PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Byron Hibbs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and rashad sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hibbs
vs
sanchez

182 cm
18
190 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

184 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Byron Hibbs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, rashad sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Gwen Towbar and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from sanchez. No joy for Hibbs on that attempt.
sanchez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hibbs.
Hibbs looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Byron Hibbs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hibbs stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hibbs wants it to stay on the feet.
Hibbs has his takedown stuffed

and sanchez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hibbs is breathing heavily.
sanchez keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Hibbs actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
sanchez wants to pass to mount but Hibbs is defending the position.
Well, if sanchez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

sanchez seems to be looking for submissions.
sanchez is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two 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.
Hibbs gets full guard.
Hibbs wants to sweep here but sanchez controlling him for the moment.
Hibbs trying to keep a closed guard but sanchez is proving a slippery customer.
Hibbs can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as sanchez controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
sanchez tries to free his leg and advance position but Hibbs is retaining full guard.

sanchez decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

sanchez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

sanchez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

sanchez gets the takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hibbs tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but sanchez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
sanchez moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
sanchez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

sanchez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hibbs is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hibbs is looking to regain half guard here but sanchez keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

rashad 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.

sanchez shoots for a double leg takedown but Hibbs sprawls well. He's pushed sanchez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hibbs blocks a head kick by sanchez.
sanchez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hibbs misses with a takedown attempt

and sanchez counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hibbs!
Hibbs tries to reverse the position but sanchez maintains control.
Hibbs tries to hold on but sanchez postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

sanchez is working for a guillotine from mount but Hibbs frees his head quite easily.
Hibbs tries to reverse the position but sanchez maintains control.
sanchez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hibbs is in all sorts of trouble here.
sanchez controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
sanchez avoids the attempt from Hibbs to control.
sanchez content just to control the position here.
Hibbs is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hibbs is working hard here to advance position.

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 crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
sanchez avoids the attempt from Hibbs to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

rashad sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

sanchez has his takedown stuffed

so Hibbs counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
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.
Hibbs with a nice head shot there.
Hibbs trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
sanchez pulls Hibbs in close to prevent any damage.

sanchez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hibbs doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hibbs manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hibbs slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Hibbs tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hibbs has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
rashad sanchez has got the better of the ground game so far.
sanchez is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on sanchez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
sanchez is pushing Hibbs's head away, looking to escape. Hibbs manages to hold on to the position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hibbs trying to control the action but sanchez is working from the bottom.
Byron Hibbs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Hibbs swings around for an armbar but sanchez sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Hibbs's guard.
sanchez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hibbs 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hibbs is trying to control the position but sanchez postures up.

Hibbs is looking for a triangle but sanchez pushes his legs off easily.
sanchez won't allow Hibbs to sweep him here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
sanchez shoots in but Hibbs avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hibbs doesn't succeed with the takedown
and sanchez counters with a left and a right that stings Hibbs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
sanchez has his takedown stuffed
and Hibbs counters with a big head kick but sanchez shrugs it off.
Byron Hibbs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of rashad sanchez.
Hibbs is looking to clinch.
sanchez misses with a takedown
and Hibbs counters with a three punch combo that has sanchez backing up. sanchez nods at Hibbs to acknowledge the strikes.
rashad sanchez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hibbs tries for a takedown but sanchez circles away easily

and sanchez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to rashad sanchez.
I've got sanchez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... rashad sanchez!