PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Rocket (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Sanders could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Bob Rocket's chin.

Sanders
vs
Rocket

185 cm
22
165 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

192 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Sanders !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bob Rocket!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanders misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Sanders changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rocket tries to avoid it but Sanders manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rocket to the ground. Rocket escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sanders throws a lazy right hand but Rocket sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sanders avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sanders tries to clinch but Rocket moves out of range.
Michael Sanders seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rocket scores with a push kick.
Rocket misses with a head kick.

Rocket closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rocket pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rocket scores with a nice body kick.
Rocket defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sanders .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocket lands a nice looking body kick.

Rocket pushes Sanders up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Rocket landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Rocket lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Sanders trying to hold on to Rocket's head to control him but Rocket postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocket is trying to control the action in half guard but Sanders is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rocket missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rocket really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sanders . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sanders tries to roll over but Rocket keeps him under control.
Rocket is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sanders trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders tries to roll over but Rocket keeps him under control.
Nice strikes from Rocket there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rocket throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Sanders decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Sanders is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanders works his way into side control.
Rocket is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
You can see the frustration on Rocket's face as Sanders controls the position.
Rocket is pushing Sanders 's head away, looking to escape. Sanders manages to hold on to the position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A head kick from Rocket lands but Sanders takes it in his stride.
Sanders tries to clinch but Rocket moves away

and Rocket holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Sanders pulls guard successfully.
Rocket looking to sit in guard and control but Sanders gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rocket thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rocket thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Rocket utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders controlling from the top position.
Rocket 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.

Sanders gets to his feet - Rocket follows without any prompting.

Rocket rushes Sanders and presses him up against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rocket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocket is looking to break free of the clinch but Sanders has double underhooks.
Nice elbow from Rocket.
Sanders is trying to break the clinch but Rocket has him pressed against the cage.
Rocket on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rocket looking to slow down the pace here.
Rocket stalling against the cage.
Rocket tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sanders has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rocket avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Sanders tightens his grip and picks Rocket up, before dumping him to the ground. Rocket manages to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanders throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rocket works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocket has momentary wrist control but Sanders slips an elbow through the middle.
Rocket is trying to keep Sanders in close.
Sanders lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Sanders gets to his feet - Rocket follows without any prompting.
Sanders with a poor takedown
and Rocket counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

Sanders gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rocket preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders controlling Rocket's posture.
Rocket won't allow Sanders to sweep him here.
Sanders bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rocket's guard.
Rocket not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sanders is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Sanders dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sanders fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Rocket has closed the distance and engaged Sanders in a clinch.
Rocket manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Rocket breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rocket closes the distance and clinches.
Rocket tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanders has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Rocket uses from the top position.
Sanders looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Rocket has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Sanders to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Rocket is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Sanders pulls down on the head and he's put Rocket to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Michael Sanders !