PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nick Mondo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Earl Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanders is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by LL Cool J. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Mondo
vs
Sanders

169 cm
21
155 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

172 cm
24
162 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Nick Mondo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Earl Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Chris Edwards and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mondo shoots for a takedown but Sanders saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sanders throws a sloppy head kick and Mondo moves out of range easily.

Sanders clinches.

Sanders breaks from the clinch.

Sanders has taken the fight to the clinch.

Sanders has clasped his hands together around Mondo's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Sanders tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Mondo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sanders wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mondo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Sanders.
Mondo wants to get back to his feet.
Sanders trying to control the action but Mondo is working from the bottom.
Mondo is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Sanders is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mondo tries to bench press Sanders off him but Sanders keeps the position.

Sanders is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mondo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sanders looks gassed!

Sanders tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sanders closes the distance and clinches.

Mondo gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Sanders is looking for a sweep. Mondo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sanders avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mondo.
Mondo is nestled in close to Sanders, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
It looks like Mondo is going to stand back up.

Mondo escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mondo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sanders throws a head kick that misses.
Mondo tries to clinch up.
Sanders shoots in for a double leg but Mondo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Mondo moves into range and clinches up with Sanders.
Mondo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sanders has him pressed against the cage.

Sanders manages to break the clinch.
Sanders avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Mondo darts in and clinches Sanders up against the cage.
Mondo can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Mondo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mondo is trying to trip Sanders. He has hold of a leg but Sanders is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Mondo persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Mondo trying to control but Sanders is working from the bottom.

Sanders is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mondo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mondo manages to get himself to full guard.
Sanders looking to pass the guard.

Sanders is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Sanders tries to free his leg and advance position but Mondo is retaining full guard.

Sanders postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Mondo is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sanders, into his guard.

Sanders is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanders is looking for a triangle but Mondo pushes his legs off easily.
Sanders is trying to keep Mondo in close.

Sanders is looking for a triangle but Mondo pushes his legs off easily.
Mondo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Sanders looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mondo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sanders's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sanders has managed to clinch.
Sanders pressing his opponent against the cage.

Mondo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mondo tries to clinch up but Sanders circles away and keeps his distance.
Horrible takedown by Mondo or perhaps it was just good defense by Sanders which made him look bad.

Sanders scores with a takedown into Mondo's guard.
Sanders pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mondo is keeping the position for now.
Sanders stops Mondo from standing up.
Sanders advances to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Sanders postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Mondo to stand up.
Mondo tries to clinch but Sanders moves away

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mondo looking for a sweep. Not yet Mondo, not yet.
Mondo is working hard here to advance position.
Mondo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sanders slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Sanders is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mondo has escaped the position, nice work there.

Sanders working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Mondo is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Sanders is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mondo in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Mondo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sanders scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Sanders looking to secure an arm triangle but Mondo defends it well.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Sanders cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Sanders manages to capitalize on a mistake by Mondo to take his back!

Sanders is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Sanders working for the choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mondo has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Mondo tries to roll but Sanders sticks to his back.

Sanders is looking for the choke from the back position but Mondo is controlling his hands well.

Sanders has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Mondo is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Sanders is looking to control Mondo but Mondo is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Earl Sanders has got the better of the ground game so far.

Sanders has got his arm under Mondo's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Mondo has spun round into Sanders's guard beautifully! Well done that man!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders is striking from the bottom but Mondo uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Sanders wants to get back to full guard but Mondo has mounted him!
Mondo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sanders is looking to escape.
Sanders manages to regain half guard. Good work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanders gets full guard.

Mondo gets to his feet. Sanders looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Earl Sanders showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Mondo looks for a takedown but Sanders sprawls well.
A head kick from Sanders lands but Mondo takes it in his stride.
Nick Mondo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mondo tries to clinch but Sanders moves out of range.
Mondo tries to close the distance and clinch but Sanders swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mondo is looking to clinch.
Sanders circles away from the clinch attempt

and Sanders counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Mondo!
Sanders with good strikes from the mount here!
Mondo is trying desperately to improve position.
Mondo has given up his back here. Will Sanders look for the submission or keep pounding away?

Sanders is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Mondo is defending well though. Sanders let's go of the attempt for now.
Sanders has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mondo is trying to shake Sanders off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Sanders won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders tries a head kick but it misses.
Sanders tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sanders scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Mondo throws a right hand that Sanders ducks under and follows up with a left that Sanders also avoids with ease.
Mondo on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Sanders has Mondo up against the cage in a clinch.
Mondo looking for a takedown.

Sanders breaks the clinch.
Sanders getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sanders is trying to drag Mondo to the mat but Mondo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Mondo pulls guard effortlessly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mondo wants to get back to his feet but Sanders is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mondo is trying to keep Sanders in close.
Mondo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mondo wants to stand but Sanders is controlling the position.

Mondo pushes Sanders off and scrambles back to his feet.
Sanders throws a head kick that half lands.
No luck for Sanders with that takedown attempt.
Sanders throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders looks for a takedown but Mondo sprawls well.
Nick Mondo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Earl Sanders.
Nice sprawl there from Mondo as Sanders shoots in.
A punch lands to the side of Mondo 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sanders.

Sanders has an Americana. Mondo didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Sanders is delighted and gyrates infront of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Sanders hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Earl Sanders!