PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nick Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bayden Laston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sanchez
vs
Laston

183 cm
25
175 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
20
182 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bayden Laston!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Gwen Towbar and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez shoots in looking for a takedown. Laston tries to sprawl out of it but Sanchez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Laston manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Laston is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sanchez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Laston shoots in looking for a takedown. Sanchez tries to sprawl out of it but Laston 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.
Laston tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sanchez swivels and escapes.
Nick Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bayden Laston.
Laston dives in for a single leg takedown but Sanchez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sanchez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Laston is keeping busy.
Sanchez gets underhooks to prevent Laston's takedown attempt.

Sanchez breaks from the clinch.
Laston closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sanchez circles away.
Laston shoots in looking for a takedown but Sanchez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Laston's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Laston changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sanchez tries to avoid it but Laston manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sanchez to the ground. Sanchez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Laston looks winded!
Sanchez shoots in looking for a takedown. Laston tries to sprawl out of it but Sanchez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Laston manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sanchez feints a jab promting Laston to slip. Sanchez then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Laston slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Bayden Laston has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanchez clinches.
Laston wants a takedown but no success here.
Laston is working for takedown but Sanchez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Laston is trying to drag Sanchez to the mat but Sanchez just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Sanchez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sanchez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sanchez goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Sanchez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Sanchez closes the distance and pushes Laston back into the cage.
Laston goes for a takedown attempt but Sanchez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Sanchez moves into range and clinches up with Laston.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laston looking for a takedown.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Laston drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sanchez tries to score a body lock takedown but Laston shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A right hook to the body lands for Sanchez.
Laston is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sanchez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Sanchez jumps guard and drags Laston to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Sanchez trying to control the position.
Laston trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanchez has Laston pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laston prevents Sanchez from getting back to his feet.
Sanchez keeping moving, preventing Laston from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sanchez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Laston has a takedown stuffed.

Sanchez moves into the clinch.

Sanchez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sanchez.

Sanchez closes the distance and pushes Laston back into the cage.
Laston is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sanchez is defending well.
Sanchez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Laston pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez stops a takedown attempt from Laston.
Sanchez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Laston pulls his leg out and moves away.
Laston dives in and grabs Sanchez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sanchez pushes down on Laston's head and hops out.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Laston as he jumps to the side.

Sanchez has taken the fight to the clinch.

Sanchez pulls guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sanchez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Sanchez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanchez is adopting a defensive guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Sanchez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bayden Laston's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Laston fails to land the takedown.

Sanchez gets caught napping as Laston dives in and scores a takedown. Sanchez manages to retain guard.
Sanchez throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Laston trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Sanchez throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Laston trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Laston's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Bayden Laston hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Laston throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sanchez was covering up waiting for the punch and Laston finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Laston is breathing heavily.
Sanchez keeping moving, preventing Laston from controlling successfully.
Sanchez looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Sanchez 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.
Sanchez pulls Laston in close to prevent any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Bayden Laston.
Sanchez fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Laston but Laston pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Laston misses with a takedown attempt - Sanchez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Sanchez moves into the clinch.
Laston wants a takedown but no success here.
Nick Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bayden Laston.
A shot in the inside from Sanchez.
Laston looking for a takedown.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Sanchez jumps into guard, dragging Laston to the mat.
Sanchez is trying to keep Laston in close.
Sanchez wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laston wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Laston tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sanchez swivels and escapes.
Nice sprawl there from Sanchez as Laston shoots in.

Sanchez has Laston up against the cage in a clinch.
Laston goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sanchez prevents it.

Sanchez jumps into guard, dragging Laston to the mat.

Sanchez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laston looking to sit in guard and control but Sanchez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sanchez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Laston working for a triangle but Sanchez defends it easily.
Sanchez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Laston swivels though and keeps the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laston keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bayden Laston will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Bayden Laston's cut.
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!

Nice shot by Sanchez.
Laston blocks the body kick.
Laston tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sanchez defends well and Laston ends up having to push Sanchez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Laston is looking for a takedown.

Sanchez breaks the clinch.
Laston will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nick Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bayden Laston.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Laston as he avoids it easily.
Sanchez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Laston.
Sanchez throws a head kick but Laston moves out of range.

Sanchez has Laston up against the cage in a clinch.
Laston takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sanchez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Laston gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Sanchez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Laston gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laston drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sanchez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Laston has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sanchez after a bit of a struggle.

Sanchez pulls Laston into guard.
Laston trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanchez trying to keep a closed guard but Laston is proving a slippery customer.
Sanchez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nick Sanchez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Laston drops back, looking for a kneebar! Sanchez looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Sanchez looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Sanchez!
Sanchez is looking to take a break and control but Laston is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sanchez working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Sanchez trying to control the action but Laston is working from the bottom.
What's Laston going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Nick Sanchez.

Laston closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Laston is trying to control. Sanchez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez tries to get to full guard but Laston has control of the leg.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Laston content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Bayden Laston.
Laston shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Sanchez has managed to clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Laston is looking for a takedown.

Sanchez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nick Sanchez.
I think Sanchez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Sanchez!
In defeat, Bayden Laston stepped up to the mic, saying 'I won, I can't give a losing speech.'.