PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pollo Sanchez (ranked 3781 p4p, 4751 weight class) and Maxwell Leaf (ranked 457 p4p, 531 weight class). Pollo Sanchez has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Sanchez
vs
Leaf

186 cm
24
192
5 - 2 - 0

181 cm
26
192
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Pollo Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Maxwell Leaf!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Chris Saunders and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leaf shoots in but no luck this time.
Sanchez tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Leaf manages to circle out of the way.

Leaf looking to score a takedown here. Sanchez is defending well but Leaf drives through and ends up in Sanchez's guard.
Sanchez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Leaf controls the pace.
Leaf pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanchez is keeping the position for now.
Leaf is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leaf with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leaf is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Let's hope that Leaf has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Sanchez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Leaf closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sanchez did well to prevent Leaf getting side control.
Sanchez trying to hold on to Leaf's head to control him but Leaf postures up.
Leaf takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leaf missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Well, if Leaf 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 blocking the ground and pound attempt from Leaf.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Leaf controlling the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Leaf gets the takedown into side control.
Sanchez gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leaf thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Sanchez tries to hold on but Leaf pushes him away.
Sanchez is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Special Ops N7 Training , so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Leaf takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Leaf fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Leaf throwing strikes here but Sanchez is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Leaf controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez tries to hold on but Leaf pushes him away.
Leaf tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Leaf lands with some strikes.
Leaf with shots to the head and body - Sanchez looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sanchez gets caught flat footed, as Leaf shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Leaf not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Leaf.
Leaf has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leaf is in close to Sanchez's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leaf 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.
Sanchez can't keep his opponent in guard - Leaf advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Leaf keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Yet more stalling tactics from Leaf.

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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sanchez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Leaf fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sanchez sprawls well initially but Leaf persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Leaf wants to pass to mount but Sanchez is defending the position.
Leaf perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Sanchez trying to control from the bottom.
Leaf not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've been informed that Leaf has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Leaf is controlling the pace.
Leaf has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Leaf is continuing to stall.
Maxwell Leaf has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez trying to control here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Leaf with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Leaf shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sanchez as he avoids it easily.

Leaf bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Leaf scores with a couple of short elbows.
Leaf staying calm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leaf has knee on belly momentarily but Sanchez bucks him off and regains half guard.
Leaf scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sanchez wants to control but Leaf is keeping busy.
Leaf performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxwell Leaf showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Sanchez clinches up with Leaf and pushes him back against the cage.
A hook to the body from Sanchez.
Sanchez is trying to maintain a safe position but Leaf gets an underhook and turns Sanchez into the cage.
Sanchez goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sanchez misses with a body punch.
Leaf wants to take the fight to the mat but Sanchez manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Sanchez is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sanchez presses Leaf against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez wants to stall.
Leaf is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leaf changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sanchez fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Pollo Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maxwell Leaf.
Leaf tries for a takedown but Sanchez circles away easily
enabling Sanchez to counter with a crisp jab.
Maxwell Leaf is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sanchez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Sanchez instigates a clinch.
Leaf is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sanchez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A short right from Sanchez on the inside.
Leaf prevents a body shot from Sanchez.
Still in the clinch, Sanchez scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sanchez digs a right hand underneath Leaf's ribcage. Leaf let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Leaf drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Leaf is trying to drag Sanchez to the mat but Sanchez just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Maxwell Leaf 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.
Sanchez misses with a punch to the body.
Leaf blocks a body shot from Sanchez.
Leaf goes for a takedown attempt but Sanchez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Leaf with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Sanchez counter with a right hand.
Leaf goes for a double leg but Sanchez avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sanchez continues to drive forward.
Pollo Sanchez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Leaf dives in and grabs Sanchez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sanchez pushes down on Leaf's head and hops out.
Leaf circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sanchez stuffs the takedown attempt from Leaf. Leaf gets slowly back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanchez is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez wants to clinch.

Sanchez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Leaf content to stall in guard here.
Sanchez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Leaf is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is trying to keep Leaf in close.
Leaf slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The adventures of Leaf the control monster continue. Boring.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pollo Sanchez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Leaf 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:29
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maxwell Leaf!
Maxwell Leaf thanked the fans post fight for their support.