PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ares Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miguel Cotto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Sanchez
vs
Cotto

173 cm
20
146 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

167 cm
23
145 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ares Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Miguel Cotto!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Winston Howard and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cotto but Cotto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sanchez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cotto avoids it really well and circles away.
Cotto avoids the head kick by Sanchez.
Sanchez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cotto counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ares Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cotto stuffs the takedown.
Sanchez fails with the takedown
letting Cotto counter with a right hand.
Sanchez fails with the takedown.
Sanchez is looking to clinch but Cotto is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez looks for a takedown but Cotto sprawls well.

Sanchez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Sanchez controlling the position from side mount.
Sanchez wants to control but Cotto is keeping him busy.
Sanchez tries to move into full mount but can't pass Cotto's legs.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cotto can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sanchez trying to control the action but Cotto is working from the bottom.
A lull in the action here as Sanchez stalls from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cotto is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Sanchez is controlling him well.
Sanchez is looking to take a break and control but Cotto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cotto wants to get back to his feet but Sanchez drags him back down.
Sanchez just content to control the position.
Cotto prevents Sanchez from moving into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez wants to control but Cotto is keeping him busy.
Sanchez controls the position from side control.

Ares Sanchez has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Sanchez fails with a takedown attempt.

Sanchez scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Sanchez taking a breather here.
Sanchez seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Cotto for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Cotto!
Sanchez content just to control the position here.
Sanchez wants to control the action but instead Cotto gets a body lock and reverses into Sanchez's guard! Nice work!
Sanchez wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cotto stands up from Sanchez's guard - Cotto perhaps looking for a knockout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sanchez shoots in looking for a takedown but Cotto manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sanchez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ares Sanchez dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sanchez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cotto swivels and escapes.
Sanchez looks to clinch
and Cotto counters with a right hand to the body.
Cotto keeps the fight on the outside.
Sanchez shoots for a takedown but Cotto saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ares Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez fails with the takedown.
Sanchez has a takedown stuffed.
Sanchez shoots for a takedown but Cotto saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sanchez wants to clinch up but Cotto keeps it at a distance.
Cotto defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sanchez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cotto defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sanchez.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sanchez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sanchez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cotto counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cotto as he avoids it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Cotto. No joy for Sanchez on that attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Cotto. No joy for Sanchez on that attempt.
Sanchez has his takedown stuffed
and Cotto counters with a left and a right that stings Sanchez.
Sanchez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cotto counters with a three punch combo that has Sanchez backing up. Sanchez nods at Cotto to acknowledge the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sanchez tries for a takedown but Cotto sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sanchez closes the distance and clinches up with Cotto, looking for a takedown. Sanchez pushes Cotto against the cage but Cotto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ares Sanchez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanchez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cotto defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sanchez.
Ares Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sanchez shoots and misses
and Cotto counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
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 misses with a takedown attempt
and Cotto counters with a straight right hand.

Sanchez is rocked!
Sanchez has his takedown stuffed
and Cotto counters with a right, left combo that wobbles Sanchez badly! Cotto follows up with a massive right hook, straight to the bridge of the nose that knocks Sanchez out cold! Oh wow, what a finish! Very reminiscent of Koscheck vs Yoshida as Cotto finished him against the cage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Miguel Cotto!