PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ruslan Temirov (ranked 4747 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leon Pablo Sanchez (ranked 3300 p4p, 0 weight class). Temirov has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. 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.

Temirov
vs
Pablo Sanchez

182 cm
25
156 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

175 cm
25
156 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ruslan Temirov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leon Pablo Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, John Roberts and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Temirov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sanchez.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Temirov as he avoids it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Sanchez. No joy for Temirov on that attempt.
Sanchez fails with a takedown attempt.
Ruslan Temirov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leon Pablo Sanchez.
Temirov misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Temirov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As Temirov backs off Sanchez throws a huge counter combo but Temirov manages to avoid it all.
No joy there for Temirov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Temirov is breathing heavily.
Sanchez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Temirov defends it nicely.
It looked like Temirov was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez lands a glancing blow to the side of Temirov's head.

Sanchez pushes Temirov up against the cage in a clinch.
Temirov tries to break free but Sanchez pushes him back against the cage.
Temirov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Temirov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sanchez gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Sanchez jumps guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez looking for a sweep. Not yet Sanchez, not yet.

Sanchez pushes Temirov off and gets back to his feet.
Sanchez closes the distance and clinches up with Temirov, looking for a takedown. Sanchez pushes Temirov against the cage but Temirov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sanchez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sanchez shoots for a double leg takedown but Temirov sprawls well. He's pushed Sanchez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sanchez dives in and grabs Temirov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Temirov pushes down on Sanchez's head and hops out.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Temirov as he avoids it easily.
Temirov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sanchez avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sanchez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Temirov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Sanchez moves into the clinch.
Temirov is trying to force a seperation but Sanchez has the dominant position.

Sanchez successfully pulls guard.
Temirov preventing the sweep.
Sanchez keeps trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Sanchez manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Sanchez tries to pull guard but Temirov holds him up against the cage and eventually Sanchez drops back down to his feet.

Temirov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Temirov avoids the head kick by Sanchez.
Sanchez fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Sanchez stuffs the takedown attempt from Temirov. Temirov gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Pablo Sanchez dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sanchez pushes Temirov up against the cage in a clinch.

Sanchez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sanchez fails with a takedown attempt.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but Temirov shows good takedown defense.
Temirov attempts a counter takedown but Sanchez avoids it well and moves away.
Sanchez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sanchez shoots in for a double leg but Temirov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ruslan Temirov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leon Pablo Sanchez.
Temirov tries to clinch up but Sanchez circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Temirov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sanchez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Temirov tries to avoid it but Sanchez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Temirov to the ground. Temirov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
As Sanchez looks to move away, Temirov throws a big counter combo but Sanchez just gets out of the way.
Nice takedown defense from Temirov. No joy for Sanchez on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Temirov rushes Sanchez and presses him up against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sanchez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Temirov.

Sanchez pulls Temirov into guard.

Sanchez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Temirov defends it easily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sanchez pulls Temirov in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sanchez pushes Temirov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez lands a really nice looking cross but Temirov seems unphased.

Temirov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sanchez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sanchez pushes down on Temirov's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sanchez controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Temirov trying to control here.

Sanchez decides to stand and escape the position.
Sanchez digs a good hook to Temirov's body.
Temirov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sanchez circles away.
Ruslan Temirov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sanchez feints a jab promting Temirov to slip. Sanchez then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Temirov slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Sanchez shoots in looking for a takedown. Temirov tries to sprawl out of it but Sanchez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Temirov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez fails to land the takedown.
Sanchez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sanchez throws a series of punches but Temirov moves out of range.
Temirov swats away the attempt to clinch by Sanchez.
Temirov is looking to counter the offense by Sanchez and move into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Temirov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sanchez gets cracked there but stands up to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Pablo Sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're 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.

Sanchez shoots in for a double leg but Temirov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Temirov is looking to clinch.
Sanchez unleashes a big counter combination but Temirov bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Sanchez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Leon Pablo Sanchez seems to be getting the better of the standup.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Temirov enables Sanchez to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Temirov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Temirov keeps moving.

Temirov is working an open guard so Sanchez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but Temirov shows good takedown defense.
Horrible takedown attempt by Temirov or perhaps it was just good defense by Sanchez, which made it look bad.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanchez shoots in and drives through. Temirov sprawls well.
Ruslan Temirov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leon Pablo Sanchez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez misses with a two punch combination.
Temirov shoots in but Sanchez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice body punch from Sanchez.
Temirov checks the leg kick.
Temirov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Temirov.

Sanchez has managed to clinch.
Temirov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sanchez smiles and moves away.
Sanchez looks for a takedown but Temirov sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez misses with a head kick.
Sanchez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Temirov's waist but Temirov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sanchez off to one side.
Temirov misses with a takedown attempt - Sanchez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sanchez throws a head kick that misses.
Temirov shoots in looking for a takedown. Sanchez tries to sprawl out of it but Temirov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sanchez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Temirov tries a head kick but it misses.
Sanchez wants to counter the offense by Temirov and move into the clinch position.
Sanchez shoots in for a double leg but Temirov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a front kick aimed at Temirov's knee but Temirov avoids it well.
It looked like Temirov was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Temirov is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Sanchez throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A head kick misses from Temirov.

Sanchez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sanchez tries to score a body lock takedown but Temirov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Temirov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sanchez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Temirov prevents it.
Temirov is looking for a takedown.

Sanchez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sanchez taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Temirov managing to block the knees to the body from Sanchez.

Sanchez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Temirov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sanchez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Sanchez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Sanchez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sanchez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ruslan Temirov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leon Pablo Sanchez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sanchez shoots in looking for a takedown. Temirov tries to sprawl out of it but Sanchez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Temirov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leon Pablo Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sanchez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leon Pablo Sanchez!