PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joe Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanders has chosen Sandstorm as his entrance music. The key to victory for Joe Smith has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Smith
vs
Sanders

160 cm
18
153 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

173 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Amber Swan CBK
Amber Swan CBK

•‡• LION Clothing •‡•

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Nick Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Paul Tew and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanders shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sanders fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.

Sanders shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Sanders wants to work for an arm triangle but Smith is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sanders missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sanders keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanders is trying to control the action in half guard but Smith is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Smith might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Sanders is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Smith sees it coming and defends easily.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Sanders prevents Smith from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Sanders sits in half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Smith looks to land a combination but Sanders avoids it well.
Smith looks to land a combination but Sanders avoids it well.
Smith misses with a few strikes there.

Sanders clinches.
Smith prevents a takedown attempt there.
Joe Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Sanders.
Smith tries to pull guard but Sanders holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.
Sanders is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Smith gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith tries to pull guard but Sanders holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.

Sanders has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Smith is trying to keep an underhook but Sanders manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanders wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Sanders looks gassed!
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanders seems to be looking for submissions.
Sanders throws a strike but Smith avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Sanders has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smith manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Smith blocks Sanders's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Sanders avoids a series of strikes thrown by Smith.
BOOM! Smith connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Sanders is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Smith.
Smith lands a heavy elbow.
Sanders tries to hold on but Smith postures up.
Smith lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sanders hang on?

Smith moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Sanders has worked his arm free - good work by Sanders!
Smith tries to stand but Sanders controls the position and pulls Smith into his guard.

Sanders isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Smith stacks Sanders on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Smith!
Sanders defending against the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to stand but Sanders is controlling his head.
Sanders is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Smith off and has taken his back!
Sanders scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Smith is looking for a way out.
Sanders controls the action.
Smith trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Sanders has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Smith's body.
Sanders is looking to control Smith but Smith is wriggling around and keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Sanders dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Smith lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Smith.
Smith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smith sizes up Sanders with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Smith stuffs the takedown attempt from Sanders. Sanders gets slowly back to his feet.

Sanders clinches.
Sanders looking for a takedown.
Sanders prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.

Sanders pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith tries to bum rush Sanders with a series of wild strikes but Sanders uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sanders.
Joe Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Sanders.
Smith scores with a three punch combo!
Sanders is breathing heavily.
Smith closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sanders looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Smith!
Smith gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sanders would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sanders tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Sanders trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanders stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.

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.
Sanders slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith tries to bum rush Sanders with a series of wild strikes but Sanders uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith scores with a punch to the head.
Joe Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanders throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Smith tries to bum rush Sanders with a series of wild strikes but Sanders uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sanders fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Smith misses.
Sanders misses with a combination
and Smith counters with a left and a right that stings Sanders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Smith throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Smith looks to throw the jab but Sanders is out of range.

Sanders fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Smith sprawls well initially but Sanders persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
It looks like Sanders is going to stand back up.
Sanders blocks the strikes from Smith.
Smith wants to control but Sanders is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Sanders is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanders is looking for a kimura but Smith is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sanders to get the leverage.
Sanders is thwarting Smith's attempts to control the position.

Sanders is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Smith sees it coming and defends easily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smith sizes up Sanders with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Smith looks to land a combination but Sanders avoids it well.
Smith throws a combination that misses

and Sanders counters with a nice double leg into guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Smith dominated that second 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sanders misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sanders moves away from the strike by Smith.
Sanders looks for a takedown but Smith sprawls well.
Sanders falls off balance throwing a combination
and Smith counters with a three punch combo that has Sanders backing up. Sanders nods at Smith to acknowledge the strikes.
Smith throws a right hand that Sanders ducks under and follows up with a left that Sanders also avoids with ease.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Sanders moves into the clinch.
Sanders displaying some good clinch control by pressing Smith up against the cage.
Sanders gets underhooks to prevent Smith's takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Sanders on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Smith's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Sanders breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sanders shoots in but Smith avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Joe Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Sanders.
Sanders tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sanders somewhat.
Joe Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A nice combination there by Smith.
Smith misses with a series of wild punches.
Sanders closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Smith gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sanders to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Sanders drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Smith manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Sanders has Smith in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sanders works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sanders looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sanders has his hands on Smith's head, controlling the position.

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

Sanders is working an open guard so Smith takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Smith!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Sanders counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith keeping full guard, as Sanders tries to pass.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Sanders is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sanders slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Sanders throws an elbow but Smith slips to the side and avoids it well.
Smith is not content to let Sanders control the position.

Sanders looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sanders tries to move into full mount but can't pass Smith's legs.
Smith tries to bench press Sanders off him but Sanders keeps the position.
Nick Sanders has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sanders throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Smith works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith tries to roll over but Sanders keeps him under control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smith 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Smith!