PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dan Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dana White (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.

Sanders
vs
White

182 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dan Sanders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dana White!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Stewart Dunkirk and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
White rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sanders moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

White scores with a takedown into Sanders's guard.
Sanders has his hands on White's head, controlling the position.

Sanders is working an open guard so White takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Dana White seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanders swats away the attempt to clinch by White.
Sanders with a poor takedown
and White counters with a left and a right that stings Sanders.
Sanders takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Sanders staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanders has White up against the cage in a clinch.
Sanders is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sanders fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Sanders. That's going to take a lot out of him.

White escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
White misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

White fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sanders, pushing him back against the cage.
Sanders tries to pull guard but White holds him up against the cage and eventually Sanders drops back down to his feet.

White breaks the clinch.
White tries to clinch there but Sanders circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

White looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
White really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sanders. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
White trying to control but Sanders is working from the bottom.

White got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sanders has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, White has managed to get both his arms back between Sanders's legs - danger averted.
Sanders avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
White looking to sit in guard and control but Sanders gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sanders trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanders won't allow White to sweep him here.

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.

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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sanders postures up.
White pulls Sanders in close to prevent any damage.
Sanders trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
White is trying to control the position but Sanders postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sanders shoots and misses

and White counters by clinching up.

White breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dana White dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sanders gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
White throws a strike but Sanders rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
White can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sanders controls the pace.
White controls Sanders momentarily but Sanders frees himself.

White has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sanders can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Sanders stands up and waves to White to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but White was well out of range. Poor timing from Sanders.
Sanders shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as White sprawls well. White wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sanders gets slowly back to his feet.
Sanders doesn't succeed with the takedown
and White counters with a one-two to the body.
White with a poor takedown
and Sanders connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
White is breathing heavily.
White fails to land with a series of punches.

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.

Sanders throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. White was covering up waiting for the punch and Sanders finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sanders stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. White swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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

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 wants to control from the top but White keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders slips nicely into half guard.

Sanders is working for a kimura but White is defending it quite comfortably.

Sanders is looking for a kimura here.

Sanders is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders wants to take a breather but White is having none of it.

Sanders seems to be looking for submissions.
White misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Sanders tries to stand but can't do so whilst White controls his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Sanders dominated that second round.
That's time! Sanders's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

White bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sanders is trying to get back to half guard.
White throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Sanders works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sanders knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sanders trying to control but White postures up.
White trying to control from half guard but Sanders is working away.
Sanders trying to hold on to White's head to control him but White postures 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.
White not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

White moves into the clinch.

White escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
White throws a head kick but Sanders moves out of range.
White tries to clinch but Sanders moves out of range.
White shoots and misses

and Sanders counters with a single leg into guard. White didn't expect that.
White takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sanders forces his way into half guard.

Sanders 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanders is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sanders wants to lay and pray for a moment but White keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
White avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sanders.
White is trying to maintain the position but Sanders is very close to passing his half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sanders connects with a nice short shot to White's temple.
Sanders is looking to take a break and control but White is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sanders lands a nice short elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Sanders showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sanders 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28

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