PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ares Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adam Schwaty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Adam Schwaty has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sanchez
vs
Schwaty

173 cm
23
146 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

170 cm
25
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ares Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Adam Schwaty!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Roger Salmon and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schwaty shoots for a takedown but Sanchez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Schwaty tries for a takedown but Sanchez circles away easily

and Sanchez counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Schwaty!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Schwaty tries to improve position but can't.
Sanchez remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Schwaty wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Sanchez taking a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schwaty can't do much from the bottom here.
Sanchez takes a little break here. Schwaty wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Sanchez's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ares Sanchez just wasn't active enough.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Sanchez crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Schwaty - the referee stops the clock and Sanchez gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Schwaty. Sanchez manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schwaty shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ares Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Schwaty.
Sanchez takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Sanchez shoots in but Schwaty avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Schwaty fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Sanchez to the ground. Schwaty is now in Sanchez's guard.
Sanchez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Schwaty's guard.
Sanchez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Schwaty 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.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanchez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Schwaty for as long as he can get away with.
Schwaty is trying to keep Sanchez in close.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Schwaty tries for a takedown but Sanchez circles away easily

and Sanchez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sanchez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Sanchez stops Schwaty from standing up.
Sanchez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sanchez is stalling in the full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

We're going to have a standup here because Ares Sanchez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Schwaty shoots and misses

and Sanchez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Schwaty looks winded!
Sanchez passes Schwaty's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sanchez is looking to advance position but Schwaty won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanchez looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ares Sanchez dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Schwaty dives in for a single leg takedown but Sanchez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sanchez wants a takedown but no success here.
Schwaty stalling.
Sanchez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Schwaty gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Schwaty tightens his grip and picks Sanchez up, before dumping him to the ground. Sanchez manages to land in guard.

Sanchez has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Schwaty has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Sanchez is trying to drag Schwaty to the mat but Schwaty just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ares Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez trying to stall but Schwaty improves his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez has been working on his balance at Blitzkrieg Fighting Systems: Ground, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Schwaty.
Sanchez goes for a takedown attempt but Schwaty pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Schwaty scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Schwaty misses with a head shot. Sanchez uses the momentum to regain guard.
Schwaty has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sanchez is proving hard to escape from.
Sanchez keeping moving, preventing Schwaty from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schwaty throws a strike but Sanchez rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Schwaty can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sanchez controls the pace.
Schwaty looking to control.
Sanchez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Schwaty is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez postures up.
Sanchez slips nicely into half guard.
Well, if Sanchez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Sanchez has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Schwaty displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sanchez.
Schwaty with a lazy takedown attempt

so Sanchez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez stays in close to Schwaty's body and controls the position.
Sanchez stops Schwaty from standing up.
Schwaty is breathing heavily.
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's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Schwaty wants to sweep but no luck.
Sanchez's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ares Sanchez just wasn't active enough.
Sanchez leaves Schwaty with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Sanchez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Schwaty looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Schwaty is letting Sanchez control him for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ares Sanchez dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Schwaty shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sanchez as he avoids it easily.
Schwaty shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sanchez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Schwaty won't be happy with that.
Sanchez is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Schwaty's shoulder. That is not cool.
Schwaty is looking for a sweep.
Sanchez content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Schwaty takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ares Sanchez wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Sanchez dives in and scores a takedown into Schwaty's guard.
Sanchez passes Schwaty's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sanchez is taking a breather. Schwaty 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 works his way into side control.
Sanchez taking a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Ares Sanchez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Schwaty tries for a takedown but Sanchez circles away easily

and Sanchez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ares Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Schwaty.
Sanchez is pressing down on Schwaty's thigh, looking to free his foot. Schwaty is holding on for now.
Sanchez controlling the action here.
Sanchez passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez controlling the pace for now.
Sanchez avoids the attempt from Schwaty to control.
Sanchez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sanchez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Schwaty can do to turn this around?
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Schwaty blocking the ground and pound.

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 Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27

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