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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rod Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Rearden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanders comes to the cage accompanied by I Have a Dream. Rearden has chosen Irigy Hónaljmirigy - Rúgj Chuck Norris (Chuck Norris parody by Hungarians) as his entrance music. Henry Rearden has the eye of the tiger tonight.
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| 195 cm
23
225 lbs
8 - 4 - 0 |
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193 cm
24
226 lbs
8 - 3 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine |
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Excellent grappler
Good kicks
Granite chin |
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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
8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rod Sanders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Henry Rearden!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Eddie Farnsworth and Dean Styles.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A right-left combo lands from Sanders.
Sanders throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Sanders delivers a nice body kick.
Rearden throws a body kick that misses.
Sanders keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sanders closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rearden did well to prevent Sanders getting 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.
Sanders wants to advance to full mount but Rearden doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Rearden is controlling Sanders's posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rearden is on top in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rearden throws a big elbow that misses.
Rearden passes Sanders's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rearden is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Sanders!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rearden lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sanders hang on?
Rearden throws a sloppy strike and Sanders uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Sanders has ended up in Rearden's guard.
Rearden wants to sweep here but Sanders controlling him for the moment.
Sanders pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rearden is keeping the position for now.
Sanders cracks Rearden with a solid left hand.
Sanders working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rearden is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rearden missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanders moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Rearden working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Sanders is trying to keep Rearden in close.
Sanders wants to sweep but no luck.
Rearden lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rearden works over Sanders with some ground and pound from guard.
Rearden pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanders is keeping the position for now.
Sanders is trying to control the position but Rearden postures up.
Rearden wants to pass the guard but Sanders is keeping the position.
Sanders is looking for a triangle here but Rearden uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Rearden has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rearden working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rearden moves into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rearden unloading with bombs!
Rearden can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sanders is looking to escape.
Rearden landing shots from mount.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rearden prevents Sanders from getting the reversal.
The referee warns Sanders that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Rearden is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Sanders to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Sanders shrugs it off.
Sanders is looking to get to half guard.
Rearden postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sanders looks a forlorn figure.
Rearden unloading with bombs!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rearden landing strikes from the mount.
Rearden postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sanders looks a forlorn figure.
Sanders is rocked!
It looks like Rod Sanders has been cut.
Rearden is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Sanders can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Henry Rearden dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rod Sanders's cut.
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.
Rearden doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sanders counters with a nice body shot.
Rearden shoots in looking for a takedown. Sanders tries to sprawl out of it but Rearden keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sanders manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sanders fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rearden manages to avoid it.
Rearden closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sanders is trying to get back to half guard.
Rearden landing strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rearden tries for a kimura but Sanders is defending well.
Rearden thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rearden tries to advance to mount but can't.
Sanders gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rearden is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sanders has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sanders won't allow Rearden to pass to mount.
Rearden has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rearden passes to full mount!
Rearden looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanders has given up his back here. Will Rearden look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Well, with Rearden on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Sanders is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Sanders showing good submission defense here.
Rearden looking for the choke from the back.
Rearden thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Sanders breaks Rearden's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Sanders is pushing down on Rearden's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rearden is fighting to maintain full guard but Sanders has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sanders is looking to advance position but Rearden won't allow it.
Sanders is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rearden is trying desperately to improve position.
The referee warns Rearden that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Sanders can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rearden is looking to escape.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Rearden regains half guard.
Sanders wants to pass to mount but Rearden is defending the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Henry Rearden will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Rod Sanders's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.
Sanders lands a body shot.
Sanders slaps away a takedown attempt from Rearden, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rearden lets loose with a powerful body kick. Sanders will feel that in the morning.
Sanders stuns Rearden with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sanders scores with a nice body kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rearden is defended easily by Sanders.
Sanders tries to land a front kick but Rearden steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rearden is trying to counter with his kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rearden shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sanders pinned against the cage. Sanders gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rod Sanders has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry Rearden.
Sanders swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rearden shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sanders as he avoids it easily.
Rearden tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sanders defends well and Rearden ends up having to push Sanders into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
It appears Sanders was looking to counter with a kick there.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rearden.
Rearden takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sanders fails with the takedown.
Sanders takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Nice sprawl there from Sanders as Rearden shoots in.
Rearden ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sanders moves away.
Sanders leaves Rearden with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sanders stuffs the takedown attempt from Rearden. Rearden gets slowly back to his feet.
Sanders quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Rearden takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rearden fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rearden shoots in looking for a takedown. Sanders tries to sprawl out of it but Rearden keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sanders manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanders tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rearden was well out of range. Poor timing from Sanders.
Rearden shoots in but no luck this time.
Sanders slaps away a takedown attempt from Rearden, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rearden throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sanders drops down looking for a counter takedown but Rearden sprawls and moves away.
Sanders fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rearden looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Sanders scores with a jab to the body.
Sanders misses with a body shot.
Sanders fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
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!
Sanders thuds his right hand into Rearden's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sanders throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rearden tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Sanders scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rearden doesn't seem bothered though.
Sanders blocks the body kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A thudding body kick lands there by Sanders!
Rearden walks forward, straight into a front kick from Sanders.
No luck for Sanders with that takedown attempt.
Sanders shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rearden pinned against the cage. Rearden gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rearden tries to close the distance and clinch but Sanders swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sanders misses with the body kick
and Rearden makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Sanders really felt that one!
Sanders slaps away a takedown attempt from Rearden, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sanders lands a nice hook to Rearden's body. Rearden takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Some wild striking there from Sanders.
Sanders misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rearden.
Rod Sanders has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henry Rearden is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A momentary lapse in concentration from Sanders enables Rearden to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sanders manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Rearden looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rearden pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanders is keeping the position for now.
Sanders throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rearden escapes and throws Sanders's legs to the side, diving into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanders regains half guard there - taking advantage of Rearden's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
And that's the end of the fight!
Rod Sanders showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rearden 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by split decision... Henry Rearden!
Henry Rearden took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Valhalla Fight Wear for their support in the buildup to the fight.
Rod Sanders spoke after the fight, saying 'best 2 of 3?'.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
46% |
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