PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jesus Sanchez (ranked 2218 p4p, 2018 weight class) and Alex Silva (ranked 336 p4p, 303 weight class). Sanchez's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Duele El Carazon. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sanchez
vs
Silva

180 cm
43
180
22 - 24 - 0

186 cm
39
218
22 - 22 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Furnace Performance 🔥
Fantasy Threads

Fantasy Threads
Furnace Performance 🔥

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 24 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jesus Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alex Silva!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Donald Grub and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva with a nice cross.

Silva gets caught napping as Sanchez dives in and scores a takedown. Silva manages to retain guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Sanchez tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.
Silva has Sanchez pulled in close to control his posture.
Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sanchez is one step ahead there.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Sanchez passes into half guard.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but Silva defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva tries to roll over but Sanchez keeps him under control.
Silva is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sanchez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sanchez's back!
Silva controls the action.
Silva scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva scores with punches to the body.
Sanchez rolls, trying to escape but Silva keeps control of the position.

Silva looking for the choke but no joy.
We've been hearing good reports from Sanchez's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Silva controlling the position well here. Sanchez rolled but Silva kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Sanchez rolls, trying to escape but Silva keeps control of the position.
Sanchez tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Silva has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Sanchez's face.
Sanchez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Silva takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Silva is landing with some decent strikes but Sanchez is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

It looks like Jesus Sanchez has been cut.
Silva lands a heavy elbow.
Silva tries to control but Sanchez wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez regains half guard.
Sanchez is staying active underneath Silva, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sanchez regains full guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Sanchez is keeping the position.
Sanchez wants to sweep but no luck.
Sanchez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Silva looking to pass the guard.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva passes Sanchez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Silva is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sanchez sees it coming and defends easily.
Sanchez moves into full guard.
Silva scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Jesus Sanchez's cut is getting worse.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Sanchez working a defensive guard here.
Silva slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sanchez 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.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanchez keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.
Silva's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Sanchez is keeping the position.
Silva passes Sanchez's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Silva wants to control but Sanchez is keeping him busy.
Sanchez trying to control from the bottom.

Silva looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sanchez manages to get to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanchez pulls Silva in close to prevent any damage.
Silva wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Silva dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jesus Sanchez's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Silva closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sanchez's guard.
Silva stopping the sweep attempt from Sanchez.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez looking to control.
Silva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sanchez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Silva is one step ahead there.
Sanchez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sanchez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Silva wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez looking for a sweep. Not yet Sanchez, not yet.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sanchez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Silva has managed to get both his arms back between Sanchez's legs - danger averted.
Sanchez keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Sanchez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Silva is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Silva connects with a couple of short punches.
Silva content to stall in guard here.
Silva must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Silva wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
Silva stands and throws Sanchez's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sanchez tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is working hard here to advance position.
Sanchez seems a little lost for a moment, as Silva dominates the positioning.
Sanchez tries to buck Silva off but Silva is having none of it.
Sanchez takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Silva lands a few punches from side control.
Silva has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Silva tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sanchez manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is doing well to control the position and prevent Sanchez from advancing to side control.
Sanchez tries to pass to full mount but Silva defends it.
Silva makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Silva.
Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sanchez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanchez being controlled here momentarily.
Silva lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Silva keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sanchez's head.
Sanchez 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.
Sanchez is trying to keep Silva in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is working Sanchez over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Silva stays in close to Sanchez's body and controls the position.
Sanchez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Silva postures up.
Silva sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sanchez's guard.
Silva tries to pass to full mount but Sanchez defends it.
Sanchez wants to control but Silva is keeping busy.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Silva in particular looking to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sanchez tries to get to full guard but Silva has control of the leg.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Silva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jesus Sanchez's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Silva cracks Sanchez with a right hand to the side of the head.
Alex Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanchez looks for a takedown but Silva sprawls well.
Silva cracks Sanchez with a good jab.

Silva shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Silva looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Sanchez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Silva pulls his head out easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez has hold of Silva's hands but Silva slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez is looking for a sweep. Silva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nice strikes from Silva there.
Ground and pound from Silva.
Sanchez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Silva's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Silva's back!
Sanchez has the hooks in. Silva is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Sanchez has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Silva! Can he survive? No! He's out! Sanchez gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Jesus Sanchez!
Jesus Sanchez decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.