PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brad Thicke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thicke has chosen David Guetta and Snoop Dogg - Sweat as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Brad Thicke has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sanchez
vs
Thicke

190 cm
23
150 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

184 cm
30
145 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Alpha-Male Nutritional Supplements (q160)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Antonio Sanchez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brad Thicke!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thicke scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Thicke scores with a takedown into Sanchez's guard.
Sanchez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thicke throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sanchez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Sanchez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Thicke loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thicke looking to sit in guard and control but Sanchez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sanchez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sanchez trying to control but Thicke is working from the bottom.
Thicke looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez trying to control but Thicke is working from the bottom.

Thicke is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Sanchez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Thicke is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sanchez, into his guard.
Thicke has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sanchez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez wants to pass to mount but Thicke is defending the position.

Sanchez wants to work for an arm triangle but Thicke is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Thicke pushes Sanchez off but Sanchez dives into side control.
Sanchez tries to move to mount but Thicke blocks the move with his legs.

Sanchez tries for a kimura but Thicke is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thicke tries to buck Sanchez off but Sanchez is having none of it.
Sanchez is looking to take a break and control but Thicke is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sanchez tries to move into full mount but can't pass Thicke's legs.

Sanchez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Sanchez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Thicke rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Sanchez's guard! Nice work there by Thicke!
Thicke makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thicke accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thicke trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Sanchez working for submissions but it's allowed Thicke to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Brad Thicke will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Thicke misses with a shot to the body
and Sanchez counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Sanchez thows a body shot but no joy.

Sanchez has taken the fight to the clinch.

Sanchez has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Thicke clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Sanchez is hanging on to Thicke's back as he tries to escape.
Sanchez doesn't have the hooks in and Thicke manages to turn into his guard.
Thicke missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Sanchez looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Thicke has picked Sanchez up and slammed him! Sanchez can't keep hold of the triangle and Thicke manages to pass to side control!
Sanchez regains half guard.
Sanchez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Thicke content to control rather than advance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thicke throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Sanchez to regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thicke stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sanchez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thicke looking to sit in guard and control but Sanchez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sanchez wants to pass the guard but Thicke is keeping the position.

Sanchez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Thicke is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Thicke has escaped and now he's on top!

Sanchez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thicke in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thicke throws a big elbow that misses.
Sanchez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thicke trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Thicke missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thicke throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sanchez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Sanchez has his foot on Thicke's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thicke works his way back into a safe position though.
Thicke is looking to work some ground and pound but Sanchez has wrist control.

Sanchez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thicke gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thicke working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thicke looking to sit in guard and control but Sanchez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sanchez has gone for a leg lock! Thicke slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sanchez's guard.
Thicke won't allow Sanchez to sweep him here.
Thicke throws an elbow that misses. Sanchez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Thicke's guard. Nice move by Sanchez!
Sanchez tries to free his leg and advance position but Thicke is retaining full guard.
Brad Thicke has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thicke tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sanchez looking to sit in guard and control but Thicke gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Thicke trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanchez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thicke's guard.
Thicke is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Thicke trying to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanchez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thicke swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Antonio Sanchez will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Thicke shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Sanchez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thicke pulls his head out easily.
Sanchez is in trouble now - Thicke has advanced to mount!
Thicke throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Thicke throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

Thicke goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Sanchez is on top in guard.

Thicke is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thicke swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Sanchez drops back, looking for a kneebar! Thicke looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Thicke looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Thicke!
Sloppy strikes there by Thicke.
Sanchez is looking for a sweep.
Sanchez managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Thicke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is looking for a sweep.
An elbow from Thicke crashes against the mat.

Thicke tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Thicke has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Thicke misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Thicke throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Sanchez is trying to get back to half guard.
Thicke looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Sanchez is avoiding damage well.
Sanchez regains half guard.

Sanchez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sanchez is in trouble now - Thicke has advanced to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Thicke tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Sanchez can't escape the position.

Thicke jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Sanchez is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Sanchez and Thicke has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Sanchez is looking for a sweep.
Sanchez is not content to let Thicke control the position.
Sanchez regains half guard, as Thicke was trying to land strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Thicke trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Thicke throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thicke in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thicke missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thicke trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thicke accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thicke in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A looping hook to the body misses from Thicke. Sanchez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sanchez looks to land a right hand but Thicke moved out of range.

Thicke moves into the clinch.
Sanchez lands an elbow just above Thicke 's eye.
Sanchez taking a breather.

Thicke wants the takedown. Sanchez is fighting it off but Thicke persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Sanchez's guard against the cage.
Sanchez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thicke.
Thicke trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Thicke is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Thicke trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Thicke throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Thicke is looking to work some ground and pound but Sanchez has wrist control.
Sanchez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thicke with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sanchez keeping full guard, as Thicke tries to pass.
Thicke postures up in Sanchez's guard and throws a big left but Sanchez blocks it.
Thicke throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sanchez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thicke throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sanchez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thicke forces his way into half guard.
Thicke thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thicke trying to control the action but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Thicke missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Thicke looks to land a strike but Sanchez avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Thicke won't allow Sanchez to sweep him here.
Thicke loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Thicke throws a sloppy strike and Sanchez has hooked up an armbar on the loose arm! He's turned and extended fully! Thicke is forced to tap! Great BJJ from Sanchez!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Antonio Sanchez!
Antonio Sanchez retains his featherweight title!
Antonio Sanchez took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Alpha-Male Nutritional Supplements (q160) for their support in the buildup to the fight.