PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Lentz (ranked 6393 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobby Sands (ranked 20485 p4p, 0 weight class). Sands has chosen Irish Soldier Song ... Free & Green as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Bobby Sands is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Lentz
vs
Sands

170 cm
28
149 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

173 cm
27
150 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Lentz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bobby Sands!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Stewart Dunkirk and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lentz stuffs the takedown.
Lentz tries to counter with a takedown but Sands is quick to defend against it.
Lentz shoots in for a takedown but Sands shows good takedown defense.
Sands takes a swing at Lentz's ribcage but misses.
Sands throws a body punch but Lentz moves out of range.
Sands throws a hook but Lentz blocks it.

Lentz gets caught napping as Sands dives in and scores a takedown. Lentz manages to retain guard.
Lentz is pulling down on Sands's head. It's preventing any offense from Sands, at least for the moment.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sands's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lentz has momentary wrist control but Sands slips an elbow through the middle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sands throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sands accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sands trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lentz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lentz seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Sands with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lentz looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sands throws a big elbow that misses.

Sands stands and steps away. Lentz gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Nice sprawl there from Lentz as Sands shoots in.
Sands misses with a body shot.

Sands drives through with a takedown into Lentz's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lentz wants to control but Sands passes easily into half guard.
Sands lands strikes from half guard.
Ground and pound from Sands.
Lentz is trying is best to control the position here.

Sands is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Lentz as he works his way to full guard.
Sands throws a big right hand that misses.
Sands in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sands working some strikes from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sands scoring with some ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lentz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sands working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sands postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Sands thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sands accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Sands is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Lentz is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Lentz has escaped and now he's on top!

Sands looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sands can't keep his opponent in guard - Lentz advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sands is refusing to be controlled, as Lentz sits in half guard.
Lentz wants to advance to full mount but Sands doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Sands is looking to stand up but Lentz isn't so interested in that idea.
Sands has his hands on Lentz's head, controlling the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lentz won't allow Sands to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Sands dominated that round.
That's time! Lentz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sands closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sands takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sands is thwarting Lentz's attempts to control the position.
Sands tries to pass to full mount but Lentz defends it.
Sands looks to land a strike but Lentz avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Lentz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sands with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sands is looking to work some ground and pound but Lentz has wrist control.
Sands working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lentz's head.
Sands loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lentz wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lentz 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.
Lentz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sands.
Lentz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sands wants to control from the top but Lentz keeps moving.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Lentz trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sands lands with a hook. Lentz tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A combination from Lentz does no damage.
Sands has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sands.

Sands fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lentz sprawls well initially but Sands persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Sands is taking a breather. Lentz says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sands is looking for a kimura but Lentz is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sands to get the leverage.
Nice strikes from Sands there.
Lentz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sands working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Sands looking for a submission but Lentz manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Sands wants to get up but he can't break Lentz's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sands lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sands postures up and lands a big shot to Lentz's brow.
Sands lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Lentz is rocked!
Sands has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sands throwing strikes from guard but Lentz blocks nicely.
Oh Lentz is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lentz trying to control the position here.
Lentz seems to have got his legs back now.
Sands loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lentz wants to sweep but no luck.
Lentz pulls Sands in to control the position.
Sands wants to control from the top but Lentz keeps moving.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Sands postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sands lands a couple of decent looking shots.

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

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.
Sands throws a big right hand that misses.
Sands is in close to Lentz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sands passes Lentz's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Lentz is defending against the submission attempts here by Sands.

Sands is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sands thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Sands showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Sands fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sands.
Sands uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lentz.
Sands moves out of range of the strikes.
Sands darts in looking for a takedown but Lentz gets double underhooks and turns Sands into the cage.
Ryan Lentz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Sands.
Sands tried to score with a low kick but Lentz checks it.
Sands throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sands looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Lentz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lentz stops a takedown attempt from Sands.
Sands is trying to pull guard but Lentz turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Lentz is trying to trip Sands. He has hold of a leg but Sands is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Lentz persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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.
Lentz wants to control from the top but Sands keeps moving.
Lentz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sands wants to get back to his feet but Lentz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sands controls Lentz momentarily but Lentz frees himself.
Bobby Sands is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lentz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Lentz misses with an uppercut.
And Sands tries to counter it with a takedown but Lentz pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Lentz misses with a series of wild punches.
Sands doesn't manage to clinch there - Lentz circles away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sands or perhaps it was just good defense by Lentz, which made it look bad.
Sands scores with a crisp jab that stopped Lentz in his tracks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lentz gets the takedown into side control.
Sands sneaks back into half guard.
Lentz trying to pass the guard but Sands defending well.
Sands is looking to improve his position.
Lentz content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lentz trying to control the action but Sands is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Lentz trying to control from Sands's half guard. Sands has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Sands trying to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lentz wants to control from the top but Sands keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Lentz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sands 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bobby Sands!
A very excited looking Bobby Sands made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.