PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Kiptanui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanchez comes into the arena with Sublime - Santaria blaring out of the sound system. Kiptanui is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Steen1 - Huvipuiston takana . Xavier Sanchez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sanchez
vs
Kiptanui

188 cm
25
180 lbs
20 - 2 - 0

173 cm
24
166 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Seven Sins™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Xavier Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gabriel Kiptanui!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sanchez.

Sanchez tries to sprawl but Kiptanui drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Kiptanui is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sanchez sees it coming and defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez tries to roll over but Kiptanui keeps him under control.

Sanchez looking for submissions off his back.
Sanchez tries to roll over but Kiptanui keeps him under control.
Kiptanui not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sanchez won't allow Kiptanui to pass to mount.
Kiptanui seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sanchez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Kiptanui is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiptanui works his way into side control.

Kiptanui is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sanchez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sanchez is working to avoid the ground and pound but Kiptanui connects with a decent elbow.

Kiptanui goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Sanchez rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kiptanui's guard! Nice work there by Sanchez!
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Kiptanui keeps moving.

Sanchez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Kiptanui is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanchez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Kiptanui is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sanchez stands and throws Kiptanui's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sanchez trying to control the position but Kiptanui is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kiptanui is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Kiptanui sneaks back into half guard.
Kiptanui gets full guard.
Sanchez working some strikes from top position.
Sanchez looking to pass the guard.

Kiptanui working for a triangle but Sanchez defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Kiptanui is looking for a triangle but Sanchez pushes his legs off easily.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanchez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sanchez with a nice head shot there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gabriel Kiptanui will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kiptanui stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sanchez.
Kiptanui shoots in for a takedown but Sanchez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sanchez misses with a kick to the body.
Nice body kick there by Sanchez.
Kiptanui takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Sanchez listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sanchez throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Sanchez swats away the attempt to clinch by Kiptanui.
Nice takedown defense from Sanchez. No joy for Kiptanui on that attempt.
Sanchez attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Sanchez lands a nice looking body shot.
Kiptanui is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kiptanui checks a low kick from Sanchez.
Some bone on bone action there as Kiptanui checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Sanchez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kiptanui manages to avoid it.
Kiptanui on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sanchez. Sanchez obviously looking to wear him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiptanui shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sanchez as he jumps to the side.
Xavier Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabriel Kiptanui.
Kiptanui tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sanchez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kiptanui closes the distance and clinches up with Sanchez, looking for a takedown. Kiptanui pushes Sanchez against the cage but Sanchez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kiptanui blocks a head kick by Sanchez.
Sanchez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kiptanui moves away.
Kiptanui on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Gabriel Kiptanui is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kiptanui wants to clinch up but Sanchez keeps it at a distance.
Sanchez lands a jab to the head.
Gabriel Kiptanui seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kiptanui works over Sanchez's head and body with a nice combination.
Kiptanui fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sanchez misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kiptanui closes the distance and clinches up with Sanchez, looking for a takedown. Kiptanui pushes Sanchez against the cage but Sanchez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sanchez tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kiptanui is able to avoid easily.
A head kick misses from Sanchez.
Xavier Sanchez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kiptanui tries to land a front kick but Sanchez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Sanchez. Beautiful body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kiptanui takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kiptanui is breathing heavily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sanchez.
Kiptanui is trying to get back to half guard.
Gabriel Kiptanui has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kiptanui takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Sanchez trying to control the action but Kiptanui is working from the bottom.
Sanchez working the ground and pound from side control.
Sanchez tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Kiptanui tries to improve position but can't.
Sanchez tries to move into full mount but can't pass Kiptanui's legs.
Sanchez working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Sanchez throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Kiptanui takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Kiptanui avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Sanchez.
Sanchez scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Kiptanui to see if he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Kiptanui is avoiding damage well.
Sanchez has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Kiptanui!
Kiptanui tries to hold on but Sanchez postures up.
Kiptanui tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sanchez landing shots from mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sanchez with a couple of short strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sanchez landing strikes from the mount and Kiptanui is in trouble!

Kiptanui is rocked!
Sanchez lands a heavy shot. That's hurt Kiptanui! Sanchez sees the opportunity and turns up the heat - strike after strike land to the defenseless Kiptanui and the ref dives in to save him! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Xavier Sanchez!
Xavier Sanchez thanked the fans post fight for their support.