PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Diego Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Ash (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Sanchez
vs
Ash

165 cm
22
144 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

169 cm
23
145 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Diego Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Daniel Ash!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sanchez is defended easily by Ash.
Ash is looking to clinch but Sanchez is avoiding it.
Sanchez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Diego Sanchez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanchez tries to clinch up.
Sanchez tries to clinch

and Ash holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sanchez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sanchez is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Ash tries a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ash throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ash misses with a knee to the head.
Sanchez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sanchez fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ash walks away with a smile on his face. Sanchez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ash tries to clinch up

and Sanchez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sanchez.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.
Sanchez stops Ash from standing up.
Sanchez wants to pass the guard but Ash is keeping the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ash can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sanchez wanted to stand there but Ash had control of the position.
Ash wants to stand but Sanchez is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ash keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Sanchez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ash is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sanchez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez swats away the attempt to clinch by Ash.

Ash rushes Sanchez and presses him up against the cage.
Sanchez is trying to force a seperation but Ash has the dominant position.
Ash tries to land a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks with his arms.
Sanchez wants to break free but Ash has control.
Sanchez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ash walks away with a smile on his face. Sanchez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ash circles away from the clinch attempt

and Ash counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sanchez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sanchez tries to pull guard but Ash won't allow it.
Ash with an attempt at a knee that misses.

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.
Ash throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sanchez blocks it with crossed arms.
Ash using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sanchez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ash using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sanchez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sanchez misses with some punches.
Sanchez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ash prevents it.
Ash tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sanchez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ash tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sanchez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ash avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sanchez tries to pull guard but Ash holds him up against the cage and eventually Sanchez drops back down to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ash using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sanchez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ash tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ash tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
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 Diego Sanchez will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

No luck for Sanchez with that takedown attempt.
Sanchez closes the distance and clinches up with Ash, looking for a takedown. Sanchez pushes Ash against the cage but Ash circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ash tries to clinch but Sanchez is having none of it.
Ash is looking to clinch.
Ash moves in looking to clinch but Sanchez pushes him off.

Ash closes the distance and clinches.
Ash lands a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ash tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ash using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sanchez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ash misses with a knee to the head.
Ash throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sanchez blocks it with crossed arms.
Ash throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ash misses with a knee to the head.
Ash landing knees to the head.

It looks like Diego Sanchez has been cut.
Ash misses with a knee strike.
Ash misses with a knee strike.
A knee to the head by Ash.
Sanchez fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ash throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sanchez blocks it with crossed arms.
Sanchez trying to stall but Ash improves his position.
Sanchez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ash smiles and moves away.
Nice takedown defense from Ash. No joy for Sanchez on that attempt.
Ash tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanchez paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ash tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ash looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sanchez misses with a two punch combination.
Ash tries to clinch but Sanchez moves out of range.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ash as he avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ash looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ash tries to clinch but Sanchez moves out of range.
Ash doesn't manage to clinch there - Sanchez circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ash tries to clinch up.
Sanchez fails with the takedown.
Ash tries to clinch

and Sanchez counters by moving into the clinch.
Ash throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ash with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ash misses with a knee to the head.
Sanchez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ash throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sanchez blocks it with crossed arms.
Ash using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sanchez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ash tries to land a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks with his arms.
Ash tries to land a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks with his arms.
Ash landing knees to the head.
Ash misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sanchez tries to pull guard but Ash holds him up against the cage and eventually Sanchez drops back down to his feet.
A knee to the head by Ash.
Ash tries to land a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks with his arms.
Sanchez tries to stall but Ash uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ash with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ash landing knees to the head.
Sanchez misses with some punches.
Ash misses with a knee strike.
Ash throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ash throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sanchez blocks it with crossed arms.
Sanchez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ash has him pressed against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ash connects with a knee to the head.
Ash looking to throw knees to the head but Sanchez is blocking nicely.
Ash misses with a knee strike.
Ash tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Ash showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Diego Sanchez'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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sanchez.
Ash tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanchez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ash circles away from the clinch attempt

and Ash holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sanchez tries to pull guard but Ash won't allow it.
Ash throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sanchez blocks it with crossed arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ash with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ash tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ash lands a nice knee to the body.
Ash with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanchez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ash walks away with a smile on his face. Sanchez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez tries to clinch

and Ash counters by clinching up.
Sanchez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ash pulls his leg out and moves away.
Diego Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ash tries to clinch up

and Sanchez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sanchez.
Ash misses with a knee strike.
Ash with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Sanchez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ash closes the distance but Sanchez moves to the side

and Sanchez counters with a single leg into guard. Ash didn't expect that.
Ash utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ash wants to stand up but Sanchez is controlling him.
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.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Ash manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Ash doesn't manage to clinch there - Sanchez circles away.
Ash tries to clinch but Sanchez is having none of it.
Ash fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sanchez keeps the fight on the outside.
Sanchez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ash tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ash moves in looking to clinch but Sanchez pushes him off.
Ash tries to clinch up.
Sanchez swats away the attempt to clinch by Ash.
Sanchez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ash swivels and escapes.
Ash tries to clinch up

and Sanchez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sanchez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ash with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ash tries to land a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks with his arms.
Ash connects with a knee to the head.
Ash tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ash landing knees to the head.
Ash tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sanchez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ash avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ash throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sanchez blocks it with crossed arms.
Ash with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ash lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ash with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ash with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ash tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ash throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sanchez tries to break the clinch but Ash is controlling the position.
Ash tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ash prevents the takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Diego Sanchez.
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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Diego Sanchez!