PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keith Schafer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sanchez
vs
Schafer

185 cm
26
176 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
182 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Thiago Sanchez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Keith Schafer!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, William Gold and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sanchez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sanchez lands a nice short elbow.
Schafer is looking to improve his position.
Sanchez is nestled in close to Schafer, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Schafer is staying active underneath Sanchez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sanchez is looking to pass Schafer's guard but actually Schafer recovers to full guard.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Schafer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanchez throws and elbow that misses. Schafer uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sanchez's guard. Nice move by Schafer!
Schafer lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schafer trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Sanchez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Schafer preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Schafer wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
Schafer won't allow Sanchez to sweep him here.
Schafer trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Schafer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanchez is keeping the position for now.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Keith Schafer hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Schafer scores with a nice right hand.

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.
Schafer turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sanchez doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Schafer counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Schafer.
Schafer trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez looking for a sweep. Not yet Sanchez, not yet.
Schafer slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Sanchez.
Schafer 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.
Sanchez makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sanchez.
Schafer won't allow Sanchez to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Schafer puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Sanchez wants to improve his position but Schafer is controlling well.
Schafer trying to control from half guard but Sanchez is working away.
Sanchez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sanchez trying to strike off his back.
Sanchez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.
Schafer is trying to stand.
Sanchez trying to advance position but Schafer counters by regaining guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Schafer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanchez postures up in Schafer's guard and throws a big left but Schafer blocks it.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Schafer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanchez is looking to work some ground and pound but Schafer has wrist control.
Sanchez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sanchez trying to control but Schafer is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Thiago Sanchez will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sanchez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Schafer counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Sanchez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Schafer sprawls well initially but Sanchez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Sanchez trying to control from half guard but Schafer is working away.
Nice strikes from Sanchez there.
Sanchez moves nicely into side control.
Sanchez creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Schafer sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Schafer is trying to control Sanchez's posture but Sanchez avoids it.
Schafer wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Schafer sneaks out the side door and pushes Sanchez away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Sanchez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Schafer cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sanchez misses with a takedown attempt
and Schafer counters with a series of strikes. Sanchez will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez fails with the takedown
and Schafer counters with a straight right hand.
Sanchez tries for a takedown but Schafer circles away easily
and Schafer counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Schafer throws a head kick that Sanchez semi-blocks.
A left and a right from Schafer both land. Nice combination.
Sanchez shoots and misses
and Schafer counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Schafer.
Schafer connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Schafer scores with a one two! Sanchez had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Sanchez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Schafer counters with a slapping leg kick.

Schafer fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sanchez sprawls well initially but Schafer persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Schafer 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.
Sanchez is looking to improve his position.
Schafer perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Sanchez wants to sweep but Schafer has passed to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schafer controlling the position from side mount.
Sanchez tries to improve position but can't.
Sanchez taking punishment in the form of punches.
Schafer is looking to take a break and control but Sanchez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sanchez is looking for a sweep.
Sanchez is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The referee asks Schafer politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Schafer prefers to stall for the moment though.
Sanchez is not content to let Schafer control the position.
Sanchez is looking to regain half guard here but Schafer keeps moving and retains side control.
Schafer trying to control the position but Sanchez is working away.
Schafer staying calm.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Keith Schafer.

Sanchez scores a takedown into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Schafer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Schafer lands a jab to the nose.
Sanchez fails with the takedown
and Schafer counters with a nice uppercut.
An inside leg kick lands from Schafer.

Sanchez throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Schafer was covering up waiting for the punch and Sanchez finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sanchez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Schafer keeping full guard, as Sanchez tries to pass.
Sanchez is looking to advance position but Schafer has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez tries to reverse the position but Schafer maintains control.
Schafer controlling the pace for now.
Schafer landing punches.
Sanchez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Schafer looking to control but Sanchez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sanchez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Schafer working the ground and pound effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is squirming around, avoiding Schafer's attempts to control the action.
Sanchez is trying desperately to improve position.
Schafer lands a nice shot to the head.
Schafer trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Schafer tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sanchez is looking to improve his position but Schafer isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Schafer connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Schafer wants to control the pace but Sanchez is squirming around nicely.
Schafer with the ground and pound from mount.
Sanchez tries to reverse the position but Schafer maintains control.
Schafer is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Sanchez can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Schafer tries to control but Sanchez wriggling away.
Schafer scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Schafer prevents Sanchez from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schafer landing shots from mount.
Schafer tries to control but Sanchez wriggling away.
Sanchez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Schafer wants to control the pace but Sanchez is squirming around nicely.
Sanchez is trying to escape the mount.
Sanchez takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Schafer takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sanchez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Schafer really dominated that 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.

Sanchez has his takedown stuffed
and Schafer counters with a slapping leg kick.
Sanchez fails with the takedown
and Schafer counters with a stiff right hand.
Schafer lands a two punch combo.
Thiago Sanchez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Schafer connects with a right hand. Sanchez shakes it off.
Schafer scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sanchez doesn't seem bothered though.
Sanchez tries for a takedown but Schafer circles away easily
and Schafer counters with an outside leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Schafer connects with an inside leg kick.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Schafer chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schafer tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sanchez knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Schafer frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sanchez is trying desperately to improve position.
Schafer landing punches.
Sanchez is trying to escape the mount.
Schafer takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Schafer trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sanchez is desperately trying to improve his position but Schafer has a good base and remains in mount.
Sanchez is in a horrible position here. Schafer smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Sanchez throwing hammer fists to the chest of Schafer. What's that going to do exactly?
Sanchez is looking to get to half guard.
Schafer landing shots from mount.
Sanchez working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is in a horrible position here. Schafer smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Schafer is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Sanchez can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Schafer can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sanchez is looking to escape.
Schafer 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.
Schafer controlling from the full mount.
Sanchez tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four 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.
Schafer is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Sanchez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Schafer tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sanchez is desperately trying to improve his position but Schafer has a good base and remains in mount.
Schafer tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sanchez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Schafer dominated that fourth round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Schafer shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sanchez's guard.
Sanchez keeping moving, preventing Schafer from controlling successfully.
Sanchez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Schafer is one step ahead there.
Schafer trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanchez trying to strike off his back.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Schafer stands up over Sanchez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sanchez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schafer wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
Sanchez looking for a sweep. Not yet Sanchez, not yet.
Schafer postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Schafer trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Sanchez throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Sanchez striking off his back but it's not causing Schafer any problems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sanchez wants to sweep but no luck.
Sanchez looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Schafer puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
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.
Schafer lands with a punch from half guard.
Schafer is keen to just control but Sanchez is a slippery customer.
Schafer lands strikes from half guard.
Keith Schafer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sanchez wants to stand back up but Schafer manages to pass into side control.
Sanchez is looking to regain half guard here but Schafer keeps moving and retains side control.
Sanchez looks to move to half guard but instead Schafer has passed into mount! Damn!
Schafer sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Schafer raining down hammerfists from mount.
Sanchez is in a horrible position here. Schafer smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Schafer lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Sanchez is looking to improve his position but Schafer isn't that keen on the idea.
Schafer looking to finish Sanchez with some ground and pound. This is bad for Sanchez!
Schafer looking to control but Sanchez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schafer looking to control and managing it successfully.
Schafer trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sanchez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Schafer looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Schafer blocks Sanchez's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Schafer landing strikes from the mount.
Thiago Sanchez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Schafer looking to control and managing it successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keith Schafer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Schafer has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 46:49
Judge William Gold scores the fight 45:50
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keith Schafer!
Keith Schafer is the new welterweight champion!