PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Markos Sandman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Soares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sandman
vs
Soares

184 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Markos Sandman!
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, Simon Soares!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Paulo Santos and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Soares shoots in and gets a takedown into Sandman's guard.

Sandman is working an open guard so Soares takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sandman.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Soares is looking for a sweep.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Soares can do anything to dispel that myth.
Soares is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Soares gets back to half guard.
Soares makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Soares.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sandman trying to control but Soares is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soares managing to control the position.

Sandman got a little sloppy there for a moment and Soares has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sandman has managed to get both his arms back between Soares's legs - danger averted.
Sandman trying to control the position from guard on top but Soares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soares is controlling Sandman's posture.
Sandman knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Soares on the ground.

Soares manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sandman shoots in and drives through. Soares sprawls well.
Sandman has a takedown stuffed.
Soares defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sandman.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Markos Sandman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sandman shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Soares as he avoids it easily.

Soares has managed to clinch.

Soares's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sandman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Soares was well out of range. Poor timing from Sandman.
Sandman shoots in but no luck this time.
Sandman is breathing heavily.

Soares is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sandman's half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Soares slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Soares decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Sandman is trying hard to land a takedown here. Soares sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Soares closes the distance and clinches.
Sandman can't break the clinch.

Soares breaks from the clinch.

Soares fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sandman sprawls well initially but Soares persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Soares content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Soares drops an elbow to the side of Sandman's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soares has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sandman stops Soares from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
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!
The referee warns Sandman that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Soares controlling the pace for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Soares dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sandman doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Soares counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sandman shoots in for a takedown but Soares shows good takedown defense.
Sandman fails to land with a series of punches.

Soares bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Sandman tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Soares presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

Soares with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Soares lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soares controlling the position easily from mount.
Soares scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Sandman?

Soares is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Soares darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Soares not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sandman is trying to control but Soares passes into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Soares advances to full mount.

Sandman defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Soares.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soares looking to control and managing it successfully.

Soares gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Soares darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Soares has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Soares is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Soares decides to stand and escape the position.
Sandman is looking to clinch but Soares is avoiding it.
Sandman misses with a kick to the body.
Sandman tries to clinch up

so Soares counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soares lands a couple of decent looking shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Soares showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Soares misses with a series of wild punches.
Soares throws out a loose jab but Sandman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sandman bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Soares's head.
Sandman throws a head kick that misses.
Sandman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Soares fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Sandman to the ground. Soares is now in Sandman's guard.
Soares seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Simon Soares has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sandman wants to improve his position but instead Soares has moved into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soares drops an elbow to the side of Sandman's head.
Soares has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Soares takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Soares lands with some strikes.

Soares wants to finish this one by submission but Sandman is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Soares.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Soares working for a submission but Sandman is keeping him at bay.
Sandman taking shots to the head.

Soares is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Sandman to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Sandman shrugs it off.
Soares dominating with strikes here.
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!
Soares sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Sandman is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soares takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Simon Soares wasn't active enough on the ground.

Sandman gets caught flat footed, as Soares shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Soares stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sandman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sandman tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Markos Sandman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Simon Soares is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Soares advances to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Simon Soares comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Soares 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simon Soares!