PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Devin Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oberyn Martell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Devin Sanchez has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Sanchez
vs
Martell

179 cm
24
162 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

167 cm
23
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Intelligent

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Devin 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, Oberyn Martell!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Sam Margolis and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Martell looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sanchez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Martell misses with a lunging right hand

and Sanchez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sanchez seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Martell is looking to improve his position.
Martell desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Sanchez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Martell tries to roll over but Sanchez keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martell is trying to maintain the position but Sanchez is very close to passing his half guard.
Martell is trying to get back to full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Martell fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Martell shoots in for a takedown but Sanchez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Devin Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oberyn Martell.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Martell.
The fight stays on the outside here - Martell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Martell throws the kick towards the body but Sanchez avoids it.
Martell stuffs the takedown.
Martell looks to clinch

and Sanchez counters with a single leg into guard. Martell didn't expect that.

Martell working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Sanchez has passed into half guard!
Sanchez not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martell is refusing to be controlled, as Sanchez sits in half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Sanchez wants to stand but Martell has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

We're going to have a standup here because Devin Sanchez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Martell misses with a takedown
and Sanchez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Martell shoots in and drives through. Sanchez sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martell shoots in but Sanchez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Martell tries for a takedown but Sanchez circles away easily
and Sanchez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Martell drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Martell shoots for a takedown but Sanchez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Martell tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sanchez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Martell somewhat.
Martell looks winded!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Martell is defended easily by Sanchez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Devin Sanchez dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sanchez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Martell.
Nice takedown defense from Sanchez. No joy for Martell on that attempt.
Sanchez moves out of range as Martell strikes.

Sanchez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Martell wants to improve his position but Sanchez is controlling well.
Martell trying to control but Sanchez postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Martell is looking to get back to full guard here but Sanchez has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martell taking punishment in the form of punches.
Sanchez working away.
Devin Sanchez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Sanchez stands up.
Martell with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Sanchez to counter with a crisp jab.
Devin Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oberyn Martell.
Martell shoots in for a takedown but Sanchez shows good takedown defense.
Martell is breathing heavily.
Martell tries for a takedown but Sanchez circles away easily
and Sanchez counters with a series of strikes. Martell will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez moves into the clinch.

Martell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Martell shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Oberyn Martell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Martell.
Martell fails with the takedown

and Sanchez counters with a single leg into guard. Martell didn't expect that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanchez is standing up over Martell. Martell looks to escape but Sanchez dives into side control.

Sanchez stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martell has his takedown stuffed
and Sanchez counters with a nice body shot.
Sanchez fails with the takedown.
Martell tries to clinch but Sanchez moves away
and Sanchez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Martell fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Sanchez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Martell manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Sanchez stands up and waves to Martell to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martell misses with a few strikes there.
Martell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Martell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sanchez as he avoids it easily.

Sanchez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Martell manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
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.
Sanchez wants to stand but Martell has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Devin Sanchez dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Martell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Martell connects with a leg kick. Sanchez looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Martell misses with a body shot.
Martell has his takedown stuffed
and Sanchez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Oberyn Martell seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Martell takes the fight into the clinch.
Martell fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martell tries to pull guard but Sanchez won't allow it.
Devin Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oberyn Martell.
Martell lands an elbow inside.
Martell tries to pull guard but Sanchez forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sanchez lands with a short shot to the head.
Martell has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sanchez after a bit of a struggle.
Martell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Martell blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Martell - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Sanchez missing with knees to the body.
Sanchez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Martell blocks an elbow strike from Sanchez.
Sanchez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Martell is keeping busy.
Sanchez lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Martell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Martell shoots in for a double leg but Sanchez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Martell moves into the clinch.
Sanchez stalling in the clinch but Martell improves position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sanchez.
Martell managing to block the knees to the body from Sanchez.
Sanchez looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Martell has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sanchez after a bit of a struggle.
Martell jumps guard but Sanchez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Sanchez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Martell blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sanchez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Martell.
Sanchez lands a body shot in the clinch.
Sanchez swings wildly with an uppercut but Martell uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sanchez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Martell goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sanchez prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sanchez.
Sanchez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sanchez trying to stall but Martell improves his position.
Sanchez trying to land knees to the body.
Sanchez swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Martell breaks from the clinch.
Martell tries to clinch up but Sanchez circles away and keeps his distance.
Sanchez avoids a kick to the body.
Martell moves in looking to clinch but Sanchez pushes him off.
Martell doesn't manage to clinch there - Sanchez circles away.
Devin Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martell throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sanchez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Martell.
Martell throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sanchez shoots in but no luck this time.
Martell misses the shot to the body.

Sanchez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Martell's guard.

Martell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sanchez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Martell not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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 Devin Sanchez.
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 Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27

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