PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thanh Davis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Davis
vs
Sanchez

151 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

181 cm
25
174 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thanh Davis!
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, Paulo Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Emerson Jorge and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sanchez gets the takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Sanchez in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Davis is looking for a sweep.
Davis could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Let's hope that Sanchez has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Davis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

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

Sanchez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Davis to the mat! Davis manages to get full guard.
Davis can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sanchez controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Davis is keeping the position for now.
Sanchez stops Davis from standing up.
Davis working a defensive guard here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A looping hook to the body misses from Davis. Sanchez does a little dance to reset his feet.

Sanchez scores with a takedown into Davis's guard.
Davis trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Davis can't keep his opponent in guard - Sanchez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet.
Davis blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sanchez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Sanchez looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sanchez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Paulo Sanchez was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Davis gets a double leg takedown into Sanchez's guard.
Davis wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.

Sanchez looking for a guillotine here but Davis defends easily.

Sanchez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Davis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanchez is pulling down on Davis's head to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Sanchez dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sanchez tries to clinch but Davis is having none of it.
Paulo Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Davis lands a slapping body shot.
Sanchez darts in trying to clinch
and Davis counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Paulo Sanchez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanchez keeps the fight on the outside.
Sanchez moves in looking to clinch but Davis pushes him off.
Davis pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Sanchez back to the cage. Davis follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Nice sprawl there from Sanchez as Davis shoots in.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Davis paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanchez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Davis's guard.
Sanchez passes into half guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davis is trying to get back to full guard.
Davis is looking to get back to is feet but Sanchez passes into side control.
Sanchez staying calm.
Sanchez creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Sanchez's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Sanchez goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Davis has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Sanchez but great work by Davis.
Sanchez is trying to control Davis's posture but Davis avoids it.
Sanchez is looking for a sweep.
Davis working away.
Sanchez gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Sanchez trying to hold on to Davis's head to control him but Davis postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Sanchez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Davis manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Davis can't keep his opponent in guard - Sanchez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.

Davis looking for submissions off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanchez prevents Davis from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Davis throws a body punch but Sanchez moves out of range.
Sanchez is looking to clinch but Davis is avoiding it.

Sanchez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Sanchez decides to stand back up. Sanchez steps back and let's Davis get back to his feet.

Sanchez rushes Davis and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Davis can't break the clinch.
Sanchez stalling in the clinch.
Sanchez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Davis is keeping busy.

Sanchez jumps into guard, dragging Davis to the mat.
Sanchez controlling the position.
Davis won't allow Sanchez to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.

Davis drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sanchez dives on top into guard.
Davis can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sanchez controls the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Thanh Davis.
Davis thows a body shot but no joy.
Davis swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Davis takes a swing at Sanchez's ribcage but misses.

Sanchez looking to score a takedown here. Davis is defending well but Sanchez drives through and ends up in Davis's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davis is trying to keep Sanchez in close.
Sanchez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sanchez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Sanchez gets a takedown into half guard.
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!
Sanchez controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Davis's head.
Sanchez wants to stand up but Davis is controlling the position.
Sanchez seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Paulo Sanchez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Sanchez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Davis to the ground. Sanchez is now in Davis's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is stalling in the full guard.
Sanchez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sanchez stands up and waves to Davis to follow him.
Thanh Davis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paulo Sanchez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Davis swats away the attempt to clinch by Sanchez.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paulo Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sanchez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paulo Sanchez!