PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Raul Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommi Sihoven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Raul Sanchez has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Sanchez
vs
Sihoven

168 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

164 cm
20
134 lbs
4 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Raul Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tommi Sihoven!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Donatello Bradman and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sihoven paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Sanchez - that will leave a mark!
Sihoven throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sanchez lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sihoven swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sanchez bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sihoven's head backwards.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanchez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sanchez throws a nice head kick!
Sihoven throws a leg kick but Sanchez sees it coming and moves out of range.
Sanchez with a nice cross.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but Sihoven shows good takedown defense.
Sanchez lands a jab.
Sihoven will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sihoven chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sanchez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sanchez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sanchez tries to clinch up but Sihoven circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanchez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sanchez is looking to clinch but Sihoven is avoiding it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sihoven misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sanchez throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sihoven.
Sanchez tries to clinch up but Sihoven circles away and keeps his distance.
A nice combination there by Sanchez.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanchez forces Sihoven back against the cage and clinches.
Sihoven keeps control of Sanchez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sihoven looking to throw knees to the head but Sanchez is blocking nicely.
Sanchez is trying to break free.

Sanchez breaks the clinch.
Sanchez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sihoven.
Sihoven throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sanchez counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sihoven thinking.
Sanchez shoots in and drives through. Sihoven sprawls well.
Sanchez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raul Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez fails with the takedown.
Sanchez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sihoven moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sihoven turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sihoven throws a head kick that misses
and Sanchez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sanchez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sihoven showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sanchez.
Sanchez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sihoven throws a hook to the side of Sanchez's head but Sanchez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sanchez lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Sihoven takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Sanchez tries to clinch there but Sihoven circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez lands with a hook. Sihoven tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sanchez throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch but Sihoven swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch but Sihoven swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Sanchez - that will leave a mark!
Sanchez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Sanchez moves into the clinch.
Sanchez tries to break the clinch but Sihoven is controlling the position.
Sihoven using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sanchez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sihoven misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sihoven throws an elbow but it misses.
Sanchez managing to block the knees to the body from Sihoven.
Sihoven with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sanchez crunches a lovely knee into Sihoven's ribcage.
Sihoven looks gassed!
Sanchez blocks an elbow strike.
Sanchez missing with knees to the body.
Sanchez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sihoven tries a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks it.
Sihoven trying to land knees to the body.
Sihoven tries to land a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks with his arms.
Sanchez is trying to break free.
Sanchez wants to get back to striking at distance but Sihoven won't allow it.

Sanchez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sanchez tries to clinch up but Sihoven circles away and keeps his distance.
Sanchez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez lands a head kick. Sihoven smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sanchez wants to clinch.
Sanchez throws a quick inside leg kick.
Sihoven swats away the attempt to clinch by Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a front kick.
Sihoven takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Tommi Sihoven is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sanchez lands a two punch combo.
Sanchez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sanchez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sihoven swivels and escapes.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch but Sihoven swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sanchez throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sihoven's head.
Sihoven throws a solid leg kick but Sanchez takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Sihoven.
Sanchez tries to clinch up but Sihoven circles away and keeps his distance.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sihoven but Sihoven pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sanchez tries to clinch up but Sihoven circles away and keeps his distance.
Sihoven avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sihoven but Sihoven pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez scores with a nice head shot.
Sanchez tries to clinch up.
Sanchez fakes the leg kick and cracks Sihoven in the body.
Sanchez jabs Sihoven right on the nose. Sihoven blinks but takes it well.
Sanchez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sanchez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sanchez thuds his right hand into Sihoven's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sanchez fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sihoven on the side of the head.
Sanchez tries to clinch up but Sihoven circles away and keeps his distance.
Sihoven throws a right hand that Sanchez ducks under and follows up with a left that Sanchez also avoids with ease.
Sanchez tries to clinch up.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Sihoven is having none of it.
Sihoven misses with a double jab.
No luck for Sanchez with that takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head kick from Sanchez lands but Sihoven takes it in his stride.
Sihoven misses with a double jab
and Sanchez counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Sanchez is looking to clinch but Sihoven is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sanchez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sanchez staying out of range there.
Sihoven takes one on the button.
An inside leg kick lands from Sanchez.
Sanchez lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Sanchez throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Sanchez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sihoven throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Sanchez to counter with a crisp jab.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch but Sihoven swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sanchez lands a jab.
Sanchez is looking to clinch.
Sanchez throws a head kick that half lands.
Sihoven swats away the attempt to clinch by Sanchez.
Sihoven takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sanchez's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Sanchez duly obliges.

Sanchez drives through and clinches with Sihoven against the cage.
Sihoven misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sanchez.
Sihoven misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sanchez.

Sanchez manages to break the clinch.

Sanchez forces Sihoven back against the cage and clinches.
Sihoven is breathing heavily.
Sanchez has had enough of the clinch but Sihoven keeps him there for the moment.
Sanchez managing to block the knees to the body from Sihoven.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez wants to get back to striking at distance but Sihoven won't allow it.
Sanchez landing knees to the body.

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

Sanchez closes the distance and pushes Sihoven back into the cage.
Sanchez is trying to break free.
Sihoven keeps control of Sanchez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sanchez wants to stall.
Sanchez avoids the elbow strike from Sihoven, against the cage.
Sihoven tries to land a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks with his arms.
Sanchez crunches a lovely knee into Sihoven's ribcage.
Sanchez landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sanchez tries a knee to the head but Sihoven blocks it.

Sanchez breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanchez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sanchez wants to clinch.
Sanchez misses with a takedown attempt - Sihoven sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tommi Sihoven seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice body punch from Sanchez.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sihoven swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sanchez slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez works Sihoven's body with a nice hook.
A right-left combo lands from Sanchez.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Sihoven is having none of it.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sihoven as he jumps to the side.
Sihoven takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Sanchez pushes Sihoven up against the cage in a clinch.
Sihoven tries a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks it.
Sanchez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Sihoven in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Sanchez creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sihoven's defenses.

Sanchez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sanchez fails in his attempt to clinch.

Sanchez has closed the distance and engaged Sihoven in a clinch.
Sanchez has had enough of the clinch but Sihoven keeps him there for the moment.
Sanchez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raul Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sihoven misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sanchez.
Sihoven prevents Sanchez from breaking the clinch.
Sanchez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sihoven has him pressed against the cage.
Sanchez tries to break the clinch but Sihoven is controlling the position.
Sanchez wants to break free but Sihoven has control.
Sanchez landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Sanchez missing with knees to the body.
Sihoven tries to land knees in the clinch but Sanchez avoids the damage to the body.
Sanchez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sihoven has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Sanchez avoiding damage as Sihoven throws knees to the body.

Sanchez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sanchez throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sihoven's head.
Sanchez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sanchez lands a jab-cross combination.
Sihoven throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sanchez counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sihoven thinking.
Sanchez tries to clinch up.
Sanchez tries to clinch there but Sihoven circles away.
Sihoven stuffs the takedown.
Sihoven drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sihoven takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Sanchez wants to clinch.
Sanchez lands a right hook to the body.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sihoven paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sanchez scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sanchez thuds his shin into the meat of Sihoven's side.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sanchez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Sanchez finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Horrible takedown by Sanchez or perhaps it was just good defense by Sihoven which made him look bad.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Sihoven is having none of it.
Sanchez moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Sanchez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sanchez.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Sihoven is having none of it.
Raul Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sihoven swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Sanchez counters with a thumping low kick.
Sihoven throws a hook but Sanchez blocks it.
Sanchez is looking to clinch.
Sihoven avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sihoven but Sihoven pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sanchez fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sihoven swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sihoven tries to move into range but Sanchez moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Raul Sanchez is winning the standup battle so far.
Sanchez plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sihoven swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sihoven has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Sanchez.
Sihoven takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Sanchez dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sanchez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanchez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sihoven throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sanchez.
Sihoven has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Sihoven throws a nice looking combination but Sanchez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sanchez wants to clinch up but Sihoven keeps it at a distance.
Sihoven misses with a straight left.
Sanchez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sihoven tries to avoid it but Sanchez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sihoven to the ground. Sihoven escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sihoven takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Sihoven misses with an uppercut. Sanchez saw that one coming.
Sihoven will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Good leg kick by Sanchez there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Sihoven is having none of it.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch but Sihoven swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sanchez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sihoven swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raul Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez lands a right hook to the body.
Sanchez doesn't manage to clinch there - Sihoven circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sihoven throws a lazy head kick
and Sanchez counters with a series of strikes. Sihoven will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sihoven throws a leg kick
and Sanchez counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez scores with a push kick.
Sihoven will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sihoven throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sanchez doesn't manage to clinch there - Sihoven circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanchez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sanchez doesn't manage to clinch there - Sihoven circles away.
Sanchez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sihoven's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Sanchez throws a head kick that Sihoven semi-blocks.
Sanchez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sanchez dips to his left and cracks Sihoven with an uppercut!
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Sanchez - that will leave a mark!
Sanchez lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Sanchez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Sanchez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sanchez lands with a kick to the temple. Sihoven shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Sanchez moves in looking to clinch but Sihoven pushes him off.
Sihoven circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sihoven walks into a left hand.
Sanchez moves in looking to clinch but Sihoven pushes him off.
Sihoven throws a leg kick that is checked
and Sanchez counters with a left and a right that stings Sihoven.
Sihoven throws a leg kick
and Sanchez counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Sihoven is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Sanchez scores with a nice body kick.
Sanchez moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Sanchez wants to clinch up but Sihoven keeps it at a distance.
Sanchez tries to clinch up.
Sanchez wants to clinch up but Sihoven keeps it at a distance.
Sihoven slips a jab and a cross from Sanchez.
Sihoven lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sanchez checks a low kick from Sihoven.
Sanchez digs a good hook to Sihoven's body.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sihoven looks to throw the jab but Sanchez is out of range.
Sihoven rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sanchez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sanchez bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sihoven's head.
Sanchez wants to clinch up but Sihoven keeps it at a distance.
Sanchez lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Sanchez throws a leg kick which misses Sihoven's front leg but catches the back leg as Sihoven tries to avoid it.
Sihoven takes one to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanchez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sanchez ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sanchez digs a good body shot into Sihoven's ribs.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sanchez.
Sanchez moves out of range of the strikes.
Sanchez is looking to clinch but Sihoven is avoiding it.
Sihoven circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sanchez fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Sihoven drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sanchez catches Sihoven with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Sihoven takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Sihoven moves out of range.
Crunch! Sanchez slams his shin into Sihoven's torso.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Sihoven is having none of it.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Sanchez, right into the meat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanchez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sanchez lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sihoven takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sanchez!
Sanchez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sanchez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Raul Sanchez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sanchez is looking to clinch but Sihoven is avoiding it.
Sanchez wants to clinch up but Sihoven keeps it at a distance.
Sanchez throws out a powerful jab.
Sanchez is working the combinations to good effect here.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sihoven as he avoids it easily.
Sihoven swats away the attempt to clinch by Sanchez.
Sihoven swats away the attempt to clinch by Sanchez.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sihoven paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sanchez wants to clinch up but Sihoven keeps it at a distance.
Sihoven swats away the attempt to clinch by Sanchez.
Sanchez shoots in but Sihoven avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sihoven walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Sanchez cracks the inside of Sihoven's front leg.
Tommi Sihoven has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sanchez lands a high kick!
Sanchez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raul Sanchez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sanchez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27

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