PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Norovicrov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sanders
vs
Norovicrov

205 cm
25
210 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

225 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Sanders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nikolai Norovicrov !
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Norovicrov lands with a nice body punch.
Norovicrov looks to clinch

and Sanders counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sanders might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sanders controls from within his opponent's guard.
Sanders seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Norovicrov for as long as he can get away with.

Sanders thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norovicrov is looking to stand back up but Sanders counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Norovicrov .

Sanders is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Norovicrov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sanders.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Norovicrov won't allow Sanders to pass to mount.
Sanders not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sanders really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sanders is controlling the pace.
Norovicrov wants to get back to his feet.
Sanders controlling the action here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sanders moves forwards but Norovicrov connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A big left from Norovicrov misses.
Sanders was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders dives in and grabs Norovicrov 's left leg, looking for a takedown. Norovicrov pushes down on Sanders's head and hops out.
Sanders has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Norovicrov finds it's way round the side to connect with Sanders's head.
Norovicrov is looking to clinch.
Norovicrov throws a combination that misses

and Sanders counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Norovicrov is trying to stand.
Sanders content to control rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanders gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Norovicrov jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Norovicrov throws a right hand that Sanders ducks under and follows up with a left that Sanders also avoids with ease.
Jab from Norovicrov .
Sanders takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Sanders gets a double leg takedown into Norovicrov 's guard.
Norovicrov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Norovicrov can't keep his opponent in guard - Sanders advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sanders keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Sanders dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sanders takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Norovicrov has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Sanders closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Norovicrov 's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Norovicrov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Sanders stands up from Norovicrov 's guard - Sanders perhaps looking for a knockout.
Sanders tries for a takedown but Norovicrov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Norovicrov lands with a cross.

Sanders shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sanders was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sanders controls the position from side control.
Norovicrov pushes Sanders away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Sanders gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanders stands up and beckons Norovicrov to his feet.

Sanders clinches up against the cage.

Sanders's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Norovicrov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Norovicrov scores with a decent looking hook.
Nikolai Norovicrov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanders takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Norovicrov is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Sanders avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Chris Sanders is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Norovicrov throws a combination that misses

and Sanders moves into the clinch.
Norovicrov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A frustrated look appears on Norovicrov 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Norovicrov has a couple of punches blocked by Sanders.

Sanders manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Sanders is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norovicrov wants to stand and escape but instead Sanders has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Sanders pushes down on Norovicrov 's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Norovicrov is looking to escape.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanders thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Norovicrov 's head.
Norovicrov is looking to get back to is feet but Sanders passes into side control.
Norovicrov is looking to get back to his feet here but Sanders is keeping cool and he's managed to take Norovicrov 's back.
Sanders throwing wild punches that miss their target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Sanders misses with a punch to the head.

Norovicrov fending off the submission attempt from Sanders.
Sanders misses with an elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders controlling from the back.
Sanders continues to stall.
Norovicrov is trying to stand back up.
Sanders controls the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Sanders dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Norovicrov throws a poor cross that misses

and Sanders holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sanders is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Norovicrov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Sanders's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Some wild striking there from Norovicrov .
Norovicrov connects with the punch.
Norovicrov works Sanders's body with a nice hook.

Sanders looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Sanders seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanders is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sanders content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Norovicrov is looking to get back to is feet but Sanders passes into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sanders working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Sanders just content to control the position.

Sanders decides to stand up, so the ref orders Norovicrov to his feet.

Sanders moves into the clinch.

Sanders breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Norovicrov misses with a hook. Sanders ducked under it nicely.
Sanders takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sanders slips under a jab.

Sanders throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Norovicrov tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Sanders is in Norovicrov 's guard.

Sanders gets to his feet - Norovicrov follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norovicrov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanders paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sanders is defended easily by Norovicrov .
Sanders takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Sanders slips a jab from Norovicrov .
Nikolai Norovicrov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Norovicrov scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Norovicrov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sanders moves out of range of the strikes.
Norovicrov misses with a wild body shot.
It looked like Sanders was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Sanders closes the distance and clinches.
Norovicrov is looking to break free of the clinch but Sanders has double underhooks.
Sanders is pushing Norovicrov up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanders manages to break the clinch.
A nice combination there by Norovicrov .
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Norovicrov jabs Sanders right on the nose. Sanders blinks but takes it well.

Sanders has taken the fight to the clinch.

Sanders decides to pull guard.
Sanders seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Norovicrov wants to get up but he can't break Sanders's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sanders is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sanders postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Norovicrov to stand up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Sanders showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sanders, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Sanders!