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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Connor MacManus (ranked 2957 p4p, 312 weight class) and Steve Sanchez (ranked 2681 p4p, 279 weight class). Sanchez has chosen Where is My Mind? by Pixies as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 178 cm
24
156 lbs
12 - 6 - 1 |
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178 cm
23
158 lbs
9 - 11 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine |
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Powerful takedowns
Great elbows
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
12 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Connor MacManus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
9 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Steve Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Colin Fray and Roger Salmon.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
MacManus misses with a looping right.
A swing and a miss from MacManus.
MacManus throws a body shot but no joy.
MacManus misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sanchez.
Sanchez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sanchez lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Steve Sanchez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from MacManus is defended easily by Sanchez.
Sanchez swats away the attempt to clinch by MacManus.
Sanchez fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from MacManus. Sanchez does a little dance to reset his feet.
A right-left combo lands from Sanchez.
MacManus avoids a punch combination nicely.
Some wild striking there from MacManus.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez lands a head shot.
MacManus is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sanchez.
Sanchez on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Sanchez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
MacManus moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
MacManus swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
MacManus takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sanchez slips a straight right by MacManus.
MacManus misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
MacManus doesn't manage to clinch there - Sanchez circles away.
Sanchez smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
MacManus misses the shot to the body.
MacManus moves out of range of the strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
MacManus just misses with a punch to the body.
MacManus moves into the clinch.
Sanchez is leaning against MacManus and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez prevents the takedown attempt.
MacManus misses with the head strike.
MacManus misses with a body punch.
MacManus struggles to land a body shot inside as Sanchez controls his hands.
MacManus wants the takedown. Sanchez is fighting it off but MacManus persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Sanchez's guard against the cage.
Sanchez keeping full guard, as MacManus tries to pass.
Sanchez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and MacManus defends well.
Sanchez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. MacManus doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. MacManus manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sanchez is on top in guard.
Sanchez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez passes into half guard.
MacManus is in trouble now - Sanchez has advanced to mount!
MacManus is squirming around, avoiding Sanchez's attempts to control the action.
Sanchez lands a couple of good shots and MacManus has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Sanchez wants to control the position but MacManus frees himself and scrambles - Sanchez manages to regain control in side control.
MacManus is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
You can see the frustration on MacManus's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
MacManus wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on MacManus's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
MacManus is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
MacManus manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sanchez's best efforts.
MacManus has hold of Sanchez's hands but Sanchez slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sanchez takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
MacManus manages to get to full guard.
MacManus trying to keep a closed guard but Sanchez is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Steve Sanchez dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
MacManus throws a shot from downtown. Sanchez moves away and avoids it.
MacManus ducks right into an uppercut from Sanchez.
MacManus lands a glancing blow to the side of Sanchez's head.
Sanchez scores with a punch to the head.
Sanchez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
MacManus lands a glancing blow to the side of Sanchez's head.
MacManus misses with a wild combination.
Steve Sanchez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice straight punches there by Sanchez. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sanchez.
MacManus takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A cross from Sanchez lands.
Sanchez digs a good hook to MacManus's body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanchez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sanchez might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
MacManus walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
That kick from Sanchez tenderised MacManus's leg. MacManus is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sanchez lands a slapping body shot.
Sanchez jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
MacManus is rocked!
MacManus drops his hands momentarily and Sanchez takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Oh MacManus is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
That's one minute gone in the round.
MacManus missing with a left hand there. Sanchez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sanchez is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Sanchez scores with a one two! MacManus had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Sanchez stuffs the takedown attempt from MacManus. MacManus gets slowly back to his feet.
Sanchez's jab looks to have found its range, popping MacManus under the eye.
MacManus drives through with a takedown into guard.
MacManus landing some decent shots from guard.
MacManus throws a strike but Sanchez rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
MacManus seems to have got his legs back now.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but MacManus keeps moving.
MacManus had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sanchez defends it easily.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
MacManus 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.
MacManus seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Sanchez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but MacManus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanchez forces his way into half guard.
MacManus is staying active underneath Sanchez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
MacManus won't allow Sanchez to pass to mount.
MacManus is in trouble now - Sanchez has advanced to mount!
Sanchez trying to control but MacManus is having none of it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacManus is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sanchez looking to control but MacManus is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
MacManus is trying desperately to improve position.
Steve Sanchez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sanchez working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Sanchez fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Sanchez landing strikes, looking to finish!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
MacManus wants to hold on but Sanchez pushes him away.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacManus manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Sanchez scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
MacManus looking for submissions off his back.
MacManus is holding on to half guard well.
Sanchez tries to pass the half guard into mount. MacManus knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
MacManus is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Steve Sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!
Sanchez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sanchez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but MacManus defends well and Sanchez ends up having to push MacManus into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sanchez tries for a takedown but MacManus sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sanchez lands a jab to the nose.
Sanchez throws a right hand that MacManus ducks under and follows up with a left that MacManus also avoids with ease.
Sanchez throws a jab but it's blocked by MacManus.
MacManus tries to clinch there but Sanchez circles away.
Sanchez moves away from the strike by MacManus.
MacManus looks for a takedown but Sanchez sprawls well.
MacManus ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sanchez moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MacManus stuffs the takedown.
Connor MacManus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Sanchez.
MacManus swings for the body but Sanchez moves out of range.
Sanchez's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Sanchez duly obliges.
A decent looking cross lands there for Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a head shot.
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!
MacManus jabbing away but nothing is landing.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
MacManus loads up on a big right hand but Sanchez slips the punch.
MacManus gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Sanchez.
Sanchez smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sanchez shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sanchez showed some decent athleticism there.
MacManus looking for submissions off his back.
Sanchez trying to control from half guard but MacManus is working away.
Connor MacManus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
MacManus looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
MacManus wants to control but Sanchez is keeping busy.
Sanchez wants to pass to mount but MacManus is defending the position.
Sanchez is looking to take a break and control but MacManus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sanchez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
MacManus is pressing down on Sanchez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacManus keeping full guard, as Sanchez tries to pass.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but MacManus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanchez lands a couple of digs.
MacManus keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Sanchez pushing down on MacManus's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
MacManus manages to get to full guard.
MacManus keeping full guard, as Sanchez tries to pass.
MacManus looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacManus throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
MacManus tries to strike from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
MacManus working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sanchez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sanchez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sanchez connects with a couple of short punches.
Sanchez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
MacManus has an active guard here but Sanchez has managed to pass into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
MacManus flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sanchez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Sanchez!
A relieved looking Steve Sanchez thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
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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
50% |
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