PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Manny Pavano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dante Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Pavano
vs
Sanders

190 cm
22
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Manny Pavano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dante Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Steve Smith and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanders swats away the attempt to clinch by Pavano.
Pavano wants to clinch.
Pavano fails to land the takedown.
Sanders tries to clinch but Pavano is having none of it.
Pavano throws a push kick but Sanders slaps the foot to one side.

Pavano moves into range and clinches up with Sanders.
Pavano is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sanders stalling in the clinch.
Pavano gets through Sanders's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Pavano prevents a takedown attempt there.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Sanders has eaten all the pies!
A right hand to the body from Sanders.
Pavano misses with a punch on the inside.
Pavano wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sanders is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Pavano is keeping busy.

Pavano manages to break the clinch.
Sanders throws a sloppy head kick and Pavano moves out of range easily.

Sanders clinches up against the cage.
Sanders taking a breather.
Sanders misses with an elbow over the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pavano prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pavano wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Sanders wants the takedown. Pavano is fighting it off but Sanders persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Pavano's guard against the cage.
Sanders forces his way into half guard.
Sanders wants to free his trapped foot but Pavano is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Pavano wants to get back to full guard.
Pavano is working hard here to advance position.
Pavano wants to control but Sanders is keeping busy.
Sanders wants to stand but Pavano has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Sanders is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pavano doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sanders.
Sanders seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Sanders looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanders is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pavano defends it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
No joy there for Pavano, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pavano will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Left hook, right uppercut from Pavano.
Pavano scores with a jab. Sanders acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Pavano throws a head kick that Sanders semi-blocks.

Sanders is rocked!

It looks like Dante Sanders has been cut.

Pavano clinches up against the cage.
Sanders is still on wobbly legs! Can Pavano finish him?
Sanders fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sanders seems to have recovered his senses.

Pavano breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pavano with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sanders tries to clinch up.
Sanders wants to clinch.
Sanders throws a right and a left that Pavano avoids nicely.
Pavano just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Pavano looks to throw a body kick
and Sanders counters with a nice uppercut.
Sanders doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Pavano avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sanders keeps the fight on the outside.
Pavano misses with a wild combination.

Pavano closes the distance and clinches.

Pavano breaks from the clinch.
Pavano misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pavano swinging wilding here.
Sanders swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Pavano counters with a one-two to the body.

Pavano clinches.
Pavano lands a body shot.
A shot in the inside from Pavano.
Pavano lands a body shot.
Pavano is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sanders gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Sanders is fighting off a takedown attempt but Pavano is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Sanders to the mat. Sanders regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Pavano throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sanders works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Sanders working for submissions but it's allowed Pavano to get to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Pavano stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pavano's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pavano's back!

Sanders looking for the choke but no joy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Pavano showing good submission defense here.

Sanders has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sanders is looking for the choke from the back position but Pavano is controlling his hands well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanders trying to control.

Sanders has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Pavano has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dante Sanders will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dante Sanders's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Pavano wants to clinch but Sanders slips to the side
and Sanders counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Pavano tries to clinch

and Sanders holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Pavano lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Pavano is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Sanders breaks from the clinch.
Sanders tries to clinch but Pavano is having none of it.
Pavano throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Sanders tries to keep at a distance but Pavano has taken the fight into the clinch.
Pavano working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Sanders prevents Pavano from breaking the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Sanders.
Pavano misses with a body punch.
Sanders has a couple of punches blocked by Pavano.
Sanders blocking some punches.
Sanders wants to stall.
Pavano lands with a right to the head.
Sanders has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pavano is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sanders managing to block the knees to the body from Pavano.
Sanders letting Pavano take a breather here.
Pavano is trying to break free.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sanders wants to break free but Pavano has control.
Sanders wants to get back to striking at distance but Pavano won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders tries to stall but Pavano uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Sanders throws a punch but it's blocked by Pavano.
Pavano looking to throw knees to the head but Sanders is blocking nicely.
Sanders stalling in the clinch but Pavano improves position.
A nice left hand lands by Pavano.
Sanders throws a knee to the head but misses.
Pavano stalling against the cage.

Sanders breaks from the clinch.
Pavano slips a straight right by Sanders.
Pavano misses with a series of wild punches.

Pavano clinches up with Sanders and pushes him back against the cage.
Pavano holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Pavano wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sanders trying to land knees to the body.
Pavano trying to stall but Sanders improves his position.
Sanders tries to score a body lock takedown but Pavano shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Pavano breaks the clinch.
Pavano moves out of range of the body kick from Sanders.

Pavano closes the distance and clinches.
Sanders misses with the head strike.
Pavano lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Pavano breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pavano looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pavano misses with a takedown attempt
and Sanders counters with a one-two to the body.
Pavano jabs at Sanders's body.
A head kick by Pavano misses
and Sanders counters with a body kick.
Pavano avoids the head kick by Sanders.

Pavano takes the fight into the clinch.
Pavano scores with a nice hook to the head.
A bit of stalling here from Pavano.
Pavano pushes Sanders back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pavano has Sanders pushed against the cage.
Pavano scores with a shoulder strike.

Pavano breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pavano moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A nice combination there by Pavano.
Pavano scoring well with a low kick there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanders looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Sanders darts in and clinches Pavano up against the cage.
Sanders lands with a short head shot on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pavano has had enough of the clinch but Sanders keeps him there for the moment.
Pavano has a couple of punches blocked by Sanders.
Sanders looking to slow down the pace here.
Pavano prevents Sanders from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Sanders.
Sanders leaning against his opponent.
Sanders gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Sanders lands a nice shot to the body.
Sanders fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pavano avoiding damage.
Sanders prevents Pavano from breaking the clinch.
Pavano wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sanders has him pressed against the cage.
Pavano has Sanders pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sanders manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sanders lands with a right to the head.
Sanders lands a body punch.
Sanders pushes Pavano back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sanders is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Pavano is keeping busy.
Pavano manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Sanders looking to throw knees to the head but Pavano is blocking nicely.
Pavano tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sanders is trying to stall.
Sanders is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pavano pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Manny Pavano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dante Sanders.
Pavano wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pavano working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanders lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Sanders wants to work for an arm triangle but Pavano is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sanders is keen to just control but Pavano is a slippery customer.

Sanders seems to be working for a kimura but Pavano defends the submission attempt.
Pavano is not content to let Sanders control the position.
Sanders has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sanders with good strikes from the mount here!
Sanders trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Sanders get's back to his feet.

Sanders drives through and clinches with Pavano against the cage.
Sanders lands a shot to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Sanders breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Sanders showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dante Sanders's cut.
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!

Sanders decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Pavano wants to get back to full guard.
Pavano wants to get back to full guard but Sanders has passed into side control.

Sanders has control of Pavano's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Pavano regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Sanders goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Pavano is on top in guard.
Pavano scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Pavanois looking to pass into half guard but Sanders pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Sanders is in guard.

Sanders 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.
Sanders passes Pavano's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Dante Sanders has got the better of the ground game so far.

Sanders is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Pavano has managed to free his arm - good work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pavano keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Sanders is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Sanders is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Pavano has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sanders trying to mount his opponent but Pavano defends it.
Pavano regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sanders tries to free his leg and advance position but Pavano is retaining full guard.
Sanders makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Pavano wants to sweep but no luck.

Sanders drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sanders jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sanders stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pavano swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two 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.
Pavano wants to sweep here but Sanders controlling him for the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sanders jabs Pavano right on the nose. Pavano blinks but takes it well.
Sanders wants to clinch but Pavano slips to the side
and Pavano counters with a low kick, right behind Sanders 's knee.
Sanders throws a left and a right that both miss
and Pavano counters with a head kick.
Sanders is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Pavano.
Pavano throws a solid leg kick but Sanders takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Pavano.
Pavano throws a body punch but Sanders moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanders looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sanders keeps the fight on the outside.
Sanders throws a leg kick that is checked
and Pavano counters with a left and a right that stings Sanders.
Sanders misses with a hook

and Pavano counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Pavano managing to block the knees to the body from Sanders.
Pavano lands a body punch in the clinch.
Pavano scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sanders is trying to stall.
Pavano blocking some punches.
Sanders misses with a knee strike.
Sanders misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pavano lands with a right to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Pavano.
Pavano is trying to stall.

Pavano breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sanders avoids a punch combination nicely.
Pavano looks to clinch
and Sanders counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A slapping body kick lands there for Pavano.

Pavano looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Sanders is refusing to be controlled, as Pavano sits in half guard.
Pavano takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Sanders is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Pavano scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sanders regains full guard. Nicely done.
Pavano content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Pavano throws a big right hand that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sanders is on top in guard.
Sanders stands and throws Pavano's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Pavano tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Manny Pavano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders is looking to take a break and control but Pavano is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Sanders tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Sanders is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pavano knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Pavano tries to improve position but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pavano gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Pavano is trying to get back to full guard.
Sanders not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Pavano showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sanders has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

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