PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Falcao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Sanderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Falcao comes to the cage accompanied by Screwdriver- White Stripes. This should be fireworks!

Falcao
vs
Sanderson

173 cm
22
168 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ricardo Falcao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sam Sanderson!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Steve Smith and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Falcao clinches with his opponent.
We've been hearing reports that Falcao has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Sanderson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Falcao lands a hook that snaps the head of Sanderson backwards.

Falcao's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Falcao gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Falcao gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Falcao trying to control but Sanderson is working from the bottom.
Falcao stands and throws Sanderson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sanderson takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Sanderson is working to avoid the ground and pound but Falcao connects with a decent elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Falcao scoring with punches from side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sanderson wants to control but Falcao postures up.

Sanderson throws Falcao to one side and escapes!
Donk. Falcao catches Sanderson right on the button with a cross.
Sanderson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Falcao moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanderson tries to pull guard but Falcao holds him up against the cage and eventually Sanderson drops back down to his feet.

Falcao has Sanderson pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Falcao pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Sanderson tumbling to the mat - Falcao dives into Sanderson's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Falcao accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Falcao lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Falcao trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanderson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Falcao. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sanderson wants to sweep here but Falcao controlling him for the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Falcao accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Falcao is in close to Sanderson's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Falcao preventing the sweep.
Sanderson is looking to sweep but instead, Falcao has passed into half guard.
Sanderson has hold of Falcao's hands but Falcao slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Falcao trying to control from half guard but Sanderson is working away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Falcao is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Falcao throwing shots but Sanderson is blocking nicely.
Sanderson is trying to maintain the position but Falcao is very close to passing his half guard.
Falcao thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sanderson's head.
Sanderson is looking to improve his position.
Falcao lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Falcao.
Sanderson is looking to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sanderson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sanderson is not content to let Falcao control the position.
Falcao slows the pace down in half guard.
Falcao lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Falcao looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sanderson is controlling Falcao's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Falcao not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sanderson trying to control from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Falcao is taking a breather. Sanderson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Sanderson trying to control here.

Sam Sanderson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sanderson fails with the takedown
and Falcao counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanderson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Falcao closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Falcao dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Falcao pushes Sanderson up against the cage in a clinch.

Falcao has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Sanderson regains guard immediately.
Sanderson keeping moving, preventing Falcao from controlling successfully.
Ricardo Falcao overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sanderson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Falcao trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Falcao is looking to work some ground and pound but Sanderson has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Falcao accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sanderson throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Sanderson keeping moving, preventing Falcao from controlling successfully.
Falcao has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sanderson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Falcao is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falcao works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sanderson is trying to stand up here but Falcao is controlling him well.
Falcao wants to control but Sanderson is keeping him busy.
Sanderson is looking to control Falcao's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sanderson avoid being mounted?
Nice strikes from Falcao there.
Falcao wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sanderson keeps working.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Falcao lands strikes from half guard.
Sanderson is looking to control Falcao's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sanderson avoid being mounted?
Sanderson keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Falcao.
Falcao wants to control but Sanderson is keeping him busy.
Sanderson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Falcao thows a huge punch but Sanderson dodges it nicely.
Sanderson is looking to escape.

Sanderson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Falcao pulls his head out easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Falcao sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sanderson defending well though.
Sanderson pushes Falcao off looking to stand but Falcao dives back in and keeps control.
Sanderson is looking to improve his position.
Falcao looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sanderson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falcao tries to pass to full mount but Sanderson defends it.
Sanderson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Falcao scores with a couple of nice shots.
Falcao trying to control from half guard but Sanderson is working away.
Sanderson is trying to stand.

Sanderson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Falcao winds up and cracks Sanderson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Falcao trying to control the action but Sanderson is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Falcao controlling the pace.
Sanderson wants to get back to his feet.
Sanderson wants to get back to full guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Ricardo Falcao wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Falcao tries to close the distance and clinch but Sanderson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Falcao tries to clinch up.

Sanderson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sanderson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
You can see the frustration on Falcao's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Sanderson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Falcao knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Falcao dominated that second round.
That's time! Falcao's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sanderson drives through and clinches with Falcao against the cage.

Falcao's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Falcao tries to clinch up.
Falcao fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Falcao wants to clinch.
Falcao wants to clinch.
Sanderson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Falcao counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanderson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sanderson is staying active underneath Falcao, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanderson wants to control but Falcao is keeping busy.
Sanderson is refusing to be controlled, as Falcao sits in half guard.
Sanderson is looking to improve his position.
Falcao thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Falcao wants to control but Sanderson is keeping him busy.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Falcao lands a nice short elbow.
Falcao missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Falcao is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sanderson trying to hold on to Falcao's head to control him but Falcao postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sanderson shoots for a double leg takedown but Falcao sprawls well. He's pushed Sanderson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sanderson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Sanderson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Falcao sprawls well. Falcao wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sanderson gets slowly back to his feet.
Ricardo Falcao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Sanderson.

Falcao clinches up against the cage.
A short right from Falcao.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sanderson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Falcao prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson looking for a takedown.
Falcao has Sanderson pressed against the cage, preventing Sanderson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Falcao pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Falcao wants to clinch.
Sanderson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Falcao counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Falcao.
Ricardo Falcao is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Falcao sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Falcao throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sanderson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Falcao is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sanderson can do to turn this around?
Falcao scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Falcao is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Falcao might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sanderson looking to control.
Falcao trying to control but Sanderson is working from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Falcao postures up and lands a big shot to Sanderson's brow.
Falcao with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Falcao trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanderson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Falcao preventing the sweep.
Falcao is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sanderson goes for a double leg but Falcao avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Falcao continues to drive forward.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Falcao showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Falcao has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight for Ricardo Falcao!
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight for Ricardo Falcao!
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight for Ricardo Falcao!

Ricardo Falcao wins by unanimous decision!
Ricardo Falcao decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.