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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Speedy Atkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diego Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Atkins comes to the cage accompanied by big in japan. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 167 cm
32
150 lbs
26 - 15 - 1 |
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188 cm
34
163 lbs
38 - 18 - 2 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
26 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Speedy Atkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
38 - 18 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Diego Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Atkins lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Atkins's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sanchez connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Atkins scrambles back to his feet.
Atkins closes the distance looking to clinch
and Sanchez makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Sanchez scores with a shot to the body.
Atkins rushes Sanchez and presses him up against the cage.
Sanchez lands a left hand.
Sanchez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sanchez is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Atkins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sanchez avoids it.
Atkins gets through Sanchez's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sanchez is working Atkins over against the cage.
Atkins misses with a hook to the ribs.
Atkins lands with a right to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sanchez tries to stall but Atkins uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Atkins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Atkins scores with an uppercut up the middle.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Sanchez looking to slow down the pace here.
A short left from Sanchez.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sanchez.
Atkins lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sanchez.
Atkins misses with a body punch.
Atkins lands a body shot.
Sanchez avoiding damage as Atkins throws knees to the body.
Atkins presses Sanchez against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A body shot lands from Atkins.
Sanchez is trying to maintain a safe position but Atkins gets an underhook and turns Sanchez into the cage.
Atkins tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nice body punch from Sanchez.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sanchez as Atkins tries to tie him up.
Sanchez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A short body shot lands from Sanchez as the two fighters clinch.
Sanchez misses with a hook to the ribs.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Atkins tries a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks it.
Atkins works on Sanchez's body with a couple of short punches.
Sanchez has a couple of punches blocked by Atkins.
Sanchez misses with the head strike.
Atkins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
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 tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Atkins.
Atkins controlling the action here for a moment.
Atkins tries to throw a body punch but Sanchez avoids it by throwing Atkins back against the cage.
Sanchez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sanchez blocks an elbow strike from Atkins.
Sanchez lands a right hand.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sanchez.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sanchez lands with a right to the head.
Atkins tries to work over Sanchez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atkins lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sanchez backwards.
Sanchez lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Atkins backwards.
Atkins misses with a hook from the clinch.
Atkins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sanchez.
Atkins digs a right hand into Sanchez's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sanchez's gas tank.
A short right from Sanchez.
Sanchez gets through Atkins's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Sanchez takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Atkins is leaning against Sanchez and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Atkins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sanchez blocks an uppercut.
Sanchez slowing the pace effectively.
A head punch on the inside from Atkins fails to land.
Atkins misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sanchez lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Atkins backwards.
Sanchez blocking some punches.
Atkins's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sanchez blocking some punches.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sanchez scores with a shot to the side of Atkins's head.
Sanchez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Atkins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Atkins lands a body punch in the clinch.
Sanchez lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Atkins backwards.
A short uppercut from Sanchez.
Atkins lands with a short shot to the head.
Atkins lands with a short punch from the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Atkins just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sanchez's brow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Atkins.
A left hand lands to the body for Atkins.
Atkins throws a knee to the head but misses.
Atkins lands a body shot in the clinch.
I was talking to Atkins's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Atkins throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sanchez blocks it with crossed arms.
Sanchez blocks an uppercut.
Sanchez lands a hook to the side of the head.
Atkins misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Atkins works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Speedy Atkins will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
A bone on bone clash there as Atkins blocks the leg kick.
Atkins is looking to counter punch.
Atkins ducks under a wild hook from Sanchez.
Sanchez throws a jab but it's blocked by Atkins.
Sanchez throws the left hand but Atkins avoids the punch easily.
Atkins connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sanchez. Sanchez circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Sanchez with a nice cross.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
A shot in the inside from Sanchez.
Sanchez swings wildly with an uppercut but Atkins uses good head movement to avoid it.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Atkins.
Sanchez scores with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Atkins tries a body shot but Sanchez blocks it.
Atkins wants to stall.
Atkins misses with the head strike.
Atkins tries to work over Sanchez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Atkins lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sanchez backwards.
Speedy Atkins has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sanchez lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Atkins backwards.
Atkins blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Atkins tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Atkins is struggling to control the position.
Atkins's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Atkins prevents a body shot from Sanchez.
Atkins pushes off an throws an elbow but Sanchez leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Atkins obliges.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Sanchez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Atkins's elbow.
Sanchez lands an uppercut.
Good body shot from Atkins.
Sanchez pushes Atkins back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Atkins is working Sanchez over against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sanchez.
Atkins lands a body punch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atkins lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sanchez.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sanchez working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Sanchez misses with some punches.
A short right from Atkins on the inside.
Atkins blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Atkins tries a body shot but Sanchez blocks it.
Sanchez wants to break free but Atkins has control.
Atkins misses with some punches.
Atkins lands a body shot in the clinch.
Sanchez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Atkins has a couple of punches blocked by Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a left hand that snaps the head of Atkins backwards.
Sanchez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Atkins is trying to stall.
Sanchez blocking some punches.
Sanchez is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Atkins blocks a punch to the side of the head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez lands a left hand that snaps the head of Atkins backwards.
Sanchez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Atkins misses with a body punch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Atkins.
Atkins misses with some punches.
Atkins working aggressively here.
Atkins tries to work over Sanchez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sanchez lands a hook to the side of the head.
Atkins misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sanchez trying to stall but Atkins improves his position.
Sanchez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Atkins lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sanchez swings wildly with an uppercut but Atkins uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sanchez is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Atkins lands a nice shot to the body.
Atkins throws a head punch that misses.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkins throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sanchez softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sanchez lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Atkins.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A short body shot lands from Sanchez as the two fighters clinch.
Sanchez prevents a body shot from Atkins.
Atkins lands with a short shot to the head.
Atkins looking to throw knees to the head but Sanchez is blocking nicely.
Atkins being controlled against the cage.
Sanchez dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Atkins lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sanchez.
Atkins lands a hook that snaps the head of Sanchez backwards.
Atkins misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sanchez lands with a short shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Diego Sanchez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!
Atkins is looking to clinch but Sanchez is avoiding it.
Sanchez misses with a series of wild punches.
Sanchez lands a head shot.
Atkins swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Sanchez counter with a right hand.
Atkins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sanchez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sanchez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Atkins misses with a leg kick.
Sanchez is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Sanchez missing with a left hand there. Atkins was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Atkins wants to clinch up but Sanchez keeps it at a distance.
Atkins tries to clinch up.
Sanchez circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Atkins misses with a few strikes there.
Atkins is looking to clinch but Sanchez is avoiding it.
Sanchez is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Sanchez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Sanchez wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Atkins on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Atkins is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Atkins on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sanchez. Sanchez obviously looking to wear him down.
Sanchez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Speedy Atkins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Atkins uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sanchez.
Sloppy strikes from Atkins. Those never looked like landing.
Atkins closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sanchez throws a head punch that misses.
Atkins throws a punch but it's blocked by Sanchez.
Atkins misses with a body punch.
Atkins has a couple of punches blocked by Sanchez.
Sanchez looking to slow down the pace here.
Sanchez tries to throw a body punch but Atkins avoids it by throwing Sanchez back against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Atkins.
Atkins misses with a hook from the clinch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Atkins fails to land.
Sanchez is trying to maintain a safe position but Atkins gets an underhook and turns Sanchez into the cage.
Atkins struggles to land a body shot inside as Sanchez controls his hands.
Sanchez has a couple of punches blocked by Atkins.
Sanchez is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Sanchez has a couple of punches blocked by Atkins.
Atkins is pushing Sanchez up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Sanchez blocking some punches.
Sanchez working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sanchez tries to throw a body punch but Atkins avoids it by throwing Sanchez back against the cage.
Atkins misses with a punch to the body.
Nice body punch from Atkins.
Atkins misses with a punch to the body.
Atkins is pushing Sanchez up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Sanchez throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez misses with some punches.
Sanchez tries to stall but Atkins uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Sanchez blocks an uppercut.
Sanchez swings wildly with an uppercut but Atkins uses good head movement to avoid it.
Atkins lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Atkins blocking some punches.
Sanchez misses with the head strike.
Sanchez blocks an uppercut.
Atkins lands with a light punch inside.
Sanchez lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sanchez lands an uppercut.
Atkins throws a head punch that misses.
Atkins lands a shot to the body.
Sanchez tries to work over Atkins's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Atkins misses with the head strike.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Atkins fails to land.
A right hook to the body lands for Atkins.
Atkins tries to throw a body punch but Sanchez avoids it by throwing Atkins back against the cage.
Sanchez misses with some punches.
Sanchez tries to throw a body punch but Atkins avoids it by throwing Sanchez back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Atkins.
Sanchez blocks an uppercut.
Sanchez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good body shot from Atkins.
Sanchez misses with a punch to the body.
Atkins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Atkins trying to land knees to the body.
Sanchez lands with a light punch inside.
Atkins prevents a body shot from Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a left hand that snaps the head of Atkins backwards.
A short left from Sanchez.
Atkins throws a head punch that misses.
Sanchez blocks a body shot from Atkins.
And that's the end of the fight!
Diego Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sanchez 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by split decision... Diego Sanchez!
An out of breath Diego Sanchez thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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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
63% |
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