PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mitch Sanders (ranked 4020 p4p, 5703 weight class) and Keaton Hayden (ranked 0 p4p, 472 weight class). Mitch Sanders could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Keaton Hayden's chin.

Sanders
vs
Hayden

172 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
160
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mitch Sanders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Keaton Hayden!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hayden shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sanders as he avoids it easily.
Hayden fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sanders avoids it really well and circles away.
Hayden throws a half hearted mid kick.
Sanders throwing a counter right hand but Hayden manages to avoid it.
Nice sprawl there from Sanders as Hayden shoots in.
It looked like Sanders was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Mitch Sanders has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keaton Hayden.
Sanders scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Sanders shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Hayden eats them both and turns towards Sanders to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Hayden showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sanders.
Sanders stalks Hayden and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hayden's face. Hayden staggers backwards, shaken.
Hayden tries to bum rush Sanders with a series of wild strikes but Sanders uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sanders throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hayden feints the counter takedown.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hayden closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A punch combination from Sanders misses.
Sanders throws a right and a left that Hayden avoids nicely.
Mitch Sanders is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hayden scores with a push kick.
Sanders is breathing heavily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hayden.

Hayden clinches up against the cage.
Sanders is trying to break the clinch but Hayden is controlling him.

Hayden breaks the clinch.
Hayden chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hayden thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hayden shoots in for a takedown but Sanders shows good takedown defense.
Hayden shoots in for a double leg but Sanders sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hayden showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sanders.
Hayden fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayden throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hayden shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sanders as he jumps to the side.
Hayden shoots in for a takedown but Sanders shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hayden tries to clinch but Sanders is having none of it.
Sanders lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hayden backs up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sanders rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hayden moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Hayden shoots in and bounces Sanders off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hayden landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hayden has passed into side control.
Hayden is looking to take a break and control but Sanders is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hayden just content to control the position.

Hayden decides to stand up, so the ref orders Sanders to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Hayden clinches with his opponent.
Sanders is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A frustrated look appears on Sanders's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hayden wants a takedown.
Sanders is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hayden has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sanders after a bit of a struggle.
Hayden drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sanders pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mitch Sanders seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A left lands for Sanders.
Hayden dodges the punch combination from Sanders.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hayden is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sanders's half guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sanders has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Hayden is on him like a limpet, forcing Sanders back against the cage.
Hayden dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Hayden has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sanders is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hayden has Sanders pushed against the cage.
Sanders stops a takedown attempt from Hayden.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanders wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Hayden has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Sanders regains guard immediately.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hayden is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanders looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hayden is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hayden is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hayden trying to control but Sanders is working from the bottom.
Hayden stopping the sweep attempt from Sanders.
Sanders on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sanders tries to get out of the position.

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.
Hayden missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sanders knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hayden on the ground.
Hayden landing with the ground and pound.
Hayden wants to control from the top but Sanders keeps moving.

Hayden gets to his feet. Sanders looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
A nice combination there by Sanders.
Sanders misses with a two punch combination.
Hayden fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mitch Sanders has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keaton Hayden.
Hayden shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sanders as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hayden.
A punch combination from Sanders misses.
Hayden uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sanders.
Sanders misses with the combination.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Hayden's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hayden shoots in and drives through. Sanders sprawls well.
A punch combination from Sanders misses.

Hayden moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hayden landing knees to the head.
Hayden is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sanders pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hayden is leaning against Sanders and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Hayden breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hayden tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sanders defends well and Hayden ends up having to push Sanders into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Hayden takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sanders lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hayden circles away quickly and effectively.
Hayden feints the counter takedown.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hayden uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sanders.
Sanders takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hayden shoots in for a takedown but Sanders shows good takedown defense.
Sanders lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hayden circles away quickly and effectively.

Hayden moves into the clinch successfully.
Sanders swings away with an uppercut that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mitch Sanders dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hayden looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sanders can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hayden controls the pace.
Sanders preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hayden trying to control but Sanders is working from the bottom.
Keaton Hayden has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hayden drops back looking for a leg! Sanders is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sanders manages to kick Hayden off! Hayden jumps back into Sanders's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hayden lands a couple of digs.
Hayden stands and throws Sanders's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Hayden controls the position from side control.

Hayden working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Hayden decides to stand up, so the ref orders Sanders to his feet.
Sanders falls off balance throwing a combination

and Hayden counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hayden.

Hayden successfully pulls guard.
Sanders tries to stand but Hayden is controlling from the bottom.
Sanders won't allow Hayden to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayden pulls Sanders in close to prevent any damage.
Sanders tries to free his leg and advance position but Hayden is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hayden had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sanders defends it easily.

Hayden working for a triangle but Sanders defends it easily.

Hayden looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hayden is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sanders wants to control from the top but Hayden keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sanders closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hayden shoots for a takedown but Sanders saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hayden shoots in for a double leg but Sanders sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Keaton Hayden has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mitch Sanders is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sanders throws a series of strikes that have Hayden backpedaling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keaton Hayden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sanders 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

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