PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hector Sanches (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Cheetham (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.

Sanches
vs
Cheetham

175 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
22
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hector Sanches!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Scott Cheetham!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cheetham is looking to clinch but Sanches is avoiding it.
Sanches misses with a kick to the body.

Sanches closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sanches is just content to waste time from the top position. Cheetham takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Cheetham looking for a sweep. Not yet Cheetham, not yet.
Cheetham is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cheetham wants to stand up but Sanches is controlling him.
Sanches slips nicely into half guard.
Cheetham regains full guard. Nicely done.

Sanches postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Cheetham is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sanches, into his guard.

Sanches is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cheetham pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanches is keeping the position for now.
Sanches pulls Cheetham in to control the position.
Cheetham wants to control from the top but Sanches keeps moving.
Cheetham advances to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sanches wants to get back to his feet.

Sanches looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sanches gets back to full guard.
Cheetham trying to control but Sanches is working from the bottom.

Sanches looking for a guillotine here but Cheetham defends easily.
Sanches has a closed guard, preventing Cheetham from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheetham advances position into side control!
Sanches is looking to reverse the position.
Sanches tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Cheetham has the hooks in. Sanches is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sanches trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Sanches is breathing heavily.
Sanches avoids the strikes from Cheetham.
Cheetham wants to control but Sanches is keeping busy.
Sanches trying to survive by controlling the hands.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cheetham throwing wild punches that miss their target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hector Sanches will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cheetham darts in and clinches Sanches up against the cage.

Sanches drags the fight down to the ground.
Cheetham pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanches is keeping the position for now.

Sanches looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cheetham passes into side control.
Sanches wants to get back to his feet.
Cheetham tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Cheetham trying to control the position but Sanches is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cheetham is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Sanches is trying to get back to his feet.
Cheetham wants to control but Sanches is keeping him busy.

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

Sanches changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cheetham looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sanches taking a breather here.
Cheetham sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cheetham is trying to get back to full guard.
Cheetham is breathing heavily.
Sanches with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanches frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sanches controlling the pace for now.
Sanches seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Cheetham for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheetham is working to get back to half guard.

Sanches is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Cheetham has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Cheetham!
Cheetham passes Sanches's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Sanches looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cheetham trying to mount his opponent but Sanches defends it.

Sanches is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Cheetham pulls his head out easily.

Cheetham is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sanches defends it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sanches is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Cheetham pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hector Sanches will probably get the nod.
That's time! Sanches's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Cheetham tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Cheetham gets caught flat footed, as Sanches shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Cheetham looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sanches passes into side control.

Sanches is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cheetham has escaped the position, nice work there.
Cheetham wants to control but Sanches postures up.

Sanches is trying to get an arm triangle but Cheetham is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cheetham is trying to control Sanches's posture but Sanches avoids it.

Sanches tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sanches has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Sanches is trying to get an arm triangle but Cheetham is defending well.

Sanches stands up.

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.
Cheetham shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sanches counters with a shoot takedown. Cheetham fights it but they end up in guard.
Sanches not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Sanches stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Cheetham tries to clinch up but Sanches circles away and keeps his distance.
Cheetham with a poor takedown

and Sanches counters with a single leg into guard. Cheetham didn't expect that.
Sanches stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cheetham swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheetham is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hector Sanches overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sanches controls from within his opponent's guard.
Cheetham looking for a sweep. Not yet Cheetham, not yet.
Sanches sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Sanches drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Cheetham dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sanches not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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

Sanches is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cheetham works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Scott Cheetham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hector Sanches is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cheetham throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hector Sanches showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sanches, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hector Sanches!