PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Santiago Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Hardwick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanchez's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Mas Que Nada. Santiago Sanchez has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Sanchez
vs
Hardwick

200 cm
22
276 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

197 cm
22
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Syndicate Drugs
Elite Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Santiago Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Hardwick!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Ackerman and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hardwick has managed to clinch.
Sanchez prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sanchez looking to throw knees to the head but Hardwick is blocking nicely.
Sanchez tries a knee to the head but Hardwick blocks it.

Hardwick breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Hardwick instigates a clinch.
Sanchez with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Hardwick breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sanchez tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Hardwick counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hardwick.
Hardwick postures up.

Sanchez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sanchez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hardwick.

Hardwick looking for a guillotine here but Sanchez defends easily.
Hardwick looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Hardwick has an active guard here but Sanchez has managed to pass into half guard.
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet.

That's two 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.

Sanchez decides to stand and escape the position.
Sanchez tries to clinch up

and Hardwick counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hardwick.
Hardwick trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hardwick throws a strike but Sanchez rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Sanchez stopping the sweep attempt from Hardwick.
Hardwick punching from the bottom.
Hardwick is trying to keep Sanchez in close.

Hardwick is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hardwick wriggles free and stands up.

Hardwick scores with a takedown into Sanchez's guard.
Sanchez pulls Hardwick in close to prevent any damage.
Sanchez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hardwick is one step ahead there.
Sanchez is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hardwick wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
Sanchez tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Sanchez has his foot on Hardwick's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hardwick works his way back into a safe position though.
Hardwick wanted to stand there but Sanchez had control of 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

and Hardwick counters by clinching up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hardwick tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sanchez smiles and moves away.
Sanchez avoids the body shot from Hardwick.
Sanchez tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Hardwick counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sanchez won't be happy with that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sanchez throws a combination. Hardwick tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Sanchez tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Hardwick counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sanchez tries to roll over but Hardwick keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hardwick is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sanchez defends it well.
Hardwick tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Sanchez.

Hardwick is working for a kimura but Sanchez is defending it quite comfortably.
Hardwick tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sanchez knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hardwick throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardwick trying to mount his opponent but Sanchez defends it.
Hardwick is tying to control. Sanchez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hardwick shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sanchez as he jumps to the side.
Sanchez scores with a head kick.
Hardwick closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sanchez circles away.
Sanchez tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Hardwick counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sanchez trying to control from the bottom.
Matt Hardwick has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sanchez is trying to stand.
Hardwick is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Sanchez reverses the position - he's now on top in Hardwick's guard.
Hardwick tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardwick is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hardwick wants to sweep here but Sanchez controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardwick manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sanchez manages to get himself to full guard.
Hardwick trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Sanchez manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Sanchez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hardwick looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sanchez is one step ahead there.
Hardwick manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sanchez manages to get himself to full guard.

Sanchez had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Hardwick is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Sanchez Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Hardwick's back instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Hardwick doesn't escape.
Hardwick rolls, trying to escape but Sanchez keeps control of the position.
Sanchez trying to control momentarily.
Hardwick is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Hardwick is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Sanchez.
Hardwick holding both Sanchez 's hands and preventing any damage.
Hardwick is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sanchez doesn't have the hooks in and Hardwick manages to turn into his guard.

Hardwick drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sanchez manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hardwick has Sanchez in his guard.
Sanchez slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Sanchez tries to free his leg and advance position but Hardwick is retaining full guard.
Sanchez pushing down on Hardwick's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hardwick missing with punches from the bottom.
Hardwick is trying to get back to full guard.
Sanchez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hardwick does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Hardwick showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Hardwick keeps the fight on the outside.
Sanchez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sanchez moves in looking to clinch but Hardwick pushes him off.
Sanchez tries to clinch up.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch but Hardwick swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sanchez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Hardwick moves into range and clinches up with Sanchez.
Nice elbow from Sanchez.

Hardwick gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Hardwick tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Hardwick is stalling here. Sanchez is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Hardwick seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Sanchez has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Hardwick is trying to control Sanchez's posture but Sanchez avoids it.
Hardwick is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hardwick can't do much from the bottom here.
Hardwick has control of an arm but Sanchez manages to advance to Sanchez's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez controlling well, preventing Hardwick from escaping the position.
Hardwick has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Hardwick trying to control the action but Sanchez just sinks the hooks in.
Hardwick prevents Sanchez from getting a body triangle.
Hardwick looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Hardwick tries to break free.
Hardwick is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sanchez trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Hardwick doesn't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sanchez doesn't have the hooks in and Hardwick manages to turn into his guard.
Sanchez wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hardwick closes the distance and clinches up with Sanchez, looking for a takedown. Hardwick pushes Sanchez against the cage but Sanchez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sanchez lands a head kick!
Hardwick circles away from the clinch attempt

and Hardwick holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sanchez with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sanchez stalling in the clinch but Hardwick improves position.
Sanchez with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sanchez is trying to maintain a safe position but Hardwick gets an underhook and turns Sanchez into the cage.
Sanchez with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sanchez landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sanchez misses with a knee strike.
Sanchez is pressed up against the cage. Hardwick has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sanchez down to the mat. Sanchez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sanchez clinches but Hardwick breaks the clinch

and Hardwick counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hardwick looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Sanchez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hardwick blocks it with crossed arms.
Sanchez tries a knee to the head but Hardwick blocks it.
Hardwick goes for a takedown attempt but Sanchez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Santiago Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Hardwick.

Hardwick gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is trying to maintain a safe position but Hardwick gets an underhook and turns Sanchez into the cage.
Hardwick changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sanchez fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sanchez plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Hardwick bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hardwick taking a breather here.
Sanchez is not content to let Hardwick control the position.

Hardwick looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet but Hardwick drags him back down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardwick is looking to take a break and control but Sanchez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Hardwick is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sanchez has escaped the position, nice work there.
Santiago Sanchez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sanchez manages to get back to half guard.
Sanchez trying to hold on to Hardwick's head to control him but Hardwick postures up.

Hardwick wants to work for an arm triangle but Sanchez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Hardwick moves away

and Hardwick counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Sanchez!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hardwick fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hardwick trying to control but he's not successful this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Hardwick comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hardwick 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Hardwick!