PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Raul Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sim Polls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sanchez
vs
Polls

182 cm
23
173 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
180 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Raul Sanchez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sim Polls!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Sam Margolis and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Polls connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sanchez scores with a jab to the head.
Polls fails to land the takedown.
Sanchez scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Sanchez connects with a looping right hand.
Sanchez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Polls shoots in for a takedown but Sanchez shows good takedown defense.
Polls throws a leg kick but Sanchez sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Polls changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sanchez tries to avoid it but Polls manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sanchez to the ground. Sanchez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Raul Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sim Polls.

Polls gets caught flat footed, as Sanchez shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanchez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Polls's head.
Polls utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Polls 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 landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polls will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Sanchez working some strikes from top position.
Polls looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sanchez is one step ahead there.
Sanchez distracts Polls with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sanchez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Sanchez is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Polls has momentary wrist control but Sanchez slips an elbow through the middle.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sanchez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Polls has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sanchez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sanchez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Polls is trying to keep Sanchez in close.
Sanchez scoring with some ground and pound.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Polls keeps moving.
Polls is trying to keep Sanchez in close.
Polls looks gassed!
Sanchez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Polls's head.
Sanchez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sanchez chips away with some ground and pound.
Sanchez postures up.
Sanchez lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sanchez lands a couple of elbows.

Polls has his foot on Sanchez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sanchez works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sanchez scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sanchez stands up over Polls, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sanchez is working Polls over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sanchez works over Polls with some ground and pound from guard.
Sanchez throwing strikes from guard but Polls blocks nicely.
Sanchez landing some decent shots from guard.
Sanchez chips away with some ground and pound.
Sanchez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sanchez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sanchez sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Polls's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Polls with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sanchez lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sanchez lands strikes from half guard.
Polls has hold of Sanchez's hands but Sanchez slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sanchez prevents Polls from improving his position.
Polls avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sanchez.
Nice strikes from Sanchez there.
Sanchez is trying to control. Polls wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Polls missing with punches from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanchez lands with a punch from half guard.
Sanchez thows a huge punch but Polls dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Sanchez dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Polls moves away from the strike by Sanchez.
Sanchez throws a body punch but Polls moves out of range.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sanchez!
Polls tries to move into range but Sanchez moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Polls steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sanchez.
Polls misses with a low kick.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Polls instigates a clinch.
Polls just leaning against Sanchez, taking a breather.
Sanchez tries to throw a body punch but Polls avoids it by throwing Sanchez back against the cage.
Polls jumps guard but Sanchez stands there with Polls around his waist. Polls gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sanchez has Polls pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Polls manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sanchez struggles to land a body shot inside as Polls controls his hands.
Sanchez tries to throw a body punch but Polls avoids it by throwing Sanchez back against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Sanchez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polls gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sanchez.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raul Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez fails to pull guard.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Sanchez tries to throw a body punch but Polls avoids it by throwing Sanchez back against the cage.
Sanchez can't find room to land a body shot as Polls controls the action.
Sanchez is looking to break free of the clinch but Polls has double underhooks.
Sanchez tries to work over Polls's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sanchez can't find room to land a body shot as Polls controls the action.
Polls's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Polls trying to stall but Sanchez improves his position.
Sanchez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Sanchez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Polls as he avoids it easily.

Sanchez gets a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Polls moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Polls swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Polls is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sanchez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Polls keeps moving.

Sanchez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sanchez is working Polls over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polls trying to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Sanchez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sanchez is looking to take a break and control but Polls is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Sanchez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Polls has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sanchez trying to control the position but Polls is working away.
Sanchez lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Polls trying to control but Sanchez flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polls is covering up but some of the strikes from Sanchez are getting through and doing damage.
Sanchez lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Polls is really stuck here.
Sanchez cracks Polls with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Polls from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Sanchez.
Raul Sanchez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Polls tries to break free.
Polls is taking damage to the body and head.
Polls just trying to survive but Sanchez is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Polls covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Sanchez connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Polls to escape the position.
Sanchez is punishing Polls with strikes - can he finish him?!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanchez gets his hands free as Polls looks to control.
Sanchez scores with punches and elbows.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Polls is really stuck here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Sanchez dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sanchez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Polls avoids the body shot from Sanchez.
Sanchez misses with a wild body shot.
Polls throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sanchez's waist but Sanchez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Polls off to one side.
Sanchez moves out of range of the leg kick from Polls.
Sanchez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Polls manages to avoid it.
Sanchez throws an overhand right that lands on Polls's shoulder, as Polls tries to avoid the shot.
Sanchez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sanchez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez scores with a sloppy right hand. Polls should have avoided that one.
Sanchez scores with a hook to the body. Polls takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Polls bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Polls takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanchez pushes Polls up against the cage in a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sanchez.
Sanchez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Polls's elbow.
Polls stalling against the cage.

Sanchez tightens his grip and picks Polls up, before dumping him to the ground. Polls manages to land in guard.
Sanchez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Polls works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sanchez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sanchez advances position into side control!

Sanchez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Polls can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez looks up at the clock and then as Polls takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Sanchez smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Polls on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Sanchez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Polls can do to turn this around?
Sanchez lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Polls down.
Sanchez working the ground and pound.
Polls is looking for a sweep.
Sanchez creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Polls on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Polls wants to control but Sanchez postures up.
Sanchez is working Polls over with some ground and pound from side control.
Sanchez lands a few punches from side control.

Sanchez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Polls knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Polls is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polls struggling a bit here.
Sanchez cracks Polls with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Polls wants to control but Sanchez postures up.
Sanchez in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Sanchez in side control lands a decent elbow.
Sanchez trying to control the position but Polls is working away.

Sanchez tries for a kimura but Polls is defending well.
Sanchez working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Sanchez scores with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez grinds an elbow into Polls's temple.
Polls taking a bit of punishment here - Sanchez scoring with strikes.
Polls is looking to regain half guard here but Sanchez keeps moving and retains side control.
Sanchez is chipping away with strikes.
Sanchez trying to control the position but Polls is working away.
Sanchez in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Polls can't do much from the bottom here.
Polls taking a bit of punishment here - Sanchez scoring with strikes.
Sanchez working the ground and pound from side control.
Polls tries to improve position but can't.
Sanchez cracks Polls with an elbow. That is naaassty.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Sanchez clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sanchez just misses with a punch to the body.
Sanchez misses with an uppercut.
Polls throws a leg kick but Sanchez sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Sanchez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sanchez bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Polls's head backwards.
Polls tries to close the distance and clinch but Sanchez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Polls tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sanchez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sanchez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Polls steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sanchez.
Sanchez lands with a cross.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Polls as he avoids it easily.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Sanchez throws a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polls displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sanchez throws out the jab.
Sanchez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Polls counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raul Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez keeping full guard, as Polls tries to pass.
Sanchez wants to hit a switch here but Polls passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Sanchez there!
The referee warns Sanchez that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Sanchez tries to reverse the position but Polls maintains control.
Polls unloading with bombs!
Polls connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Sanchez is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Polls connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Polls working Sanchez over with strikes here.
Sanchez taking shots to the head.
Sanchez wants to control but Polls is having none of it.
Polls content just to control the position here.
Sanchez is trying to escape the mount.
Polls lands a heavy elbow.
Polls avoids the attempt from Sanchez to control.
Sanchez on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sanchez tries to get out of the position.
Sanchez can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Polls working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Sanchez tries to lock up and control but Polls gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sanchez flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Sanchez wants to control but Polls is having none of it.
Polls unloads with some shots from mount but Sanchez bucks and avoids them well.
Sanchez swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Sanchez flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Sanchez working to try and regain half guard.
The referee warns Sanchez that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sanchez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Polls blocks Sanchez's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Sanchez swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

Polls with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Sanchez can't escape the position.
Sanchez bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Sanchez sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Polls's guard.
Sanchez working the head and body with strikes.
Sanchez lands strikes from half guard.
Polls gets full guard.
Sanchez won't allow Polls to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sim Polls dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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 scores with the left hand. Polls knows he should have avoided that one.
Sanchez fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Polls is looking to clinch.
Polls shoots for a double leg takedown but Sanchez sprawls well. He's pushed Polls's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sanchez tries to land a leg kick but Polls saw it coming and moves away.
A swing and a miss from Sanchez.
Polls slips a jab from Sanchez.

Polls gets a clinch.
Sanchez misses with a hook to the ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Polls is looking to control Sanchez's arms but Sanchez gets an underhook and turns him. Now Polls has his back to the cage.
Sanchez struggles to land a body shot inside as Polls controls his hands.
Sanchez pushes off an throws an elbow but Polls leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Polls holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Sanchez tries to land knees in the clinch but Polls avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polls prevents a body shot from Sanchez.
Polls is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Polls prevents a body shot from Sanchez.
Sanchez is looking to break free of the clinch but Polls has double underhooks.
Sanchez managing to block the knees to the body from Polls.
Polls jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sanchez walks away with a smile on his face. Polls gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sanchez looks to land a right hand but Polls moved out of range.
A swing and a miss from Sanchez.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Polls as he jumps to the side.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sanchez.

Polls closes the distance and clinches.
Sanchez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Polls avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raul Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A body shot lands from Sanchez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Polls wants the takedown. Sanchez is fighting it off but Polls persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Sanchez's guard against the cage.
Sanchez looking to control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Polls accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Polls in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Polls looking to pass the guard.
Sanchez striking from the bottom here.

Sanchez is looking for a triangle but Polls pushes his legs off easily.
Polls connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez lands some strikes from the bottom.
Polls trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Sanchez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sanchez trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Sanchez trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Polls drops back looking for a leg! Sanchez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sanchez manages to kick Polls off! Polls jumps back into Sanchez's guard.
Sanchez throws a nice elbow from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sanchez scores with a sloppy right hand. Polls should have avoided that one.
Sanchez lands a jab.
Sanchez looks to clinch
and Polls counters with a thumping low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanchez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Sanchez gets a takedown into half guard.
Raul Sanchez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Polls is trying to control but can't.
Ground and pound from Sanchez.
Polls is trying to control but can't.
Sanchez prevents Polls from improving his position.
Sanchez winds up and cracks Polls with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sim Polls has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Polls on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Polls is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sanchez scores with a couple of nice shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raul Sanchez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sanchez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 49:44
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 49:46
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 49:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raul Sanchez!
Raul Sanchez retains his welterweight title!