PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jesus Sanchez (ranked 18714 p4p, 3145 weight class) and Otso Toivonen (ranked 582 p4p, 407 weight class). Sanchez comes to the cage accompanied by Duele El Carazon. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Sanchez
vs
Toivonen

180 cm
41
180
19 - 21 - 0

193 cm
27
205
6 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

AVALON
Fantasy Threads

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 21 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jesus Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Otso Toivonen!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Toivonen darts in and clinches Sanchez up against the cage.
Sanchez is working for takedown but Toivonen is calmly controlling the position for now.

Toivonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Sanchez gets tackled into the cage by Toivonen. Toivonen maintains the clinch.

Toivonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
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.

Toivonen gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sanchez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Toivonen wants to sweep here but Sanchez controlling him for the moment.
Sanchez advances position into side control!
Sanchez tries to advance to mount but Toivonen denies him.
Sanchez is looking to take a break and control but Toivonen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Toivonen gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sanchez looking to control but Toivonen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Toivonen sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Toivonen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sanchez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Toivonen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Toivonen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sanchez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Toivonen holds on and takes a little breather.
Toivonen trying to strike off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toivonen trying to control the position here.
Sanchez pushes down on Toivonen's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Toivonen is looking to improve his position.
Toivonen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sanchez is working away from the top position though.
Toivonen is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Sanchez is staying active.
Toivonen is doing well to control the position and prevent Sanchez from advancing to side control.
Sanchez wants to pass to mount but Toivonen is defending the position.
Sanchez wants to take a breather but Toivonen is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez wants to pass the guard but Toivonen is defending well.
Toivonen trying to hold on to Sanchez's head to control him but Sanchez postures up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Toivonen is not content to let Sanchez control the position.

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

Sanchez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sanchez lands in his opponent's guard.
Sanchez looking to pass the guard.
Sanchez trying to move into half guard but instead Toivonen has managed to sweep!

Sanchez keeping full guard, as Toivonen tries to pass.
Toivonen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toivonen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Toivonen postures up.
Toivonen wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
Toivonen stopping the sweep attempt from Sanchez.
Sanchez looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sanchez keeping moving, preventing Toivonen from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Toivonen wants to pass the guard but Sanchez is keeping the position.
Sanchez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Toivonen manages to get himself to full guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jesus Sanchez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Toivonen drives through and clinches with Sanchez against the cage.
Toivonen has Sanchez pressed against the cage.
Sanchez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Toivonen stalling in the clinch.
Sanchez wants a takedown.

Toivonen breaks the clinch.
Toivonen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from Toivonen misses.
Sanchez half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Toivonen gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toivonen taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Toivonen just leaning against Sanchez, taking a breather.
Toivonen receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Toivonen stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Sanchez is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesus Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Toivonen lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toivonen gets through Sanchez's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sanchez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Toivonen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sanchez with a poor takedown
and Toivonen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Toivonen has closed the distance and engaged Sanchez in a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Toivonen.
Sanchez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Toivonen fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Toivonen closes the distance and pushes Sanchez back into the cage.
Sanchez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Toivonen gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Toivonen has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Sanchez seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Toivonen can turn it around.

Toivonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sloppy strikes from Toivonen. Those never looked like landing.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toivonen keeping full guard, as Sanchez tries to pass.
Toivonen pulls Sanchez in close to prevent any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanchez wants to pass the guard but Toivonen is keeping the position.
Sanchez is working hard here to advance position.
Toivonen keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Sanchez is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Toivonen is keeping the position for now.

Toivonen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sanchez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sanchez tries to free his leg and advance position but Toivonen is retaining full guard.
Sanchez works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Toivonen regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sanchez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Toivonen is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toivonen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Toivonen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Toivonen is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Sanchez!
Sanchez is looking to get to half guard.
Toivonen throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Jesus Sanchez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sanchez tries to free his leg and advance position but Toivonen is retaining full guard.
Toivonen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sanchez is one step ahead there.
Toivonen keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Otso Toivonen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sanchez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sanchez on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

It looks like Jesus Sanchez has been cut.

Sanchez drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sanchez trying to move into half guard but instead Toivonen has managed to sweep!

Toivonen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sanchez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sanchez looking for a sweep. Not yet Sanchez, not yet.
Sanchez keeping moving, preventing Toivonen from controlling successfully.
Sanchez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Toivonen's guard.

Sanchez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Toivonen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Toivonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toivonen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sanchez looking to sit in guard and control but Toivonen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sanchez being controlled here, momentarily.
Sanchez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Toivonen is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Toivonen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sanchez looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Toivonen puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Toivonen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Sanchez gets full guard.
Toivonen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Toivonen stays in close to Sanchez's body and controls the position.
Sanchez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sanchez prevents Toivonen from improving his position.
Sanchez perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is trying to control. Toivonen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Toivonen wants to improve his position but Sanchez is controlling well.
Toivonen won't allow Sanchez to pass to mount.
Toivonen trying to control but Sanchez postures up.
Sanchez works his foot free and advances to mount.
Toivonen can't escape the position.
Sanchez can't control as he wanted to and Toivonen manages to get the fight back to his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toivonen is concentrating on defense, preventing Sanchez from advancing position.
Sanchez is trying to control the action in half guard but Toivonen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sanchez tries to pass to full mount but Toivonen defends it.
Sanchez is trying to control. Toivonen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sanchez frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sanchez wants to control the pace but Toivonen is squirming around nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanchez is really struggling to control Toivonen but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Toivonen tries to hold on but Sanchez postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesus Sanchez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sanchez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesus Sanchez!
Jesus Sanchez decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.