PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Willy Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Sutherland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Sanchez
vs
Sutherland

189 cm
21
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

182 cm
23
209 lbs
4 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Rastafarii Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Willy Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Craig Sutherland!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Damien Edna and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sutherland throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sanchez.
Sutherland tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice sprawl there from Sutherland as Sanchez shoots in.
Sanchez tries to clinch up but Sutherland circles away and keeps his distance.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sutherland.
Sutherland throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sutherland lands a jab to the head.
Sutherland fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sutherland misses with a jab, cross combination.

Sutherland gets caught flat footed, as Sanchez shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sutherland keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez stops Sutherland from standing up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sutherland can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sanchez tries to free his leg and advance position but Sutherland is retaining full guard.

Sanchez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sanchez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sanchez pushing down on Sutherland's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sutherland really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sanchez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Sanchez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Sanchez is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Sutherland has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.
Sanchez stops Sutherland from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sutherland missing with punches from the bottom.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but Sutherland defending well.
Sanchez working Sutherland over with strikes.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Sutherland has managed to clinch.

Sutherland manages to break the clinch.
Sutherland keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Willy Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez fails to land the takedown.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sutherland as he avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez has a takedown stuffed.
Sutherland swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sanchez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sutherland counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sutherland keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sanchez checks a leg kick.
Sutherland misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sutherland looks to land a combination but Sanchez avoids it well.

Sanchez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Sanchez is working for a submission of some sort.
Sanchez has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sanchez cracks Sutherland with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Sanchez is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Sutherland has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Sanchez wants to take his opponent's back but Sutherland doesn't allow it.
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 Willy Sanchez will probably get the nod.
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.

Sutherland throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sanchez.
Sutherland tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Craig Sutherland seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sutherland closes the distance and clinches.

Sanchez drags the fight down to the ground.
Sutherland wants to get up but he can't break Sanchez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sanchez wants to sweep but no luck.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sanchez is on top in guard.
Sanchez prevents Sutherland from getting back to his feet.
Sutherland can't keep his opponent in guard - Sanchez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Sanchez is trying to work for a kimura but Sutherland is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Sanchez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sutherland is looking to escape.

Sutherland is defending against the submission attempts here by Sanchez.
Sutherland is looking to escape.
Sanchez prevents Sutherland from improving his position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sanchez lands a nice short elbow.

Sanchez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Sanchez is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sutherland won't allow Sanchez to pass to mount.

Sutherland kicks off Sanchez and gets to his feet.
Sanchez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sutherland's waist but Sutherland gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sanchez off to one side.
Sutherland throws a nice looking combination but Sanchez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Sutherland takes the fight into the clinch.
Sanchez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sutherland smiles and moves away.

Sutherland drives through and clinches with Sanchez against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sutherland escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sutherland misses with a straight left.

Sutherland instigates a clinch.
Sanchez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Willy Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sutherland is working for takedown but Sanchez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sutherland gets underhooks to prevent Sanchez's takedown attempt.

Sutherland breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sutherland scores with a three punch combo!
Sanchez with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sutherland counters by moving into the clinch.
Sanchez looking for a takedown.

Sutherland breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sutherland scores with a one two! Sanchez had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sutherland clinches with his opponent.
Sutherland prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sanchez looking for a takedown.
Sanchez has Sutherland pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sutherland manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

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

Sutherland clinches with his opponent.
Sanchez can't get the takedown.

Sutherland breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A right-left combo lands from Sutherland.
Sanchez wants to clinch but Sutherland slips to the side
and Sutherland counters with a nice leg kick.
Sutherland throws a right hand that Sanchez ducks under and follows up with a left that Sanchez also avoids with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Sutherland showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Sanchez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sanchez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sutherland sprawls well initially but Sanchez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sanchez is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Sutherland has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sanchez wants to pass to mount but Sutherland is defending the position.
Sanchez trying to control from half guard but Sutherland is working away.

Sanchez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sanchez tries to pass to full mount but Sutherland defends it.
Sutherland is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanchez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sutherland defends it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanchez prevents Sutherland from standing back up.
Sutherland wants to improve his position but Sanchez is controlling well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Sanchez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nice takedown defense from Sutherland. No joy for Sanchez on that attempt.
Sanchez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sutherland.
Sutherland misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Donk. Sutherland catches Sanchez right on the button with a cross.
Sanchez tries to clinch up but Sutherland circles away and keeps his distance.

Sanchez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sanchez stops Sutherland from getting back to his feet.
Sanchez works his way into full mount!
Sanchez moves to the back.

Sanchez is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Sutherland taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Sanchez.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Willy Sanchez!