PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Aris Lithoxoidis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roger Sander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roger Sander struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 137.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Aris Lithoxoidis has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Lithoxoidis
vs
Sander

182 cm
23
135 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

170 cm
20
142 lbs
5 - 5 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aris Lithoxoidis !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roger Sander!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lithoxoidis getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Danga de danga de dang - Lithoxoidis scores with a four punch combination!
Lithoxoidis connects with a body shot.
Sander is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Lithoxoidis .
Lithoxoidis lands with a nice combination. Sander backs away looking to recover.

Lithoxoidis looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sander being controlled here, momentarily.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Sander is controlling Lithoxoidis 's posture.
Sander looks gassed!
Lithoxoidis sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Lithoxoidis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sander being controlled here, momentarily.
Lithoxoidis 's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Sander is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Lithoxoidis 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.
Lithoxoidis has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Aris Lithoxoidis just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Sander misses with a takedown attempt

and Lithoxoidis counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sander's guard now.
Lithoxoidis passes Sander's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lithoxoidis sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Lithoxoidis landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Lithoxoidis with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Aris Lithoxoidis just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Sander fails with the takedown
and Lithoxoidis counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lithoxoidis lands a two punch combo.
Lithoxoidis lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Lithoxoidis .

Lithoxoidis shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sander's guard.
Lithoxoidis sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aris Lithoxoidis dominated that round.
That's time! Lithoxoidis 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Lithoxoidis circles away from the clinch attempt
and Lithoxoidis counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Lithoxoidis , as that shot connected.
Lithoxoidis lands with an overhand left.
Lithoxoidis lands a nice shot to the body.

Lithoxoidis bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Lithoxoidis takes a little break here. Sander wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Sander is trying to control Lithoxoidis 's posture but Lithoxoidis avoids it.
Lithoxoidis moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Sander is breathing heavily.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Aris Lithoxoidis just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Lithoxoidis moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lithoxoidis lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Lithoxoidis circles away from the clinch attempt
and Lithoxoidis counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lithoxoidis connects with a jab.
Lithoxoidis swats away the attempt to clinch by Sander.
Lithoxoidis cracks Sander with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Sander shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Lithoxoidis scores with a hook.
Lithoxoidis scores with a three punch combo!

Lithoxoidis feints and as Sander raises his hands in defense, Lithoxoidis changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lithoxoidis wants to pass the guard but Sander is keeping the position.
Lithoxoidis passes Sander's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lithoxoidis content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Sander tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Lithoxoidis has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Lithoxoidis content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sander keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Lithoxoidis content just to control the position here.

Lithoxoidis is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Sander has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Lithoxoidis controlling from the full mount.
Aris Lithoxoidis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lithoxoidis landing strikes, looking to finish!
Lithoxoidis controlling his opponent.
Sander is wriggling around trying to escape.
Lithoxoidis content just to control the position here.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Aris Lithoxoidis just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Nice jab there from Lithoxoidis .
Sander on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aris Lithoxoidis dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Lithoxoidis lands a jab-cross combination.
Lithoxoidis is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Sander tries for a takedown but Lithoxoidis circles away easily
and Lithoxoidis counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Lithoxoidis 's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Lithoxoidis duly obliges.
Lithoxoidis lands a two punch combo.
Nice straight punches there by Lithoxoidis . You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Lithoxoidis .
Lithoxoidis throws a shot to the body.

Lithoxoidis drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Sander is working an open guard so Lithoxoidis takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Lithoxoidis scores with a jab to the body.
Aris Lithoxoidis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sander takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Lithoxoidis throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Lithoxoidis bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Lithoxoidis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sander can do to turn this around?

Lithoxoidis tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lithoxoidis decides to stand back up. Lithoxoidis steps back and let's Sander get back to his feet.
Lithoxoidis misses with a two punch combination.
Lithoxoidis lands a jab to Sander's midsection.
Sander takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Lithoxoidis lands an overhand right.
Lithoxoidis with a nice cross.
Sander shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Lithoxoidis counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Lithoxoidis .
Jab from Lithoxoidis .
Lithoxoidis scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sander in his tracks.
Sander on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Sander gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lithoxoidis to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sander trying to keep a closed guard but Lithoxoidis is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Sander being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lithoxoidis wants to pass the guard but Sander is keeping the position.
Sander thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Sander working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lithoxoidis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lithoxoidis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sander can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lithoxoidis controls the pace.
Lithoxoidis is working Sander over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Lithoxoidis is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sander looking to control.
Roger Sander has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lithoxoidis showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Lithoxoidis gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Lithoxoidis goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Aris Lithoxoidis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lithoxoidis takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Lithoxoidis lands a nice shot to the body.
Aris Lithoxoidis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lithoxoidis swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sander.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aris Lithoxoidis showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lithoxoidis has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:25
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:25
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aris Lithoxoidis !