PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Montoya Malasantos (ranked 2768 p4p, 161 weight class) and Bernie Sanders (ranked 3921 p4p, 220 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Malasantos
vs
Sanders

176 cm
25
148 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

150 cm
25
134 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Montoya Malasantos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bernie Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, William Peck and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Malasantos.
Malasantos has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The King's Road in the buildup to the fight.
Sanders just misses with a punch to the body.
A head kick by Malasantos misses

and Sanders counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Malasantos trying to control from the bottom.
Sanders sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Malasantos keeping control of the position.
Sanders thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanders is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Sanders is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders trying to control the pace.
Sanders has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Star Studded Beef. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Malasantos is not content to let Sanders control the position.
Malasantos wants to improve his position but Sanders is controlling well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Malasantos gets back to full guard.

Malasantos working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sanders doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sanders manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Malasantos is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Malasantos wants to control the position but Sanders says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sanders in particular looking to stall.
Malasantos is looking to control Sanders's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Malasantos avoid being mounted?
Still in half guard, Sanders seems content to control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Malasantos wants to sweep but Sanders has passed to side control!
Malasantos tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sanders wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanders wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Malasantos, who protects the arm well.
Malasantos wants to get back to his feet.
Sanders postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Malasantos tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sanders wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Malasantos stops Sanders from passing to mount.
Malasantos defending against the ground and pound.
Sanders advances to full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders throws some wild stikes that Malasantos manages to avoid easily.
Malasantos is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Malasantos is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sanders can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Malasantos is looking to escape.
Malasantos tries to hold on but Sanders pushes him away.
Sanders punching from mount but Malasantos doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Malasantos is working to get back to half guard.
Sanders throws some wild stikes that Malasantos manages to avoid easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernie Sanders dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Malasantos keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sanders is trying hard to land a takedown here. Malasantos sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Malasantos is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Sanders moves into range and clinches up with Malasantos.
Malasantos blocking some punches.
Sanders stalling.

Sanders has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Malasantos is trying to keep an underhook but Sanders manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Sanders missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sanders trying to pass the guard but Malasantos defending well.
Malasantos is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malasantos is pressing down on Sanders's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Malasantos is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malasantos is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Sanders throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sanders is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Malasantos has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Malasantos will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Malasantos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two 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.
Sanders trying to control but Malasantos is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Sanders fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Malasantos, pushing him back against the cage.
Sanders controlling the action here for a moment.
Sanders has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sanders can't get the takedown.
Malasantos has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sanders misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malasantos is trying to break the clinch but Sanders has him pressed against the cage.
Malasantos blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sanders is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sanders gets through Malasantos's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sanders throws a head punch that misses.

Sanders gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Malasantos wants to get back to his feet but Sanders is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Malasantos trying to keep a closed guard but Sanders is proving a slippery customer.
Malasantos is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sanders is controlling him.
Sanders pushes down on Malasantos's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malasantos is looking for a sweep. Sanders is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sanders missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Malasantos is trying to maintain the position but Sanders is very close to passing his half guard.
Malasantos tries to get to full guard but Sanders has control of the leg.
Malasantos is not content to let Sanders control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sanders prevents Malasantos from improving his position.
Malasantos moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernie Sanders showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sanders scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Malasantos has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sanders is working away from the top position though.
Malasantos looks like he's trying to stand up.
Malasantos trying to control but Sanders postures up.
Malasantos is looking for a sweep. Sanders is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanders keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Sanders missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sanders throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Malasantos to regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malasantos is trying to control the position but Sanders postures up.
Sanders is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Malasantos keeping moving, preventing Sanders from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sanders ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Malasantos moves away.
Malasantos appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Some wild striking there from Malasantos.
Malasantos throws a body punch but Sanders moves out of range.
Malasantos displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sanders.
Sanders tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Malasantos thuds a left hand into Sanders's body.
Malasantos avoids the body shot from Sanders.
Malasantos swings for the body but Sanders moves out of range.
Sanders tries to clinch up but Malasantos circles away and keeps his distance.
Sanders fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Malasantos manages to avoid it.
Malasantos swings for the body but Sanders moves out of range.
A cross from Malasantos lands.
Malasantos's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sanders under the eye.
Malasantos misses the shot to the body.
Malasantos swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Malasantos connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Malasantos connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sanders. Sanders circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Malasantos throws a right hand that misses

and Sanders counters with a nice double leg into side control. Malasantos won't be happy with that.
Malasantos manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Sanders seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Malasantos does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sanders passes to side control.
Malasantos is trying to get back to half guard.
The strikes coming from Sanders are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Bernie Sanders has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders just content to control the position.
Sanders misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Sanders working away.
Malasantos is looking to reverse the position.
Bernie Sanders is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Malasantos is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Malasantos trying to remain calm as Sanders controls from the top position.
Malasantos is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Sanders's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Montoya Malasantos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sanders looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Sanders is working for a kimura but Malasantos is defending it quite comfortably.

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 Montoya Malasantos.
I think Sanders 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bernie Sanders!