PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jonathin Horvin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Sanderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Horvin might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Bodies by Drowning Pool. Sanderson is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Radioactive-Imagine Dragons. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Horvin
vs
Sanderson

182 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
24
145 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jonathin Horvin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joey Sanderson!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Jorge Garcia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horvin shoots for a double leg takedown but Sanderson sprawls well. He's pushed Horvin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
No luck for Horvin with that takedown attempt.
Horvin is breathing heavily.
Horvin leaves Sanderson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sanderson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Horvin swivels and escapes.
Nice takedown defense from Horvin. No joy for Sanderson on that attempt.
Jonathin Horvin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joey Sanderson.
Nice sprawl there from Horvin as Sanderson shoots in.

Sanderson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Horvin keeping moving, preventing Sanderson from controlling successfully.
Sanderson looking to pass the guard.
Horvin keeping moving, preventing Sanderson from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanderson is looking to work some ground and pound but Horvin has wrist control.

Horvin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sanderson trying to control but Horvin is working from the bottom.
Sanderson looking to pass the guard.
Sanderson wanted to stand there but Horvin had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joey Sanderson was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Sanderson shoots in for a takedown but Horvin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Horvin lands a head kick. Sanderson smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Horvin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sanderson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Horvin dives in for a single leg takedown but Sanderson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sanderson tries to circle away but Horvin has him pinned against the cage.
Sanderson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Horvin to keep the fight standing.

Horvin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sanderson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson moves in looking to clinch but Horvin pushes him off.
Horvin shoots in and drives through. Sanderson sprawls well.

Sanderson rushes Horvin and presses him up against the cage.
Horvin tries to pull guard but Sanderson holds him up against the cage and eventually Horvin drops back down to his feet.
Sanderson wants a takedown but no success here.

Horvin manages to break the clinch.
Sanderson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Horvin avoids it really well and circles away.
Horvin tries for a takedown but Sanderson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Sanderson.
Sanderson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Horvin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sanderson circles away.
Horvin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sanderson pinned against the cage. Sanderson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sanderson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Horvin as he jumps to the side.
Sanderson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Horvin is fending him off so far but Sanderson persists. Nope, Horvin circles away and we're back to standing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Horvin forces Sanderson back against the cage and clinches.
Horvin stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sanderson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Horvin defends it nicely.

Sanderson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Horvin on his heels. He'll look to pass Horvin's guard now, I'm sure.
Horvin wants to stand but Sanderson is controlling the position.
Sanderson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Horvin trying to keep a closed guard but Sanderson is proving a slippery customer.
Horvin keeping moving, preventing Sanderson from controlling successfully.

Horvin working for submissions but it's allowed Sanderson to get to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanderson lands strikes from half guard.
Sanderson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Horvin tries to get to full guard but Sanderson has control of the leg.
Sanderson trying to control the action but Horvin is working from the bottom.
Horvin wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson is trying to control the action in half guard but Horvin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Horvin is looking to control Sanderson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Horvin avoid being mounted?

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sanderson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Horvin.
Sanderson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Sanderson shoots in for a takedown but Horvin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Sanderson darts in and clinches Horvin up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanderson breaks the clinch.
Horvin throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sanderson shoots in for a double leg but Horvin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jonathin Horvin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joey Sanderson.
Sanderson swats away the attempt to clinch by Horvin.
Sanderson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Horvin avoids it really well and circles away.
Horvin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sanderson defends well and Horvin ends up having to push Sanderson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sanderson is trying to break free.
Horvin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sanderson blocks it with crossed arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Horvin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Horvin pulls guard effortlessly.
Sanderson wants to get up but he can't break Horvin's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Horvin wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Horvin pushes Sanderson off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Sanderson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Horvin defends it nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanderson scores with the left hand. Horvin knows he should have avoided that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Sanderson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Horvin fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sanderson sprawls well initially but Horvin persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Sanderson is looking to control Horvin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sanderson avoid being mounted?
Sanderson is looking for a sweep. Horvin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Horvin prevents Sanderson from standing back up.

Horvin is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sanderson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sanderson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sanderson.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Horvin looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanderson is trying to keep Horvin in close.
Sanderson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Horvin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanderson working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Joey Sanderson.
Sanderson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Horvin's waist but Horvin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sanderson off to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horvin slaps away a takedown attempt from Sanderson, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Sanderson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Horvin did well to prevent Sanderson getting side control.
Horvin is refusing to be controlled, as Sanderson sits in half guard.
Sanderson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Horvin haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Sanderson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joey Sanderson was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Horvin shoots in but Sanderson avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Horvin takes the fight into the clinch.
Horvin jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sanderson walks away with a smile on his face. Horvin gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sanderson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Horvin defends well and Sanderson ends up having to push Horvin into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Jonathin Horvin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joey Sanderson.
Horvin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sanderson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sanderson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sanderson jumps guard but Horvin turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horvin tries to pull guard but Sanderson won't allow it.
Horvin blocking some punches.

Sanderson pulls guard successfully.
Horvin landing some decent shots from guard.
Sanderson can't keep his opponent in guard - Horvin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sanderson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Horvin stands up and beckons Sanderson to join him on the feet.
Jonathin Horvin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joey Sanderson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sanderson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Horvin's waist but Horvin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sanderson off to one side.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Joey Sanderson.
Well Sanderson 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Sanderson!
After the fight, Joey Sanderson was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.