PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Sandoval (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stevens has chosen Can't Hold Us as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Victor Stevens enters the cage!

Sandoval
vs
Stevens

170 cm
26
135 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

175 cm
27
135 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joseph Sandoval!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Victor Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stevens darts in and clinches Sandoval up against the cage.
Sandoval with a knee to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sandoval with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stevens crunches a lovely knee into Sandoval's ribcage.
Stevens with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stevens is trying to push Sandoval away but Sandoval has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sandoval lands a left hand.
Sandoval with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Victor Stevens has been cut.
Sandoval lands a knee to the head.
Sandoval creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Stevens's defenses.
Sandoval connects with a nasty looking knee right to Stevens's face.
Sandoval throws a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stevens trying to stall but Sandoval improves his position.
Stevens told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Stevens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sandoval is defending well for now.
Sandoval keeps control of Stevens as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sandoval lands an elbow inside that Stevens shrugs off.
Stevens is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sandoval tries to land a knee to the head but Stevens blocks with his arms.
Sandoval misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stevens.
Stevens wants to get back to striking at distance but Sandoval won't allow it.
Stevens avoiding damage as Sandoval throws knees to the body.
Sandoval throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stevens blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandoval throws a knee to the head but misses.
Stevens throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sandoval blocks it with crossed arms.
Sandoval lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Stevens blocks an elbow strike from Sandoval.
The referee is keeping an eye on Stevens - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Sandoval with a knee to the head.
Stevens working hard to break the clinch.
Sandoval connects with a nasty looking knee right to Stevens's face.
Stevens jumps guard but Sandoval stands there with Stevens around his waist. Stevens gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sandoval tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Sandoval avoiding damage as Stevens throws knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Sandoval.
Sandoval scores with a knee to the head.
Sandoval throws a knee to the head but misses.
Stevens wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Sandoval has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Stevens looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sandoval tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A right hand to the body from Sandoval.
Sandoval throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nice body punch from Stevens - that landed with a thud.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sandoval with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Stevens breaks the clinch.
Sandoval wants to clinch.
Stevens throws a hook but Sandoval blocks it.
Sandoval lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Stevens misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sandoval.

Stevens closes the distance and clinches.
Stevens goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sandoval prevents it.

Stevens pulls guard effortlessly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joseph Sandoval wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Stevens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sandoval tries to close the distance and clinch but Stevens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Sandoval darts in and clinches Stevens up against the cage.
Stevens scores a nice knee to the body.
Stevens scores a nice knee to the body.
Sandoval looking to throw knees to the head but Stevens is blocking nicely.
Sandoval looking to throw knees to the head but Stevens is blocking nicely.
Sandoval throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sandoval lands a nice knee to the body.
Stevens misses with a body punch.
Sandoval throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Sandoval throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stevens blocks it with crossed arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval looking to throw knees to the head but Stevens is blocking nicely.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Sandoval tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sandoval prevents Stevens from breaking the clinch.
Sandoval with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sandoval looking to throw knees to the head but Stevens is blocking nicely.
Sandoval blocks an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sandoval dodges an elbow strike from Stevens.
Stevens can't break the clinch.
Stevens with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Stevens taking a breather.
Stevens tries to break the clinch but Sandoval is controlling the position.
Stevens has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sandoval misses with a knee to the head.
Sandoval misses with a knee to the head.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Sandoval misses with a knee strike.
Stevens wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sandoval is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stevens is defending well for now.
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 Joseph Sandoval will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Victor Stevens's cut.
That's time! Sandoval's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stevens throws a sloppy head kick and Sandoval moves out of range easily.
Victor Stevens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stevens misses with an uppercut. Sandoval saw that one coming.
Stevens throws a sloppy head kick and Sandoval moves out of range easily.
Sandoval scoring well with a low kick there.

Stevens has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sandoval throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sandoval throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sandoval lands a good knee to the midsection. Stevens won't want to take too many of those.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Stevens trying to land knees to the body.
Sandoval avoiding damage as Stevens throws knees to the body.
Sandoval throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stevens blocks it with crossed arms.
Stevens tries to stall but Sandoval uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Sandoval using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stevens has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Stevens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Stevens moves into the clinch.
Nice body punch from Sandoval.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens tries to break free but Sandoval pushes him back against the cage.
Sandoval misses with a knee to the head.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the head but Sandoval blocks with his arms.
Stevens wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sandoval has him pressed against the cage.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sandoval avoids it.
Stevens can't break the clinch.
Sandoval with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sandoval misses with a knee to the head.
Sandoval with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Stevens manages to break the clinch.
Horrible takedown by Stevens or perhaps it was just good defense by Sandoval which made him look bad.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sandoval looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stevens misses with a head kick.
Stevens shoots and misses
and Sandoval counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sandoval connects with a single shot there.
Sandoval lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Victor Stevens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stevens misses with a double jab.
A slow jab from Stevens misses its intended target.
Stevens throws a head kick that misses
and Sandoval counters with a big head kick but Stevens shrugs it off.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stevens moves forwards but Sandoval connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Stevens shoots in but Sandoval avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Joseph Sandoval has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Stevens.
Stevens is breathing heavily.
Good exchange - Sandoval coming out on top.
Stevens shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Stevens shoots in and drives through. Sandoval sprawls well.
Stevens shoots for a double leg takedown but Sandoval sprawls well. He's pushed Stevens's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Stevens closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval lands an uppercut.
Sandoval with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sandoval scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sandoval avoids it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stevens.
Sandoval comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sandoval softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sandoval tries to land a knee to the head but Stevens blocks with his arms.
Stevens putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sandoval in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Sandoval using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stevens has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sandoval misses with a knee to the head.
Sandoval using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stevens has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Stevens ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Stevens no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Stevens wants to stand and escape but Sandoval is having none of it.
Stevens being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joseph Sandoval wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sandoval. That's going to slow Stevens down.
Sandoval throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Stevens misses with a combination
and Sandoval counters with a good, hard body kick but Stevens shrugs it off.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Stevens has Sandoval up against the cage in a clinch.
Sandoval with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stevens managing to block the knees to the body from Sandoval.
Stevens avoiding damage as Sandoval throws knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevens wants to break free but Sandoval has control.
Sandoval misses with a knee to the head.
Sandoval misses with a knee to the head.
Stevens tries to land knees in the clinch but Sandoval avoids the damage to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Sandoval dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Victor Stevens's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

No joy there for Stevens, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stevens misses with a left hand
enabling Sandoval to counter with a crisp jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sandoval lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Stevens has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sandoval lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Stevens trying to stall but Sandoval improves his position.
Sandoval scores a nice knee to the body.
Stevens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sandoval is defending well for now.
Sandoval tries a knee to the head but Stevens blocks it.
Stevens looking to slow down the pace here.
Sandoval with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sandoval using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stevens has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Stevens pulls guard.
Stevens being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Joseph Sandoval.
Stevens with a jab.
Stevens fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stevens looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sandoval lands a high kick!
Stevens darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Stevens lands a nice hook to Sandoval's body. Sandoval takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sandoval takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Sandoval ducks right into an uppercut from Stevens.
Sandoval wants to clinch up but Stevens keeps it at a distance.
Sandoval with a jab.

Sandoval rushes Stevens and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval looking to throw knees to the head but Stevens is blocking nicely.
Sandoval tries to land knees in the clinch but Stevens avoids the damage to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stevens dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Sandoval on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sandoval lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sandoval tries a knee to the head but Stevens blocks it.
Sandoval lands a knee to the head.
Sandoval throws a knee to the head but misses.
Stevens's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sandoval tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stevens wants to break free but Sandoval has control.
Stevens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sandoval is defending well for now.
Victor Stevens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stevens fails to pull guard.
Sandoval lands with a short shot to the head.
Sandoval tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval has Stevens pressed against the cage, preventing Stevens from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sandoval connects with a knee to the head.
Sandoval with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stevens tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sandoval smiles and moves away.

Stevens pushes Sandoval up against the cage in a clinch.
Stevens has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Stevens is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Stevens wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Stevens wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sandoval has him pressed against the cage.

Stevens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stevens throws a jab but it's blocked by Sandoval.
Sandoval pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stevens darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Joseph Sandoval is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Stevens takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sandoval looking to throw knees to the head but Stevens is blocking nicely.
Stevens jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sandoval walks away with a smile on his face. Stevens gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Joseph Sandoval has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Stevens.

Stevens moves into the clinch successfully.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Sandoval lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Stevens misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sandoval.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stevens wants to get back to striking at distance but Sandoval won't allow it.
Stevens trying to control the position but instead, Sandoval has worked for underhooks and has pushed Stevens into the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sandoval tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sandoval with a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Victor Stevens.
I think Sandoval has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joseph Sandoval!
During a confident post fight interview, Joseph Sandoval thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.