws a jab when Day was well out of range.
Day only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Sanchez misses with a hook.
Day uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sanchez.
Day tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Day throws a leg kick but Sanchez moved away.
Day throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sanchez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Day misses with a hook. Sanchez ducked under it nicely.
Sanchez appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Day moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Day blocks an elbow strike from Sanchez.
Sanchez just leaning against Day, taking a breather.
Sanchez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Day jumps guard but Sanchez stands there with Day around his waist. Day gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Day.
Day misses with a body punch.
A bit of stalling here from Sanchez.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sanchez creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A short left from Sanchez.
Sanchez lands with a short shot to the head.
Day tries a body shot but Sanchez blocks it.
Sanchez stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Day lands a nice uppercut.
Day swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Day fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sanchez throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez blocks an uppercut.
Day fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sanchez wants to break free but Day has control.
Day lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Day tries to work over Sanchez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Day drags the fight down to the ground.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Day is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Sanchez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Day, up you get!
Sanchez drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Day just misses with a punch to the body.
Day staying out of range there.
Day bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gary Day will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sanchez throws a hook but Day blocks it.
Day stuns Sanchez with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sanchez looks to land a right hand but Day moved out of range.
A low kick from Day misses

and Sanchez counters with a single leg into guard. Day didn't expect that.
Day keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Sanchez won't allow Day to sweep him here.
Sanchez throwing strikes but missing.
Sanchez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Day keeps moving.
Sanchez lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez cracks Day with a solid left hand.
Sanchez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Day keeps moving.

Day looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sanchez won't allow Day to sweep him here.

Day working for a triangle but Sanchez defends it easily.
Sanchez is working Day over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Day is working an open guard so Sanchez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Day connects with a crisp jab.
Day walks into a stiff left hand from Sanchez.
Day connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Sanchez misses the jab.
Gary Day seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sanchez throws a lazy right hand but Day sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Day scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Sanchez slips a jab and a cross from Day.
Day ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sanchez moves away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A clash of legs there as Sanchez blocks the low kick.
A jab from Day does it's job there.
Sanchez paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Day paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sanchez pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Day back to the cage. Sanchez follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Sanchez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sanchez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A swing and a miss from Sanchez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Day throws a low kick, looking for Sanchez's leg but Sanchez calmly moves out of range.
Sanchez scoring well with a low kick there.
Day ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sanchez moves away.
Sanchez looks to land a right hand but Day moved out of range.
Sanchez throws a hook but Day avoids it easily.
Sanchez throws the left hand but Day avoids the punch easily.
Day darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Sanchez scores with a sloppy right hand. Day should have avoided that one.
Nice defenses there by Day.
Day cracks Sanchez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Sanchez blocks a jab.
Sanchez half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Day throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sanchez half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Sanchez lands with a thumping leg kick.
Sanchez lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Day at a distance.
Day throws out a loose jab but Sanchez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Day throws a quick inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sanchez fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez misses with a straight right.
Day throws out a counter right but Sanchez avoids it with no problem.
Sanchez ducks under a wild hook from Day.
Sanchez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sanchez misses with a wild body shot.
Sanchez lands a body shot.
A lazy body kick from Day

and Sanchez counters with a shoot takedown. Day fights it but they end up in guard.
Sanchez passes into half guard.
Sanchez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sanchez uses his free foot to push down on Day's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Day.
Day manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Sanchez passes to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Sanchez dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Sanchez looks to land a left hand but Day moved out of range nicely.
Day feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Sanchezs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Day takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Day misses the shot to the body.
Sanchez tries to counter with a takedown but Day is quick to defend against it.
Day misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sanchez feinted with a counter takedown.
Day lands with a right hand.
Day ducks under a wild hook from Sanchez.
Sanchez connects with a looping right hand.
Sanchez misses with a straight left.
Day throws a solid leg kick but Sanchez takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Day.
Sanchez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Day.
Sanchez scores with the left hand. Day knows he should have avoided that one.
Sanchez misses the shot to the body.
Day tries to counter with a clinch but Sanchez shakes him off and moves away.
Sanchez avoids the body shot from Day.
Sanchez throws a series of punches but Day avoids them all with ease.
Sanchez throws a combination that misses
and Day makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanchez swats away the attempt to clinch by Day.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez misses with a low kick.
Day tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Day has Sanchez up against the cage in a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sanchez.
Day tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sanchez trying to stall but Day improves his position.
Sanchez lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Day tries a body shot but Sanchez blocks it.
Day throws a head punch that misses.
Day lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sanchez pushes off an throws an elbow but Day leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sanchez blocks an uppercut.
Day swings wildly with an uppercut but Sanchez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sanchez prevents a body shot from Day.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez lands an elbow inside that Day shrugs off.
Sanchez lands an elbow inside that Day shrugs off.
Sanchez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sanchez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Day is defending well for now.
Come on Sanchez - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Sanchez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sanchez misses with an elbow strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Day is trying to maintain a safe position but Sanchez gets an underhook and turns Day into the cage.

Day manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Sanchez trying to control but Day is working from the bottom.
Sanchez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Steve Sanchez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Day parries the strikes from Sanchez easily there. Sanchez is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Day to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Day sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Day is not content to let Sanchez control the position.
Sanchez is putting a hurting on Day here, landing some big shots from side control.
Day gets back to half guard.
Day keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
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. Sanchez connects with a nice short shot to Day's temple.
Day punching from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Day manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Day had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sanchez defends it easily.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Day has his foot on Sanchez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sanchez works his way back into a safe position though.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Day is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Day tries to strike from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Day throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Day keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.

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 Steve Sanchez.
Well Sanchez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Sanchez!
A relieved looking Steve Sanchez thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.