PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Paulo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paulo has chosen Eye of the Tiger as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sanders
vs
Paulo

165 cm
25
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, James Sanders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joao Paulo!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Sanders misses.
Paulo misses with a body shot.
Joao Paulo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paulo ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
No luck for Sanders with that takedown attempt.
Sanders checks a low kick from Paulo.
Sanders swings for the body but Paulo moves out of range.
Paulo scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Sanders forces Paulo back against the cage and clinches.
Sanders tries to pull guard but Paulo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sanders changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Paulo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Sanders. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sanders.
The fighters circling - Paulo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders tries to clinch but Paulo is having none of it.
Sanders walks into a left hand.
Sanders dives in and grabs Paulo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Paulo pushes down on Sanders's head and hops out.
The fighters circling - Paulo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Paulo swinging wildly here.

Sanders instigates a clinch.
Sanders is trying to drag Paulo to the mat but Paulo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Sanders escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A big right from Paulo misses.
Paulo smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Sanders. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Nice jab there from Paulo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Paulo with a nice cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paulo feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Sanders sprawling to the canvas! Sanders rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Paulo finish him?!

Sanders is rocked!
Sanders tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Oh Sanders is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sanders slips a jab from Paulo.
Paulo drops Sanders with a straight right hand, right on the button! Paulo follows him down to the mat and pounds him out with hammerfists until the referee jumps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Joao Paulo!