PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sol Goldstein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Goldstein is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Nothing to Prove by H2O. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Sanchez
vs
Goldstein

165 cm
18
140 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

175 cm
20
136 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Elite Nutrition Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Miguel Sanchez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sol Goldstein!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Trevor Gratis and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez is looking to clinch.
Sanchez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sanchez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Goldstein. No joy for Sanchez on that attempt.
Sanchez throws a right hand that Goldstein ducks under and follows up with a left that Goldstein also avoids with ease.
Sanchez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Sanchez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Sanchez trying to control the action but Goldstein is working from the bottom.
Goldstein trying to control here.

Goldstein looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sanchez prevents Goldstein from improving his position.
Goldstein is pressing down on Sanchez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Goldstein working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sanchez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sanchez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Goldstein keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Sanchez wants to pass the guard but Goldstein is keeping the position.
Goldstein manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sanchez manages to get himself to full guard.

Goldstein avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Goldstein trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.

Goldstein drops back looking for a leg! Sanchez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sanchez manages to kick Goldstein off! Goldstein jumps back into Sanchez's guard.
Sanchez keeping moving, preventing Goldstein from controlling successfully.

Goldstein drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sanchez dives on top into guard.
Goldstein looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sanchez tries to free his leg and advance position but Goldstein is retaining full guard.

Goldstein is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Goldstein is trying to control the position but Sanchez postures up.
Sanchez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Goldstein is keeping the position for now.
Sanchez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sanchez advances to half guard.
Goldstein tries to get to full guard but Sanchez has control of the leg.
Sanchez is tying to control. Goldstein wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Sanchez seems to be working for a kimura but Goldstein defends the submission attempt.
Goldstein is pressing down on Sanchez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Goldstein wants to sweep but no luck.

Sanchez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Goldstein keeping full guard, as Sanchez tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goldstein keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Goldstein trying to keep a closed guard but Sanchez is proving a slippery customer.
Sanchez passes into half guard.
Sanchez controlling the pace.
Sanchez is trying to control the action in half guard but Goldstein is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sanchez passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Goldstein!
Sanchez punishing his opponent with strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sanchez with the ground and pound from mount.

Sanchez is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Goldstein has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Sanchez trying to control but Goldstein is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez with a couple of short strikes.
Sanchez connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Sanchez looking to control but Goldstein is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sanchez controlling from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Goldstein manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Sanchez working Goldstein over with strikes.
Goldstein is looking to improve his position.
Goldstein manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Sanchez 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.

Goldstein keeps the fight on the outside.
Sanchez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sanchez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sanchez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Goldstein manages to avoid it.
Sanchez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Goldstein tries to avoid it but Sanchez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Goldstein to the ground. Goldstein escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Sanchez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Goldstein is desperately trying to improve his position but Sanchez has a good base and remains in mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sanchez lands a big shot there that rocks Goldstein but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Goldstein wants to control but Sanchez is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Sanchez.
Sanchez is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Goldstein can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Goldstein tries to hold on but Sanchez postures up.
Goldstein can't escape the position.
Goldstein is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sanchez lands a big shot there that rocks Goldstein but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Goldstein is looking to improve his position but Sanchez isn't that keen on the idea.
Sanchez looking to control but Goldstein is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Sanchez has control of Goldstein's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Goldstein regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Goldstein sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Goldstein slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez trying to control but Goldstein is working from the bottom.
Sanchez passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Sanchez decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Goldstein misses with a takedown

and Sanchez counters with a single leg into guard. Goldstein didn't expect that.
Sanchez working some strikes from top position.

Goldstein has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sanchez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sanchez stopping the sweep attempt from Goldstein.

Goldstein looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Sanchez has picked Goldstein up and slammed him! Goldstein can't keep hold of the triangle and Sanchez manages to pass to side control!

Sanchez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Goldstein has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sanchez is looking to take a break and control but Goldstein is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goldstein is looking for a sweep.
Miguel Sanchez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Sanchez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Goldstein tries to bench press Sanchez off him but Sanchez keeps the position.
Goldstein sneaks back into half guard.
Goldstein controlling the position for now.

Goldstein looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Goldstein is controlling Sanchez's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Goldstein is staying active underneath Sanchez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sanchez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

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.

Goldstein is defending against the submission attempts here by Sanchez.
Goldstein regains full guard. Nicely done.
Goldstein wants to sweep here but Sanchez controlling him for the moment.
Sanchez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Goldstein's head.
Goldstein keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Sanchez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Goldstein, pushing him back against the cage.
Sanchez fails to pull guard.
Goldstein fails to pull guard.
Sanchez has Goldstein pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Goldstein manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miguel Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Goldstein pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sanchez is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sanchez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Goldstein is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sanchez has Goldstein pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Goldstein manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Sanchez manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Sanchez dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sanchez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Goldstein counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Goldstein passes Sanchez's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sanchez is looking for a sweep. Goldstein is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Goldstein tries to pass to full mount but Sanchez defends it.
Sanchez wants to control but Goldstein is keeping busy.
Sanchez manages to get to full guard.
Sanchez keeping moving, preventing Goldstein from controlling successfully.
Sanchez is trying to control the position but Goldstein postures up.
Sanchez is really struggling to control Goldstein but he's trying to hold on to the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Sanchez tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Goldstein counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goldstein stands and throws Sanchez's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sanchez trying to remain calm as Goldstein controls from the top position.

Goldstein tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sanchez is not content to let Goldstein control the position.

Goldstein is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sanchez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Goldstein advances to full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goldstein moves to take his opponent's back.
Goldstein tries to get the hooks in deep but Sanchez pushed the leg off.
Goldstein biding his time, controlling Sanchez.

Goldstein patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Goldstein is looking for the choke from the back position but Sanchez is controlling his hands well.

Sanchez showing good submission defense here.

Goldstein working for a choke but Sanchez is defending well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Goldstein is hanging on to Sanchez's back as he tries to escape.

Goldstein is working for the choke. He's slipped one arm under the chin. Sanchez has to defend the other arm for all he's worth... but Goldstein has managed to get that arm free too and he's tightening the choke! Sanchez taps out and looks absolutely disgusted with himself. Goldstein doesn't care though - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Sol Goldstein! Sol Goldstein retains his bantamweight title!