PBP Commentary

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

Sanderson
vs
Markakis

182 cm
18
185 lbs
3 - 5 - 1

186 cm
22
192 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Prefers standup

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 3 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Assuerio Sanderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Constantine Markakis!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Chris Downing and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanderson tries to close the distance and clinch but Markakis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Markakis tries to bum rush Sanderson with a series of wild strikes but Sanderson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Markakis darts in trying to clinch

and Sanderson counters by moving into the clinch.
Markakis throws a knee to the head but misses.
Markakis using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Markakis is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sanderson is keeping busy.
Markakis has had enough of the clinch but Sanderson keeps him there for the moment.
Sanderson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Markakis prevents it.
Sanderson wants a takedown.
Good body shot from Markakis.

Sanderson pulls guard successfully.
Sanderson keeping full guard, as Markakis tries to pass.
Sanderson controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markakis looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Sanderson can't keep his opponent in guard - Markakis advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Markakis wants to control but Sanderson is keeping him busy.
Sanderson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sanderson tries to get out of the position.
Markakis thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sanderson's head.
Markakis is trying to control the action in half guard but Sanderson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sanderson is looking to control Markakis's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sanderson avoid being mounted?

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.
Markakis takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Sanderson is staying active underneath Markakis, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sanderson tries to kick Markakis off but Markakis keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sanderson is breathing heavily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Markakis gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sanderson avoiding damage as Markakis throws knees to the body.

Sanderson jumps guard.
Markakis is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markakis pushing down on Sanderson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Markakis performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Markakis is looking to take a break and control but Sanderson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Markakis missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Markakis wants to free his trapped foot but Sanderson is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four 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.
Sanderson trying to control from the bottom.
Markakis tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sanderson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Markakis lands a knee to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Markakis stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A short left from Markakis.
Markakis tries to land knees in the clinch but Sanderson avoids the damage to the body.
A hook to the body from Markakis.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Markakis looks to clinch

and Sanderson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sanderson.
Markakis tries to stall but Sanderson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Markakis.
Markakis tries to throw a body punch but Sanderson avoids it by throwing Markakis back against the cage.
Sanderson has Markakis pressed against the cage.
Markakis using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sanderson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Markakis.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Sanderson has had enough of the clinch but Markakis keeps him there for the moment.
Markakis throws a knee to the head but misses.
Markakis with a knee to the head.
Sanderson trying to stall but Markakis improves his position.
Markakis stalling in the clinch but Sanderson improves position.
Sanderson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Markakis missing with knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanderson tries to pull guard but Markakis won't allow it.
Knees to the body from Markakis.
Sanderson avoiding damage.
Sanderson avoiding damage as Markakis throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markakis is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sanderson is keeping busy.
A knee to the head by Markakis.
Markakis throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sanderson blocks it with crossed arms.
Sanderson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Markakis smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Assuerio Sanderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sanderson closes the distance and clinches.
Knees in the clinch landing for Markakis.
Markakis lands a shoulder strike.
Sanderson managing to block the knees to the body from Markakis.
Sanderson is looking to break free of the clinch but Markakis has double underhooks.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sanderson wants a takedown but no success here.
Markakis scores with a knee to the head.
Markakis gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sanderson.
Markakis is trying to stall.
Markakis unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sanderson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markakis is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Markakis landing knees to the body.
Markakis throws a knee to the head but misses.
Markakis lands a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Markakis.
Sanderson goes for a takedown attempt but Markakis pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Markakis wants to clinch but Sanderson slips to the side

and Sanderson moves into the clinch.

Sanderson gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Sanderson postures up in Markakis's guard and throws a big left but Markakis blocks it.
Sanderson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Markakis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sanderson trying to control but Markakis is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markakis is trying to keep Sanderson in close.
Markakis seems keen to control Sanderson's posture.
Markakis wants to stand and escape but Sanderson is having none of it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sanderson avoids the head kick by Markakis.
Sanderson wants to clinch
and Markakis counters with a thumping low kick.

That's four 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.
Markakis wants to clinch but Sanderson slips to the side

and Sanderson counters with a shoot takedown. Markakis fights it but they end up in guard.
Sanderson postures up.

Markakis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Markakis is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sanderson is controlling him.
Markakis is trying to control the position but Sanderson postures up.
Markakis lands an upkick as Sanderson stands over him.
Markakis working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Markakis pulls Sanderson in close to his closed guard and prevents Sanderson from doing any damage or advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Assuerio Sanderson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Markakis throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Assuerio Sanderson has been cut.
Sanderson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Markakis counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Markakis.
Markakis landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Markakis landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sanderson takes a knee right on the jaw!
Markakis has Sanderson pushed against the cage.

Sanderson lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Markakis trying to control from the bottom.
Markakis moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanderson won't allow Markakis to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Markakis 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.
Markakis managing to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sanderson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Markakis looking for a sweep. Not yet Markakis, not yet.
Sanderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Markakis swivels though and keeps the full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Sanderson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sanderson trying to control the action but Markakis is working from the bottom.
Markakis gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Markakis trying to control the position.
Sanderson is stalling in the full guard.
Sanderson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Markakis pushes Sanderson off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Markakis tries to clinch

and Sanderson counters by clinching up.
Markakis connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sanderson's face.

Sanderson manages to break the clinch.
Markakis tries to clinch up

and Sanderson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Markakis!
Markakis is working to get back to half guard.
Markakis wants to hold on but Sanderson pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Assuerio Sanderson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sanderson 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Assuerio Sanderson!