PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yes Man Sanchez (ranked 432 p4p, 62 weight class) and Aksel Stenger (ranked 1141 p4p, 141 weight class). Sanchez comes into the arena with Yes - Owner of a lonely heart blaring out of the sound system. Stenger has chosen Hit2face - Ain't it nice to get hit to the face? as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Man Sanchez
vs
Stenger

191 cm
33
194 lbs
31 - 17 - 1

186 cm
32
196 lbs
27 - 18 - 3

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yes Man Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 18 - 3, fighting out of Helsinki, Aksel Stenger!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Shimada and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stenger blocks a head kick by Sanchez.
Stenger looks to score with a jab to the body but Sanchez is just out of range.
Stenger moves out of range as Sanchez strikes.
Stenger throws a head kick that misses.
Sanchez misses with a looping right.
Stenger dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sanchez swats away the attempt to clinch by Stenger.
Stenger throws the left hand but Sanchez avoids the punch easily.
Stenger swings away with a body shot that misses
and Sanchez counters with a stiff right hand.
Stenger takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Stenger jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sanchez throws a quick counter kick to the body but Stenger avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some bone on bone action there as Sanchez checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Sanchez throwing a counter right hand but Stenger manages to avoid it.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Stenger lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Sanchez has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sanchez and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Sanchez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stenger.
Stenger jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sanchez swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Sanchez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stenger misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stenger.
Sanchez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stenger.
Stenger jabs Sanchez to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Stenger throws a head kick but Sanchez moves out of range.
Sanchez has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Sanchez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stenger moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Stenger swings for the body but Sanchez moves out of range.
As Stenger looks to move away, Sanchez throws a big counter combo but Stenger just gets out of the way.
Sanchez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sanchez connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Stenger has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sanchez.
Stenger misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sanchez takes a swing at Stenger's ribcage but misses.
Sanchez lands a lovely overhand right.
Sanchez lands a nice shot that snaps Stenger's head back.
Sanchez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stenger throws out the jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sanchez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stenger.
Sanchez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Stenger rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sanchez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stenger.
Sanchez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stenger.
Stenger fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Sanchez checks it well.
Stenger thumps Sanchez with a low kick.
Stenger throws a head kick that misses
and Sanchez counters with a right hand to the body.
Stenger throws a head kick but Sanchez moves out of range.
Sanchez scores with a shot to the body.
Sanchez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Stenger misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sanchez.
A little feinted left hand from Sanchez on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Sanchez staying out of range there.
Sanchez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Sanchez thuds a left hand into Stenger's body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sanchez.
A bone on bone clash there as Sanchez blocks the leg kick.
It appears Sanchez was looking to counter with a kick there.
Stenger throws a sloppy head kick and Sanchez moves out of range easily.
A big right from Stenger misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez clobbers Stenger with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Sanchez takes one to the side of the head.
Sanchez looks to land a left hand but Stenger moved out of range nicely.
Sanchez stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Stenger.
Stenger is looking to chop away at Sanchez's legs.
Nice straight punches there by Sanchez. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sanchez.
Stenger fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sanchez manages to avoid it.
Sanchez swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Stenger lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Sanchez goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Sanchez uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Sanchez misses with a series of wild punches.
Sanchez connects with a leg kick. Stenger looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
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!
Stenger thows a left - swing and a miss!

Stenger moves into range and clinches up with Sanchez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez manages to break the clinch.
Sanchez ducks under a wild hook from Stenger.
Sanchez throws a big counter combination but Stenger scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Stenger tries to move into range but Sanchez moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sanchez checks a leg kick.
Sanchez swings away with a body shot that misses
and Stenger counters with a leg kick.
Sanchez staying out of range there.
Stenger takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Stenger avoids the head kick by Sanchez.
Sanchez looks to score with a jab to the body but Stenger is just out of range.
A big left from Sanchez misses.
Sanchez blocks a leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sanchez.
Stenger throws a leg kick
enabling Sanchez to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stenger lands a leg kick that knocks Sanchez off balance momentarily.

Stenger takes the fight into the clinch.
Sanchez missing with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yes Man Sanchez dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sanchez lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Sanchez misses with a series of wild punches.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sanchez. Stenger does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sanchez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stenger throws out a leg kick but Sanchez moves out of range and Stenger only half commits.
Sanchez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sanchez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stenger throws a fast counter high kick but Sanchez manages to duck under it in time.

Stenger moves into range and clinches up with Sanchez.
Stenger misses with a knee to the head.
Sanchez throws an elbow but it misses.
Sanchez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stenger can do to turn this around?
Stenger lands a nice knee to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez lands an elbow just above Stenger 's eye.
Stenger throws a head punch that misses.
Stenger has a couple of punches blocked by Sanchez.
Stenger lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sanchez lands on the inside with an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A knee to the head by Stenger.
Nice body punch from Stenger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Sanchez scores with a nice short uppercut.
Stenger scores with a hook to the body.
Stenger is leaning against Sanchez and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Sanchez working hard to break the clinch.
Stenger misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sanchez.
Still in the clinch, Sanchez scores with a nice short uppercut.
Stenger tries a body shot but Sanchez blocks it.
Stenger working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Stenger misses with a punch on the inside.
Stenger misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sanchez tries to break free but Stenger pushes him back against the cage.
Stenger throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sanchezs head.
Stenger fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Sanchez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stenger thuds his right hand into Sanchez's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sanchez scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Sanchez takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanchez displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Sanchez throws a series of punches but Stenger avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a body punch but Stenger moves out of range.
Sanchez throws a body punch but Stenger moves out of range.
Stenger misses with a hook
and Sanchez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sanchez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sanchez keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Stenger misses with a body shot
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
and Sanchez counters with a one-two to the body.
Sanchez misses with a straight left.
Sanchez blocks a low kick nicely.
Stenger connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sanchez throws a lazy right hand but Stenger sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sanchez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sanchez throws a body shot but no joy.
Sanchez blocks a head kick by Stenger.
Sanchez moves away from the strike by Stenger.
Stenger throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stenger chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sanchez lands a glancing blow to the side of Stenger's head.
Stenger misses with a head kick.
Stenger thuds a left hand into Sanchez's body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Stenger.
Yes Man Sanchez is winning the standup battle so far.
Stenger keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sanchez avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Nice uppercut lands for Sanchez. That snapped Stenger's head back.
Sanchez throws a head kick that misses.
Stenger flicks out a counter leg kick but Sanchez steps away.
Sanchez thuds his shin into the meat of Stenger's side.
Sanchez plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Stenger jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sanchez throws a quick counter kick to the body but Stenger avoids it.
Sanchez moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jab by Sanchez.
Sanchez staying out of range there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stenger. Sanchez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sanchez feinted there with a counter leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez misses with a combination
enabling Stenger to counter with a crisp jab.
Sanchez tries a head kick but it misses.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Stenger crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Sanchez - the referee stops the clock and Stenger gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Sanchez. Stenger manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Sanchez takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sanchez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stenger tests Sanchez's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sanchez lands a jab to Stenger's midsection.
Stenger slips under a jab from Sanchez.
Stenger goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stenger tries to clinch but Sanchez is having none of it.
Stenger takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Stenger pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Stenger uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sanchez.
Stenger appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
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 Yes Man Sanchez will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Stenger scores with a shot to the body.
Stenger misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stenger misses with a low kick.
Stenger misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A little feinted left hand from Sanchez on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Stenger uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sanchez.
Stenger throws a sloppy head kick and Sanchez moves out of range easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Sanchez misses the target.
Stenger blocks a head kick by Sanchez.
Sanchez throws a jab when Stenger was well out of range.
Stenger buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Stenger sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Sanchez takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stenger just misses with a punch to the body.
Stenger uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sanchez.
Sanchez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stenger.
Sanchez cracks Stenger with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Sanchez misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stenger throws out a leg kick but Sanchez moves out of range and Stenger only half commits.
Sanchez takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Stenger chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A jab from Stenger misses.
Sanchez throws a hook but Stenger blocks it.
Stenger misses with a body punch
and Sanchez finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Sanchez 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.
Stenger pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Stenger takes a swing at Sanchez's ribcage but misses.
A head kick misses from Sanchez.
Sanchez swings widly with a right hand
letting Stenger counter with a right hand.
Stenger dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sanchez. That did some damage!
Stenger is looking to slow Sanchez down with leg kicks.
Sanchez connects with a good right hand that stumbles Stenger. Stenger circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Stenger dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanchez swings for the body but Stenger moves out of range.
Stenger stuns Sanchez with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Stenger moves out of range of the body kick from Sanchez.
Stenger has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Stenger avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A countering left hand to the body from Stenger misses.
Stenger is looking to slow Sanchez down with leg kicks.
Good standup being displayed there by Sanchez as he connects with a hook.
Sanchez cracks Stenger with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Stenger displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sanchez throws out the jab.
Sanchez blocks a leg kick.
It looked like Sanchez was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Stenger keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sanchez avoids the head kick by Stenger.
Sanchez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stenger feints a counter leg kick.
Stenger lands a right hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stenger blocks the body kick.
Aksel Stenger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A head kick misses from Sanchez.
Stenger scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Stenger tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Stenger misses with a low kick.
Sanchez lands with a nice body kick.
Sanchez misses with a looping right.
Stenger throws a poor cross that misses
and Sanchez counters with a left to the body.
Sanchez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stenger goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A left and a right from Sanchez both land. Nice combination.
Stenger feints and then cracks Sanchez's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sanchez down.
Sanchez connects with a right hand. Stenger shakes it off.
Sanchez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanchez misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Stenger misses its intended target.
Sanchez just misses with a punch to the body.
Sanchez with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sanchez is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Sanchez throws a poor cross that misses

and Stenger counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Stenger tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Aksel Stenger seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sanchez.
Stenger struggles to land a body shot inside as Sanchez controls his hands.
Stenger throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sanchez blocks it with crossed arms.
Sanchez misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sanchez working aggressively here.
Stenger scores with a shoulder strike.
Sanchez scores with a shot to the side of Stenger's head.
Stenger pushes Sanchez back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Yes Man Sanchez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sanchez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Sanchez.
Sanchez throws an elbow but it misses.
Stenger avoids a wild elbow strike from Sanchez.

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 Yes Man Sanchez.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sanchez, 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yes Man Sanchez!
During a confident post fight interview, Yes Man Sanchez thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
In defeat, Aksel Stenger stepped up to the mic, saying 'Another huge disappointment. '.