PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Cudlitz (ranked 5303 p4p, 2557 weight class) and Samuel Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cudlitz
vs
Sanchez

183 cm
28
186
10 - 9 - 0

185 cm
33
180
17 - 17 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
KO power

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Cudlitz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Samuel Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Stewart Dunkirk and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Sanchez duly obliges.

It looks like Michael Cudlitz has been cut.
Sanchez bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Cudlitz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sanchez lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Cudlitz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sanchez tries to avoid it but Cudlitz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sanchez to the ground. Sanchez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sanchez just misses with a punch to the body.
Cudlitz fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Cudlitz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sanchez clinches with his opponent.
Sanchez holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Cudlitz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sanchez pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sanchez is stalling here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sanchez dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Sanchez lands with a left to the head.
Cudlitz wants a takedown.
Cudlitz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sanchez's coach down at was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Sanchez's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Sanchez scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Sanchez.
Cudlitz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sanchez lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Cudlitz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Still in the clinch, Sanchez scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cudlitz wants a takedown but no success here.
Sanchez taking a breather.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Sanchez receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Cudlitz is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Sanchez just leaning against Cudlitz, taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is struggling to control the position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Samuel Sanchez.
Sanchez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cudlitz.
Sanchez scoring well with a low kick there.
Cudlitz takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Cudlitz tries to move into range but Sanchez moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Cudlitz tries for a takedown but Sanchez circles away easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Sanchez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Sanchez throws a head kick that Cudlitz semi-blocks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cudlitz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cudlitz tries to keep at a distance but Sanchez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sanchez pushes Cudlitz back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sanchez taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sanchez throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cudlitzs head.
A right hook to the body lands for Sanchez.
A short right from Sanchez.

Sanchez has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Cudlitz is trying to keep an underhook but Sanchez manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Cudlitz pushes Sanchez off looking to stand but Sanchez dives back in and keeps control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Samuel Sanchez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Cudlitz's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sanchez clinches.
Sanchez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sanchez lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cudlitz backwards.
Sanchez is leaning against Cudlitz and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Cudlitz tries to score a body lock takedown but Sanchez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sanchez.
Cudlitz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sanchez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sanchez lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short uppercut from Sanchez.
Sanchez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cudlitz backwards.
Sanchez stops a takedown attempt from Cudlitz.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Cudlitz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sanchez lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez has Cudlitz pressed against the cage.
Cudlitz is looking to take this one to the mat.
Sanchez lands a right hand.
A short right from Sanchez.
Sanchez leaning against his opponent.
Cudlitz looking for a takedown.
Sanchez is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Sanchez stalling in the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Sanchez.
Sanchez leaning against his opponent.
Sanchez taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Samuel Sanchez.
Cudlitz tries for a takedown but Sanchez circles away easily
and Sanchez counters with a two punch combo.

Cudlitz tries to keep at a distance but Sanchez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sanchez scores with a hook to the body.
Sanchez leaning against his opponent.
Sanchez scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sanchez stalling against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Sanchez.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sanchez lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sanchez lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is stalling here.
Samuel Sanchez seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sanchez.
Sanchez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sanchez's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Come on Sanchez - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Sanchez lands an uppercut.
Sanchez scores with a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez avoiding damage.
Sanchez softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sanchez lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sanchez has Cudlitz pushed against the cage.
A short left from Sanchez.
Cudlitz being controlled against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Samuel Sanchez.
Sanchez plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Cudlitz tries to keep at a distance but Sanchez has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Samuel Sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Michael Cudlitz's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Cudlitz dives in and grabs Sanchez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sanchez pushes down on Cudlitz's head and hops out.
Sanchez unleashes a big counter combination but Cudlitz bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Sanchez stalks Cudlitz and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cudlitz's face. Cudlitz staggers backwards, shaken.
Sanchez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sanchez throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Cudlitz is rocked!
Cudlitz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sanchez but Sanchez pushes him off and we're back to square one.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sanchez lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sanchez scores with a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez is leaning against Cudlitz and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sanchez taking a breather.
Sanchez taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sanchez has Cudlitz pushed against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sanchez.
Sanchez stalling the fight.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Samuel Sanchez.
Cudlitz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sanchez tries to avoid it but Cudlitz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sanchez to the ground. Sanchez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sanchez! But no joy.
Samuel Sanchez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Cudlitz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a head kick that Cudlitz semi-blocks.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sanchez works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Sanchez lands an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sanchez.
Sanchez throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Cudlitz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sanchez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sanchez slowing the pace effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Sanchez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cudlitz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sanchez after a bit of a struggle.
Cudlitz takes a shot to the head.
Sanchez working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Sanchez is leaning against Cudlitz and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A short uppercut from Sanchez.
Cudlitz is looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Sanchez.
A short left from Sanchez.
Cudlitz drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sanchez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sanchez throws a combination. Cudlitz tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Sanchez has closed the distance and engaged Cudlitz in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanchez is pushing Cudlitz up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Cudlitz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sanchez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samuel Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sanchez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 24:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 24:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samuel Sanchez!