PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between JJ Sanderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malcolm Reynolds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sanderson
vs
Reynolds

182 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, JJ Sanderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Malcolm Reynolds!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Winston Alpacca and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reynolds loads up on a big right hand but Sanderson slips the punch.
Sanderson throws a series of punches but Reynolds moves out of range.
Sanderson misses with a two punch combination.
Sanderson misses with a takedown
and Reynolds counters with an inside leg kick.
Reynolds wants to clinch up but Sanderson keeps it at a distance.
Reynolds throws a looping overhand right but Sanderson ducks down to avoid it.
Sanderson fails to land with a series of punches.
Reynolds dives in and grabs Sanderson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sanderson pushes down on Reynolds's head and hops out.
Reynolds slaps away a takedown attempt from Sanderson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sanderson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Reynolds is fending him off so far but Sanderson persists. Nope, Reynolds circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for JJ Sanderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanderson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Reynolds counters with an inside leg kick.
Sanderson throws a right and a left that Reynolds avoids nicely.

Reynolds throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sanderson was covering up waiting for the punch and Reynolds finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Reynolds scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reynolds is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sanderson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Reynolds trying to move into half guard but instead Sanderson has managed to sweep!
Reynolds looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sanderson is one step ahead there.
Sanderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Reynolds is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson wanted to stand there but Reynolds had control of the position.
Sanderson preventing the sweep.
Reynolds controlling Sanderson's posture.
Reynolds 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.
Sanderson wants to stand but Reynolds is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds keeping moving, preventing Sanderson from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because JJ Sanderson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Reynolds tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sanderson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sanderson misses with a two punch combination.
Sanderson ducks under a wild hook from Reynolds.

Reynolds pushes Sanderson up against the cage in a clinch.
Reynolds lands an elbow inside.
Reynolds with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Reynolds gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Sanderson regains guard.
Sanderson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sanderson tries to get out of the position.
Sanderson wants to get back to his feet but Reynolds is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds wants to pass the guard but Sanderson is keeping the position.
Sanderson wants to stand but Reynolds is controlling the position.
Reynolds showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Reynolds throwing strikes from guard but Sanderson blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malcolm Reynolds dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A combination from Sanderson does no damage.
Reynolds swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sanderson needs to keep his hands up - Reynolds had a free shot at his head there.
Sanderson works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Reynolds shoots in looking for a takedown but Sanderson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Reynolds's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
JJ Sanderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanderson throws a right hand that Reynolds ducks under and follows up with a left that Reynolds also avoids with ease.
Sanderson closes the distance and clinches up with Reynolds, looking for a takedown. Sanderson pushes Reynolds against the cage but Reynolds circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Reynolds throws a big shot that misses.

Reynolds moves into the clinch successfully.
Reynolds with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Reynolds wants to take the fight to the mat but Sanderson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Reynolds looking for a takedown.
JJ Sanderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Malcolm Reynolds.
Reynolds is working for takedown but Sanderson is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reynolds misses with the head strike.

Reynolds turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Reynolds manages to end up in side control.
Reynolds wants to control but Sanderson is keeping him busy.
An elbow from Reynolds crashes against the mat.
Reynolds prevents Sanderson from escaping the position.
Sanderson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Reynolds on the ground.
Reynolds wants to control but Sanderson is keeping him busy.
Sanderson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Sanderson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Sanderson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Reynolds.
Sloppy strikes there by Reynolds.
Reynolds in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Sanderson is not content to let Reynolds control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Reynolds seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Reynolds misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Sanderson tries to improve position but can't.
Reynolds scoring with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson stops Reynolds from passing to mount.
Reynolds scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Sanderson to see if he's OK.

Reynolds tries for a kimura but Sanderson is defending well.
Reynolds throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanderson dodges the ground and pound from Reynolds.
The strikes coming from Reynolds are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malcolm Reynolds showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sanderson misses with a double jab.
Sanderson slaps away a takedown attempt from Reynolds, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Reynolds fakes the leg kick and cracks Sanderson in the body.

Reynolds closes the distance and clinches.
Reynolds tries to score a body lock takedown but Sanderson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sanderson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Reynolds.
JJ Sanderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Malcolm Reynolds.
Sanderson working hard to break the clinch.
Reynolds tries to throw a body punch but Sanderson avoids it by throwing Reynolds back against the cage.

Reynolds escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanderson swinging wildly here.
Sanderson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Malcolm Reynolds has been cut.
Sanderson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Reynolds.
Sanderson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Sanderson swinging wildly here.
Sanderson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Reynolds moves in looking to clinch but Sanderson pushes him off.

Reynolds has closed the distance and engaged Sanderson in a clinch.
Reynolds tries for a takedown. No joy.
Reynolds wants a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Reynolds goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sanderson prevents it.
Reynolds manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Sanderson is trying to break free.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Reynolds throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Reynolds throws a head punch that misses.
Reynolds has a couple of punches blocked by Sanderson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Reynolds.
Reynolds has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sanderson after a bit of a struggle.
Sanderson being controlled against the cage.
Reynolds tries for a takedown but Sanderson manages to get underhooks.
Reynolds is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Reynolds breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Sanderson misses.
Sanderson pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Reynolds back to the cage. Sanderson follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Reynolds wants to clinch up but Sanderson keeps it at a distance.
Reynolds with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sanderson to score with a decent uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanderson misses with a jab, cross combination.
No joy there for Sanderson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Reynolds takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That has opened up Malcolm Reynolds's cut even more.
Sanderson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sanderson swinging wildly here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reynolds throws a hook but Sanderson avoids it easily.
JJ Sanderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Malcolm Reynolds is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sanderson scores with a three punch combo!

And that's the end of the fight!
JJ Sanderson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Reynolds has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malcolm Reynolds!