PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ethan Sandoval (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Blaze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sandoval
vs
Blaze

185 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ethan Sandoval!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Johnny Blaze!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sandoval feints and as Blaze raises his hands in defense, Sandoval changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sandoval looking to pass the guard.
Sandoval content to stall in guard here.
Sandoval working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sandoval wanted to stand there but Blaze had control of the position.

Blaze is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sandoval is aware though and is defending well.
Blaze wants to stand up but Sandoval is controlling him.
Blaze manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sandoval manages to get himself to full guard.
Blaze tries to stand but Sandoval is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaze postures up.
Blaze pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sandoval is keeping the position for now.
Blaze trying to control the position from guard on top but Sandoval is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sandoval is looking for a triangle but Blaze pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blaze tries to free his leg and advance position but Sandoval is retaining full guard.
Sandoval looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaze looking to sit in guard and control but Sandoval gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Blaze wants to stand and escape but Sandoval is having none of it.
Sandoval wants to control from the top but Blaze keeps moving.
Blaze is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sandoval sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sandoval trying to control but Blaze is working from the bottom.

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

Blaze darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaze trying to control from half guard but Sandoval is working away.
Sandoval wants to improve his position but Blaze is controlling well.

Sandoval kicks Blaze off and gets back to his feet.
A punch combination from Blaze misses.

Sandoval closes the distance and clinches.

Sandoval jumps into guard, dragging Blaze to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sandoval is working hard here to advance position.
Sandoval can't keep his opponent in guard - Blaze advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sandoval manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Blaze trying to control but Sandoval is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sandoval tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blaze postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
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 Ethan Sandoval will probably get the nod.
That's time! Sandoval's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Blaze keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sandoval misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sandoval fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Sandoval gets a takedown into half guard.
Sandoval prevents Blaze from improving his position.
Sandoval trying to control the pace.
Blaze is in trouble now - Sandoval has advanced to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blaze bucks Sandoval off and manages to get back to his feet!
A looping hook to the body misses from Sandoval. Blaze does a little dance to reset his feet.

Blaze shoots in and gets a takedown into Sandoval's guard.

Blaze decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Sandoval tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Blaze swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ethan Sandoval. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sandoval pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Blaze throws a nice looking combination but Sandoval bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Blaze shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sandoval pinned against the cage. Sandoval gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaze fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sandoval avoids it really well and circles away.
Sandoval tries to clinch but Blaze moves out of range.
Sandoval shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Blaze as he jumps to the side.

Sandoval shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blaze is looking to control Sandoval's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Blaze avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaze tries to roll over but Sandoval keeps him under control.
Blaze trying to control but Sandoval postures up.
Blaze might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sandoval kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Sandoval is keen to just control but Blaze is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sandoval wants to work for an arm triangle but Blaze is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sandoval is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Blaze!
Sandoval avoids the attempt from Blaze to control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Blaze can do anything to dispel that myth.

Sandoval is working for a guillotine from mount but Blaze frees his head quite easily.
Sandoval has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Blaze's face.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sandoval dominating with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Sandoval dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Blaze throws a leg kick but Sandoval checks it.

Blaze gets caught flat footed, as Sandoval shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sandoval trying to control the position from guard on top but Blaze is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ethan Sandoval overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sandoval connects with a couple of short punches.
Sandoval stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blaze swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Blaze lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sandoval!
Blaze looking to control but Sandoval is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandoval can't escape the position.
Blaze throws a strike there. Sandoval manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.
Blaze tries to pass to full mount but Sandoval defends it.
Sandoval is looking for a sweep. Blaze is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Blaze passes into side control, despite Sandoval's attempt to control the position.
Blaze advances to full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaze sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Blaze landing strikes from the mount and Sandoval is in trouble!
Sandoval regains half guard.
Blaze is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Sandoval wants to control but Blaze is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaze is trying to control the action in half guard but Sandoval is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Blaze takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sandoval makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sandoval.
Blaze wants to control from the top but Sandoval keeps moving.
Sandoval seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Blaze tries to clinch up but Sandoval circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blaze looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Blaze gets to his feet. Sandoval looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Sandoval moves in looking to clinch but Blaze pushes him off.
Blaze throws a sloppy body shot

and Sandoval counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Blaze's guard now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sandoval's corner is telling him to maintain position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blaze looking to control.

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 Ethan Sandoval.
Well Sandoval has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ethan Sandoval!