PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Diego Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scuba Stevess (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sanchez
vs
Stevess

178 cm
26
172 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Diego Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Scuba Stevess!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Gregory Folan and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sanchez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Stevess sprawls well initially but Sanchez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sanchez not doing much here.
Sanchez is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Sanchez content just to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez landing strikes from the mount.

It looks like Scuba Stevess has been cut.
Sanchez sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Stevess is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanchez sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Sanchez goes for an armbar but Stevess turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Stevess.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez controlling the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sanchez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stevess manages to get himself to full guard.
Stevess is looking to stand up but Sanchez isn't so interested in that idea.
Sanchez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Sanchez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sanchez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Stevess is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sanchez is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez tries to free his leg and advance position but Stevess is retaining full guard.
Sanchez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sanchez wants to pass the guard but Stevess is keeping the position.
Sanchez stops Stevess from standing up.
Sanchez advances to half guard.
Stevess is trying to stand up here but Sanchez is controlling him well.
Stevess looks gassed!
Sanchez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanchez moves into full mount! Stevess won't be happy about that!
Sanchez looking to control and managing it successfully.
Stevess really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sanchez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevess squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Sanchez controlling from the full mount.
Sanchez unloads with some shots from mount but Stevess bucks and avoids them well.
Sanchez controlling his opponent.

Sanchez working for a guillotine from mount but Stevess is in no mood to give up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez controlling the position easily from mount.
Sanchez seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Stevess for as long as he can get away with.
Stevess is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sanchez is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Stevess to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Stevess shrugs it off.
Sanchez thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Sanchez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Scuba Stevess's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sanchez scores with a nice head shot.
Stevess swats away the attempt to clinch by Sanchez.
Sanchez misses with a wild combination.
Sanchez cracks Stevess with a good jab.
Stevess tries to clinch but Sanchez is having none of it.
Stevess throws a right hand that Sanchez ducks under and follows up with a left that Sanchez also avoids with ease.
Stevess moves in looking to clinch but Sanchez pushes him off.
Sanchez lands with an uppercut that bounces Stevess off the cage and back into rage.
Stevess falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Sanchez counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevess falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sanchez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Stevess gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Stevess shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sanchez's guard.
Stevess trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sanchez's guard.
Sanchez seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Stevess is looking to stand up but Sanchez won't let him.
Stevess is breathing heavily.
Sanchez pulls Stevess in close to his closed guard and prevents Stevess from doing any damage or advancing position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

We're going to have a standup here because Diego Sanchez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Stevess misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stevess throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Scuba Stevess seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stevess misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stevess throws a combination that misses
and Sanchez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sanchez avoids a punch combination nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stevess tries a head kick but it misses.
Sanchez cracks Stevess with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevess takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Stevess misses with a wild combination.

Sanchez closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Stevess quickly recovers to half guard.

Stevess is defending against the submission attempts here by Sanchez.
Sanchez moves into full mount! Stevess won't be happy about that!

Sanchez with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Sanchez controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez thowing shots but they're missing.

Sanchez jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Stevess manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Sanchez looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Stevess is avoiding damage well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Sanchez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sanchez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Sanchez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sanchez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Sanchez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Scuba Stevess's cut.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Stevess looks to land a combination but Sanchez avoids it well.
Stevess misses with a combination
and Sanchez counters with a nice uppercut.
Stevess looks to land a right hand but Sanchez moved out of range.
Stevess attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevess is looking to clinch.
The crowd cheers as Sanchez lands an impressive looking overhand right. Stevess doesn't seem phased though.

Sanchez gets caught napping as Stevess dives in and scores a takedown. Sanchez manages to retain guard.

Stevess got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sanchez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stevess has managed to get both his arms back between Sanchez's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Sanchez manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sanchez controlling the pace for now.
Stevess wants to try and get back to his feet.
Stevess takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sanchez throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Stevess because Sanchez loaded up on that one.
Stevess trying desperately to get to his feet.
Sanchez looking to control and managing it successfully.

Sanchez looking to secure an arm triangle but Stevess defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Sanchez quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Sanchez but it's paid off an Stevess is forced to tap! Nice work by Sanchez.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Diego Sanchez!