PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ares Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carl Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Carl Johnson enters the cage!

Sanchez
vs
Johnson

173 cm
21
146 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
26
130 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ares Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Carl Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez misses with a takedown attempt - Johnson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Johnson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sanchez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanchez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Johnson can do anything to dispel that myth.

Ares Sanchez has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Sanchez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Johnson is not content to let Sanchez control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control from the bottom.
Johnson tries to roll over but Sanchez keeps him under control.

Sanchez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Johnson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Johnson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sanchez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sanchez's back!
Johnson is not going to allow Sanchez to sit and survive in this position.
Sanchez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sanchez rolls, trying to escape but Johnson keeps control of the position.
Will Johnson go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Sanchez is in bad spot here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to control Sanchez but Sanchez is wriggling around and keeping busy.
What can Sanchez do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Sanchez tries to roll but Johnson sticks to his back.
Sanchez looking very determined here, making life difficult for Johnson.
Johnson keeps control of the position as Sanchez tries to break free.
Johnson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sanchez trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez holding both Johnson 's hands and preventing any damage.
Johnson not allowing Sanchez to control his hands.
Sanchez tries to escape but Johnson has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Sanchez is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Johnson.
Johnson is not going to allow Sanchez to sit and survive in this position.
Sanchez breaks Johnson's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Sanchez tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sanchez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Johnson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Sanchez pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ares Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.
Horrible takedown by Sanchez or perhaps it was just good defense by Johnson which made him look bad.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.
A swing and a miss from Sanchez.

Sanchez gets a takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sanchez is working away from the top position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Johnson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sanchez pulls his head out easily.
Johnson is staying active underneath Sanchez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ares Sanchez dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sanchez has a takedown stuffed.
Nice takedown defense from Sanchez. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Sanchez gets a takedown into half guard.
Sanchez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sanchez is keen to just control but Johnson is a slippery customer.
Johnson wants to improve his position but Sanchez is controlling well.
Johnson is trying to control but can't.
Sanchez slows the pace down in half guard.
Johnson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ares Sanchez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sanchez prevents Johnson from improving his position.

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

Sanchez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sanchez is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Johnson!
Sanchez trying to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Sanchez.
Sanchez throws some wild stikes that Johnson manages to avoid easily.
Sanchez controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is desperately trying to improve his position but Sanchez has a good base and remains in mount.
Sanchez looking to finish with strikes here!
Sanchez tries to control but Johnson wriggling away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sanchez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johnson is looking to escape.
Sanchez controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is squirming around, avoiding Sanchez's attempts to control the action.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Sanchez goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Johnson turns into him and now he's in Sanchez's guard.
Sanchez pulls Johnson in close to his closed guard and prevents Johnson from doing any damage or advancing position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ares Sanchez wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Johnson sprawls well. Johnson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sanchez gets slowly back to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sanchez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez moves into full mount!

Sanchez with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Johnson tries to hold on but Sanchez postures up.
Johnson tries to reverse the position but Sanchez maintains control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanchez perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Johnson trying to hold on to Sanchez's head to control him but Sanchez postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ares Sanchez dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Sanchez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sanchez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.
Sanchez shoots in looking for a takedown but Johnson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sanchez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sanchez misses with a takedown attempt - Johnson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ares Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sanchez but Sanchez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ares Sanchez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson misses with a hook.
Johnson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Johnson as he jumps to the side.
Johnson just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries a head kick but it misses.
Sanchez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ares Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanchez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch.
Johnson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sanchez avoids a wild elbow strike from Johnson.
Sanchez jumps guard but Johnson stands there with Sanchez around his waist. Sanchez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Johnson effectively controlling the action here.
Sanchez taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to pull guard but Sanchez has him pressed against the cage.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Sanchez shoots and misses

and Johnson counters by clinching up.
Sanchez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Johnson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Johnson stalls.
Johnson missing with knees to the body.
Sanchez is trying to stall.
Johnson is pressed up against the cage. Sanchez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Johnson down to the mat. Johnson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sanchez stops Johnson from standing up.
Sanchez wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.

Johnson 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.
Johnson trying to control the position.
Sanchez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Sanchez slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is taking a breather. Johnson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Sanchez is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sanchez has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanchez trying to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Carl Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ares Sanchez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson is looking to improve his position but Sanchez isn't that keen on the idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ares Sanchez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sanchez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ares Sanchez!