PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dan Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Patrick Plo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanchez's entrance music is Taste of Ink - The Used. A fine choice. Plo is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by ISIS - Grinning Mouths. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sanchez
vs
Plo

167 cm
22
148 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

173 cm
21
150 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dan Sanchez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Patrick Plo!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Plo just misses with a punch to the body.
Sanchez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Plo circles away quickly and effectively.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but Plo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Sanchez is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Plo's half guard.
Sanchez wants to stand but Plo has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Plo holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Plo moves into full guard.
Plo controlling the position.
Sanchez wants to stand but Plo is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez wants to stand and escape but instead Plo has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Plo forces his way into half guard.
Plo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Plo is looking to advance position but Sanchez won't allow it.
Plo stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Plo is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Plo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plo trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Plo is pushing down on Sanchez's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sanchez is fighting to maintain full guard but Plo has managed to sneak the leg through.
Plo drops an elbow to the side of Sanchez's head.
Sanchez pushes Plo off looking to stand but Plo dives back in and keeps control.
Plo working the head and body with strikes.

That's four 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.
Plo is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Plo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Plo thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Sanchez to regain full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanchez keeping moving, preventing Plo from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Plo dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sanchez takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Plo slips a jab and a cross from Sanchez.
Plo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Plo scores with a takedown into Sanchez's guard.
Plo trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Plo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plo looking to sit in guard and control but Sanchez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Plo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Plo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sanchez manages to get himself to full guard.
Plo throws a big right hand that misses.
Plo wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Plo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sanchez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Plo.
Sanchez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Plo is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Plo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sanchez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sanchez takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sanchez connects with a crisp jab.
Sanchez fails with a takedown attempt.
Plo lands with a hook. Sanchez tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sanchez misses with a double jab.
Nice straight punches there by Plo. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Plo.
Plo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sanchez throws a nice looking combination but Plo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sanchez cracks Plo with an open hand slap.
Plo scores with a shot to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Plo shoots in and drives through. Sanchez sprawls well.
Dan Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sanchez looks to land a left hand but Plo moved out of range nicely.
Plo throws a nice looking combination but Sanchez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Plo has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Sanchez takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanchez misses with a takedown attempt
and Plo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Plo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Plo throws a big right hand that misses.
Plo advances position into side control!
Plo cracks Sanchez with a big elbow.
Plo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Plo working the head and body with strikes.
Plo misses with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Plo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Plo shoots for a takedown but Sanchez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Plo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sanchez manages to avoid it.
Plo misses with a looping right.
Sanchez misses with a few strikes there.
A slow jab from Sanchez misses its intended target.
A right-left combo lands from Sanchez.
Plo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sanchez dodges the punch combination from Plo.
Sanchez looks to throw the jab but Plo is out of range.
Sanchez throws a left and a right that both miss
and Plo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sanchez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Plo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sanchez scores with a one two! Plo had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Plo is rocked!
Sanchez throws a shot from downtown. Plo moves away and avoids it.
Plo is still on wobbly legs! Can Sanchez finish him?
Sanchez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Plo.
Plo seems to have recovered his senses.
Plo slips under a jab.

Plo gets a takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez won't allow Plo to pass to mount.
Plo slips a nice elbow through Sanchez's hands, connecting with Sanchez's forehead.
Plo has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Plo lands a big shot there that rocks Sanchez but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Plo lands a big shot there that rocks Sanchez but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Plo throwing strikes here but Sanchez is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
You get the feeling that Sanchez really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Plo controlling his opponent.
Plo landing strikes from the mount and Sanchez is in trouble!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Plo thowing shots but they're missing.

That's four 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.
Plo tries to control but Sanchez wriggling away.
Plo misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Poor strikes thrown by Plo there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Plo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Plo really dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Plo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sanchez defends it nicely.
Sanchez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Plo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sanchez won't be happy with that.
Sanchez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Plo on the ground.
Sanchez defending against the ground and pound.
Plo is trying to ground and pound but Sanchez uses the momentary lack of control by Plo to regain half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Plo lands a nice short elbow.
Plo with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plo slips a nice elbow through Sanchez's hands, connecting with Sanchez's forehead.
Plo trying to control the action but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Plo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sanchez's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Plo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sanchez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Plo.
Plo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sanchez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sanchez is trying to stand up here but Plo is controlling him well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sanchez just misses with a punch to the body.
Plo throws a lazy right hand but Sanchez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Plo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sanchez was well out of range. Poor timing from Plo.

Plo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Plo is trying to control the action in half guard but Sanchez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sanchez kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Plo thows a huge punch but Sanchez dodges it nicely.
Plo is trying to control. Sanchez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Plo throwing shots but Sanchez is blocking nicely.
Plo passes the guard and advances to mount!
Sanchez trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's four 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.
Plo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sanchez is looking to escape.
Plo lands a heavy elbow.
Plo scoring with strikes but Sanchez is staying in there.
Sanchez wants to try and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Plo dominated that fourth 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sanchez lands with a nice combination. Plo backs away looking to recover.
Plo shoots in looking for a takedown. Sanchez tries to sprawl out of it but Plo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sanchez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Plo shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Plo is keen to just control but Sanchez is a slippery customer.
Plo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Plo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plo winds up and cracks Sanchez with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Plo is looking to take a break and control but Sanchez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sanchez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Plo.
Sanchez on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sanchez tries to get out of the position.
Sanchez is looking to escape.
Plo throwing shots but Sanchez is blocking nicely.
Dan Sanchez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Plo moves into full mount! Sanchez won't be happy about that!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Plo content just to control the position here.
Plo misses with a head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plo trying to control but Sanchez is having none of it.
Plo scoring with strikes but Sanchez is staying in there.
Sanchez in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sanchez is squirming around, avoiding Plo's attempts to control the action.
Sanchez is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Plo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sanchez is looking to escape.
Plo connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Patrick Plo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Plo landing strikes, looking to finish!
Plo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Patrick Plo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Plo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 45:50
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 45:50
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Patrick Plo!
Patrick Plo is the new featherweight champion!