PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Julian Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mcal Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Sanchez
vs
Lopez

195 cm
19
195 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

189 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Julian Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mcal Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Atkins and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sanchez as he avoids it easily.
Lopez shoots in looking for a takedown. Sanchez tries to sprawl out of it but Lopez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sanchez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Sanchez darts in and clinches Lopez up against the cage.

Lopez has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Sanchez uses from the top position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Lopez trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Sanchez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sanchez content to stall in guard here.
Lopez looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lopez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sanchez lands a couple of elbows.
Sanchez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Sanchez passes into half guard.
Sanchez controlling the action here.
Lopez tries to roll over but Sanchez keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez not doing much here.

Julian Sanchez has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Sanchez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lopez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sanchez avoids it really well and circles away.
Julian Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mcal Lopez.
Sanchez stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez blocks a head kick by Sanchez.
Lopez shoots in and drives through. Sanchez sprawls well.
Sanchez dodges the punch combination from Lopez.

Sanchez throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lopez was covering up waiting for the punch and Sanchez finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Lopez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sanchez.
Sanchez looking to pass the guard.
Sanchez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Sanchez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lopez swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lopez looking to control but Sanchez passes into half guard.
Sanchez keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanchez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sanchez working over Lopez with some ground and pound. Lopez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julian Sanchez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lopez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lopez wants to clinch up but Sanchez keeps it at a distance.

Sanchez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lopez's guard.
Lopez is looking to sweep but instead, Sanchez has passed into half guard.
Lopez tries to get to full guard but Sanchez has control of the leg.
Sanchez looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Sanchez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez tries to get to full guard but Sanchez has control of the leg.
Lopez works his way to full guard. Good work.

Lopez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sanchez defends it easily.
Sanchez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lopez wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Sanchez is now in half guard.
Lopez has hold of Sanchez's hands but Sanchez slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sanchez has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez tries to lock up and control but Sanchez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sanchez raining down hammerfists from mount.
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 controlling the pace for now.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Lopez tries to reverse the position but Sanchez maintains control.
Sanchez controlling his opponent.
Lopez reaches up to try and control the position but Sanchez seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Lopez rolls and tries to escape and now Sanchez has his back!
Sanchez controls the position.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Sanchez. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Sanchez connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Lopez to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez misses with punches from the back.

Sanchez is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Lopez defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Julian Sanchez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanchez is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Sanchez lands a shot to the head.

Sanchez tightening his grip on Lopez, looking for the choke.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lopez is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julian Sanchez dominated that second round.
That's time! Sanchez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lopez feints a jab promting Sanchez to slip. Lopez then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Sanchez slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Julian Sanchez has been cut.

Sanchez shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Lopez napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sanchez content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Lopez is looking to reverse the position.
Sanchez moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lopez struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanchez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
You can see the frustration on Lopez's face as Sanchez controls the position.
Lopez sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Lopez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Sanchez seems to be looking for submissions.
Lopez trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Sanchez decides to return to a standing position.

Sanchez gets a takedown into half guard.
Sanchez thows a huge punch but Lopez dodges it nicely.
Lopez is trying to control but can't.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sanchez throwing shots but Lopez is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lopez defends it well.
Sanchez is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Sanchez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lopez defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez wants to improve his position but Sanchez is controlling well.
Sanchez works his way into side control.
Sanchez controls the position.
Lopez wants to get back to his feet.
Lopez is looking to reverse the position.
Mcal Lopez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Julian Sanchez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julian 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

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