PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matthieu Saunier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raul Sanchaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saunier's entrance music is Muse - Hysteria. A fine choice. Matthieu Saunier has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Saunier
vs
Sanchaz

184 cm
25
145 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

165 cm
25
158 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp (159.49 $150)

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matthieu Saunier!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Raul Sanchaz!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saunier swings for the body but Sanchaz moves out of range.
Sanchaz jabs at Saunier's body.

Sanchaz closes the distance and clinches.
Sanchaz digs a right hand underneath Saunier's ribcage. Saunier let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Saunier on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Saunier can't get the takedown.
Sanchaz using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Sanchaz throws a knee to the head but misses.
Saunier tries to pull guard but Sanchaz holds him up against the cage and eventually Saunier drops back down to his feet.
Sanchaz crunches a lovely knee into Saunier's ribcage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sanchaz scores a nice knee to the body.

Saunier jumps guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saunier is breathing heavily.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Saunier looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sanchaz is one step ahead there.
Sanchaz postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchaz trying to control but Saunier is working from the bottom.
Saunier keeping full guard, as Sanchaz tries to pass.
Sanchaz chips away with some ground and pound.
Sanchaz postures up in Saunier's guard and throws a big left but Saunier blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saunier not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Saunier working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sanchaz.
Saunier is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sanchaz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sanchaz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Saunier tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sanchaz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sanchaz connects with a couple of short punches.

Saunier is rocked!
Saunier is trying to control the position but Sanchaz postures up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saunier is looking to stand up but Sanchaz isn't so interested in that idea.
Saunier will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchaz controlling from the top position.
Sanchaz trying to control but Saunier is working from the bottom.
Saunier utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sanchaz is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Saunier bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sanchaz's guard.
Sanchaz keeping moving, preventing Saunier from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Saunier is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Sanchaz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Saunier defends well.
Saunier trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saunier is looking to work some ground and pound but Sanchaz has wrist control.

Sanchaz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Saunier doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Saunier manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanchaz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Saunier is pushing down on Sanchaz's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sanchaz is fighting to maintain full guard but Saunier has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sanchaz trying to hold on to Saunier's head to control him but Saunier postures up.

Saunier is looking for a kimura but Sanchaz is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Saunier to get the leverage.

Saunier is looking for a kimura here.
Saunier uses his free foot to push down on Sanchaz's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Sanchaz.
Sanchaz can't escape the position.

Saunier looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Sanchaz bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchaz with a nice head shot there.
Sanchaz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saunier is keeping the position for now.

Sanchaz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saunier is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sanchaz pushes down on Saunier's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sanchaz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Saunier is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sanchaz scores with a couple of nice shots.

Sanchaz seems to be looking for submissions.
Sanchaz working over Saunier with some ground and pound. Saunier looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Sanchaz 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.

Saunier's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sanchaz connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Saunier scrambles back to his feet.
Saunier uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sanchaz.
Saunier with a nice cross.
Sanchaz avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Saunier connects with the punch.
Sanchaz wants to clinch.
Saunier loads up on a big right hand but Sanchaz slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunier feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sanchaz's calf.
Saunier throws a jab when Sanchaz was well out of range.
Saunier really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sanchaz throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Saunier counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sanchaz needs to keep his hands up - Saunier had a free shot at his head there.

Sanchaz is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Saunier's half guard.

Sanchaz in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Saunier tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Sanchaz!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Raul Sanchaz!
Raul Sanchaz is the new featherweight champion!
Raul Sanchaz really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp (159.49 $150) logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.