PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kustaa Pohjanala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diago Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pohjanala comes to the cage accompanied by AC/DC - Hard as a Rock. Sanchez has chosen Coming Home as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Pohjanala
vs
Sanchez

168 cm
34
157 lbs
22 - 21 - 0

180 cm
30
150 lbs
22 - 8 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Heavy handed

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 22 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kustaa Pohjanala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Diago Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pohjanala blocks a jab.
Pohjanala tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sanchez counters with a nice body shot.
Sanchez looking to land some kicks to the body here.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sanchez darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Sanchez throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Pohjanala slips a straight right by Sanchez.

Sanchez moves into range and clinches up with Pohjanala.
Pohjanala looking to stall.

Pohjanala has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Sanchez uses from the top position.
Pohjanala might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Pohjanala working a defensive guard here.
Sanchez passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pohjanala looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sanchez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Pohjanala looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sanchez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pohjanala does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Pohjanala moves into full guard.
Sanchez wants to pass the guard but Pohjanala is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sanchez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pohjanala swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Pohjanala throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sanchez is looking to work some ground and pound but Pohjanala has wrist control.
Pohjanala controls Sanchez momentarily but Sanchez frees himself.
Pohjanala wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez has gone for a leg lock! Pohjanala slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sanchez's guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pohjanala drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sanchez manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Pohjanala has Sanchez in his guard.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Pohjanala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pohjanala pulls Sanchez in to control the position.
Pohjanala preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pohjanala is trying to control the position but Sanchez postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pohjanala 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.
Sanchez sitting in guard here, content to control.

Pohjanala escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sanchez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pohjanala is trying to control the position but Sanchez postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanchez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Pohjanala avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diago Sanchez dominated that round.
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.

Sanchez misses with a straight right.
Sanchez connects with a good right hand that stumbles Pohjanala. Pohjanala circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Pohjanala looks to score with a jab to the body but Sanchez is just out of range.
Pohjanala blocks a jab.
Sanchez swings for the body but Pohjanala moves out of range.
Sanchez is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Sanchez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Pohjanala did well to prevent Sanchez getting side control.
Pohjanala wants to improve his position but Sanchez is controlling well.
Sanchez wants to control but Pohjanala is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sanchez throws a strike but Pohjanala avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Pohjanala is trying to control the position but Sanchez postures up.

Pohjanala working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sanchez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sanchez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sanchez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Pohjanala is looking for a triangle but Sanchez pushes his legs off easily.

Pohjanala working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sanchez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sanchez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sanchez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a big right hand that misses.
Sanchez postures up.
Pohjanala keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Pohjanala is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Pohjanala is trying to control the position but Sanchez postures up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sanchez content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pohjanala pulls Sanchez in close to prevent any damage.

Pohjanala had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sanchez defends it easily.
Sanchez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Pohjanala has momentary wrist control but Sanchez slips an elbow through the middle.
Pohjanala tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Pohjanala looking for a guillotine here but Sanchez defends easily.
Pohjanala keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pohjanala has momentary wrist control but Sanchez slips an elbow through the middle.
Sanchez working some strikes from top position.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Pohjanala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pohjanala working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diago Sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Sanchez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sanchez misses with a body kick.
Pohjanala throws out a loose jab but Sanchez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sanchez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sanchez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez swings for the body but Pohjanala moves out of range.
Pohjanala fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sanchez manages to avoid it.
Pohjanala avoids the body shot from Sanchez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pohjanala swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sanchez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pohjanala.
Pohjanala misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sanchez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sanchez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Sanchez scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Pohjanala tries to improve position but can't.
Sanchez is chipping away with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez tries to advance to mount but can't.
Sanchez trying to control the position but Pohjanala is working away.
Sanchez grinds an elbow into Pohjanala's temple.
Sanchez scoring with punches from side control.
Sanchez working away.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Sanchez swings around for an armbar but Pohjanala sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Sanchez's guard.
Pohjanala wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.

Sanchez is looking for a triangle but Pohjanala pushes his legs off easily.
Pohjanala wants to pass the guard but Sanchez is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pohjanala throws a strike but Sanchez rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Pohjanala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diago Sanchez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

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

Pohjanala is looking for a triangle but Sanchez pushes his legs off easily.
Kustaa Pohjanala has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pohjanala is trying to keep Sanchez in close.
Pohjanala keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Pohjanala trying to control the position.
Sanchez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Diago Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sanchez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diago Sanchez!
A very excited looking Diago Sanchez rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.