PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jackson Sanderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksandr Dmitrejv (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aleksandr Dmitrejv has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sanderson
vs
Dmitrejv

155 cm
21
134 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

180 cm
22
130 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BLKOUT 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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Jackson Sanderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aleksandr Dmitrejv!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanderson shoots in but no luck this time.
Sanderson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Sanderson fails to land the takedown.

Sanderson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sanderson showed some decent athleticism there.

Sanderson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Dmitrejv is looking to escape.

Sanderson is looking for a kimura here.

Sanderson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dmitrejv defends it well.
Sanderson wants to pass the guard but Dmitrejv is defending well.

Sanderson is trying to work for a kimura but Dmitrejv is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanderson is working for a submission of some sort.

Sanderson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sanderson is breathing heavily.
Dmitrejv tries to roll over but Sanderson keeps him under control.
Sanderson prevents Dmitrejv from standing back up.

Dmitrejv is defending against the submission attempts here by Sanderson.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sanderson slips a jab and a cross from Dmitrejv.
Dmitrejv swinging wildly here.
Dmitrejv displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sanderson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jackson Sanderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two 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.
Dmitrejv rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sanderson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sanderson shoots in and drives through. Dmitrejv sprawls well.
Aleksandr Dmitrejv is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Some wild striking there from Dmitrejv.
Dmitrejv scores with a hook.

Sanderson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dmitrejv is trying to defend but Sanderson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Sanderson is trying to work for a kimura but Dmitrejv is defending well.
Dmitrejv is trying to get back to full guard.

Sanderson is working for a kimura but Dmitrejv is defending it quite comfortably.
Dmitrejv gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanderson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sanderson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Dmitrejv is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sanderson is aware though and is defending well.

Sanderson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Dmitrejv is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Dmitrejv has escaped and now he's on top!

Dmitrejv stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dmitrejv cracks Sanderson with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Sanderson scores a takedown into full mount!

Sanderson jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Dmitrejv is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Dmitrejv and Sanderson has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Sanderson is trying to get an arm triangle but Dmitrejv is defending well.

Sanderson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
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 Jackson Sanderson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sanderson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Dmitrejv was covering up waiting for the punch and Sanderson finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Sanderson 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.

Sanderson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Dmitrejv looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Dmitrejv looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Dmitrejv!
Sanderson tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanderson squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

Dmitrejv stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Sanderson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dmitrejv is trying to defend but Sanderson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Sanderson trying to pass the guard but Dmitrejv defending well.
Dmitrejv slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Sanderson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Dmitrejv had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sanderson defends it easily.
Dmitrejv is breathing heavily.

Sanderson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Dmitrejv is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Dmitrejv has escaped and now he's on top!
Dmitrejv won't allow Sanderson to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanderson uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Sanderson shoots in and bounces Dmitrejv off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanderson pushes down on Dmitrejv's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Sanderson 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.

Sanderson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Dmitrejv sees it coming and defends easily.
Sanderson prevents Dmitrejv from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jackson Sanderson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Dmitrejv throws a right and a left that both miss.

Sanderson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

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

Sanderson drops back looking for a leg! Dmitrejv is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Dmitrejv manages to kick Sanderson off! Sanderson jumps back into Dmitrejv's guard.
Sanderson tries to free his leg and advance position but Dmitrejv is retaining full guard.

Sanderson drops back looking for a leg! Dmitrejv is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Dmitrejv manages to kick Sanderson off! Sanderson jumps back into Dmitrejv's guard.

Sanderson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sanderson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Dmitrejv is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Dmitrejv takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanderson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sanderson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Dmitrejv manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Sanderson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dmitrejv sprawls well. Dmitrejv wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sanderson gets slowly back to his feet.
Sanderson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dmitrejv as he avoids it easily.

Sanderson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dmitrejv looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Sanderson drops back looking for a leg! Dmitrejv is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Dmitrejv manages to kick Sanderson off! Sanderson jumps back into Dmitrejv's guard.

Dmitrejv working for a triangle but Sanderson defends it easily.

Sanderson drops back looking for a leg! Dmitrejv is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Dmitrejv manages to kick Sanderson off! Sanderson jumps back into Dmitrejv's guard.
Jackson Sanderson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dmitrejv lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sanderson!

Dmitrejv stands up from mount. Strange move.
Aleksandr Dmitrejv has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jackson Sanderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanderson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dmitrejv is trying to defend but Sanderson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Sanderson is looking for a kimura here.

Sanderson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Dmitrejv manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Sanderson avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson tries for a takedown but Dmitrejv sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jackson Sanderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dmitrejv lands with a right hand.
Dmitrejv rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sanderson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Sanderson shoots in and bounces Dmitrejv off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Sanderson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Dmitrejv is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sanderson, into his guard.
Dmitrejv throws a strike but Sanderson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

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 Jackson Sanderson.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sanderson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jackson Sanderson!