PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bernie Sanders (ranked 1516 p4p, 1324 weight class) and Joey Horatius (ranked 75 p4p, 69 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Sanders might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Shooter Gang. 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.

Sanders
vs
Horatius

150 cm
31
134
12 - 3 - 0

164 cm
23
135
8 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
SynCity Fightwear

Conquer
Conviction

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 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bernie Sanders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joey Horatius!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Wagner Zegers and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horatius will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sanders misses with a combination
and Sanders takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Horatius looks to land a combination but Sanders avoids it well.
Horatius stuffs the takedown.
Horatius misses with a double jab.
Good exchange - Horatius coming out on top.
A shot to the liver by Horatius. Beautiful body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanders showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Horatius.
Horatius lands with a straight right. Sanders didn't see that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Sanders throws a series of punches but Horatius moves out of range.
Sanders looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Sanders takes a jab right on the kisser.
Horatius with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Horatius is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Horatius scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Horatius lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sanders circles away quickly and effectively.
Sanders tries to counter with a takedown but Horatius is quick to defend against it.
Horatius jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Horatius connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Horatius misses the shot to the body.
Horatius lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sanders circles away quickly and effectively.
Horatius displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sanders.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horatius fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sanders shoots in looking for a takedown. Horatius tries to sprawl out of it but Sanders keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Horatius manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bernie Sanders. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horatius fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Horatius lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Horatius is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Horatius pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Sanders back to the cage. Horatius follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Sanders walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Horatius has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Sanders is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Sanders avoids the body shot from Horatius.
Horatius misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Sanders gets a double leg takedown into Horatius's guard.
Sanders is standing up over Horatius. Horatius looks to escape but Sanders dives into side control.

Sanders tries to score with some ground and pound. Horatius controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sanders in side control, throwing shots but Horatius defends.
Sanders is putting a hurting on Horatius here, landing some big shots from side control.
Sanders postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horatius wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Sanders misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Sanders sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Horatius is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Sanders postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sanders looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Horatius is avoiding damage well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Horatius dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Horatius throws a good cross that connects.
A looping hook to the body misses from Horatius. Sanders does a little dance to reset his feet.
Horatius lands a nice hook to Sanders's body. Sanders takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Joey Horatius seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horatius pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Sanders back to the cage. Horatius follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Sanders shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Sanders missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sanders throwing shots but Horatius is blocking nicely.
Sanders thows a huge punch but Horatius dodges it nicely.
Horatius has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sanders not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horatius wants to get back to his feet.
Sanders not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Horatius avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sanders.
Sanders not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Horatius is looking to get back to is feet but Sanders passes into side control.
Horatius avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Sanders.
Sanders misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horatius tries to escape but Sanders is in control.
Sanders in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Horatius is pushing Sanders's head away, looking to escape. Sanders manages to hold on to the position though.
Sanders creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Horatius sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Horatius wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Joey Horatius is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Sanders shoots in and gets a takedown into Horatius's guard.
Sanders throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horatius pulls Sanders in close to prevent any damage.

Horatius pushes Sanders off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Horatius just misses with a punch to the body.
Sanders tries to counter with a takedown but Horatius is quick to defend against it.
Horatius digs a good body shot into Sanders's ribs.
Horatius cracks Sanders with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Horatius bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sanders's head backwards.
Horatius scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Sanders has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sanders there as he acknowledges the shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Horatius lands a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horatius scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A looping hook to the body misses from Horatius. Sanders does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sanders feinted with a counter takedown.
Horatius connects with a looping right hand.
Horatius rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sanders moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sanders drops down looking for a counter takedown but Horatius sprawls and moves away.
Horatius stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Horatius wants it to stay on the feet.
Horatius throws a counter combo.
Joey Horatius is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sanders darts in looking for a takedown but Horatius gets double underhooks and turns Sanders into the cage.
Sanders goes for a takedown attempt but Horatius pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bernie Sanders. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horatius swings for the body but Sanders moves out of range.
A nice combination there by Horatius.
Horatius lands with a nice body punch.
Horatius clobbers Sanders with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Horatius keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Horatius 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. This is the final round!

Horatius throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
An attempted straight right counter from Sanders misses the target.
Joey Horatius seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Horatius lands a glancing blow to the side of Sanders's head.
Sanders dives in and grabs Horatius's left leg, looking for a takedown. Horatius pushes down on Sanders's head and hops out.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sanders or perhaps it was just good defense by Horatius, which made it look bad.
Horatius scores with a jab to the body.
Sanders avoids the body shot from Horatius.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horatius with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Horatius stuns Sanders with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Horatius looks to score with a jab to the body but Sanders is just out of range.
Sanders attempts a counter takedown but Horatius avoids it well and moves away.
Horatius lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sanders circles away quickly and effectively.
Sanders appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horatius bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sanders's head.
Horatius fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sanders feinted with a counter takedown.
A nice combination there by Horatius.
Sanders jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Horatius swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Horatius just misses with a punch to the body.
Horatius lands a jab to Sanders's midsection.
Horatius cracks Sanders with a right hand to the side of the head.
Horatius throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Horatius fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sanders manages to avoid it.
Sanders takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horatius lands a two punch combo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Horatius fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sanders on the side of the head.
Horatius fails to land with a series of punches.
Horatius misses with a two punch combination.
Sanders fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bernie Sanders. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanders looks for a takedown but Horatius sprawls well.
Horatius misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sanders.
Horatius is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Sanders rather than just go for the knockout.
Sanders is trying hard to land a takedown here. Horatius sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Horatius scores with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horatius just misses with a punch to the body.
Horatius rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sanders moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Horatius tests Sanders's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sanders moves forwards but Horatius connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Horatius fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sanders manages to avoid it.
Horatius lands a jab-cross combination.
Sanders looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

Sanders closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Horatius to the mat! Horatius manages to get full guard.
Horatius wants to stand and escape but Sanders is having none of it.
Horatius takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sanders lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horatius is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sanders is controlling him.
Bernie Sanders has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sanders throws a strike but Horatius rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sanders keeping moving, preventing Horatius from controlling successfully.
Horatius throws a strike but Sanders rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Joey Horatius is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Horatius utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joey Horatius comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Horatius winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Horatius!
Joey Horatius managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Conviction, into his post fight interview.
The defeated Bernie Sanders had this to say: 'COME ON! FU@#$ ALL JUDGES!!! I WON!'.