PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chris Lavelle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fumando Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanchez has chosen "Shake Da Spot" King T as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lavelle
vs
Sanchez

178 cm
22
183 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

193 cm
19
201 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chris Lavelle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fumando Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Ivan Kurochkin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lavelle gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sanchez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Lavelle might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sanchez looking to sit in guard and control but Lavelle gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Lavelle stopping the sweep attempt from Sanchez.

Lavelle 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.
Sanchez keeping moving, preventing Lavelle from controlling successfully.
Sanchez wants to improve his position but instead Lavelle has moved into half guard.
Sanchez is pressing down on Lavelle's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lavelle manages to get himself to full guard.
Sanchez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lavelle swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanchez controls from within his opponent's guard.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Lavelle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lavelle throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lavelle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sanchez sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lavelle's guard.
Sanchez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sanchez is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Lavelle!
Sanchez controlling from the full mount.

Sanchez goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Lavelle is on top in guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lavelle trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lavelle works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is looking to improve his position.
Lavelle not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sanchez has a hand on Lavelle's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Lavelle takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Sanchez tries to hold on but Lavelle postures up.
Sanchez is trying desperately to improve position.
Sanchez wants to hold on but Lavelle pushes him away.
Sanchez looks gassed!
Sanchez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sanchez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Lavelle pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Sanchez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Lavelle thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Lavelle lands a big shot there that rocks Sanchez but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Sanchez is squirming around, avoiding Lavelle's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez can't escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lavelle working for a guillotine from mount but Sanchez is in no mood to give up.
Lavelle landing shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fumando Sanchez will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sanchez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Sanchez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Lavelle tries to hold on but Sanchez pushes him away.

Sanchez jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Lavelle is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Lavelle and Sanchez has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Sanchez working away.
Sanchez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lavelle keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Sanchez looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Lavelle is avoiding damage well.
Sanchez trying to control the position but Lavelle is working away.
Sanchez tries to advance to mount but Lavelle instead regains half guard.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.
Lavelle tries to get to full guard but Sanchez has control of the leg.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sanchez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

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.
Lavelle shoots and misses

and Sanchez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sanchez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sanchez pushes down on Lavelle's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sanchez is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Sanchez wants to pass the guard but Lavelle is keeping the position.
Sanchez with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lavelle looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sanchez is stalling in the full guard.
Sanchez chips away with some ground and pound.
Sanchez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Lavelle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sanchez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lavelle is trying to control the position but Sanchez postures up.

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.
Sanchez stands and throws Lavelle's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sanchez in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Sanchez goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Lavelle rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Sanchez's guard! Nice work there by Lavelle!
Sanchez wants to sweep here but Lavelle controlling him for the moment.
Sanchez keeping moving, preventing Lavelle from controlling successfully.
Fumando Sanchez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sanchez wants to sweep here but Lavelle controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fumando Sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. And we move into the final round!

Lavelle is looking to clinch but Sanchez is avoiding it.

Sanchez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sanchez tries to pass the half guard into mount. Lavelle knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lavelle wants to control but Sanchez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sanchez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sanchez is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lavelle looking for submissions off his back.
Sanchez trying to control the action but Lavelle is working from the bottom.
Sanchez thows a huge punch but Lavelle dodges it nicely.
Sanchez controlling the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sanchez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lavelle misses with a takedown

and Sanchez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lavelle's guard now.
Sanchez passes Lavelle's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sanchez tries to pass the half guard into mount. Lavelle knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Lavelle tries to get to full guard but Sanchez has control of the leg.
Lavelle avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sanchez.
Sanchez tries to pass to full mount but Lavelle defends it.
Lavelle pushes Sanchez off looking to stand but Sanchez dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Sanchez wants to advance to full mount but Lavelle doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

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.
Sanchez sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lavelle's guard.
Sanchez working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Chris Lavelle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sanchez wants to pass the guard but Lavelle is defending well.
Lavelle is not content to let Sanchez control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanchez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fumando Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sanchez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fumando Sanchez!