PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dj Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ippo Makunouchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanchez comes to the cage accompanied by WALK BY PANTERA. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sanchez
vs
Makunouchi

195 cm
41
275 lbs
21 - 8 - 0

170 cm
36
160 lbs
18 - 18 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dj Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 18 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ippo Makunouchi!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Franklyn Lucas and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez is looking to slow Makunouchi down with leg kicks.
Makunouchi tries to bum rush Sanchez with a series of wild strikes but Sanchez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Makunouchi throws a hook but Sanchez blocks it.
Makunouchi lands a body shot.
Makunouchi throws a nice looking combination but Sanchez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sanchez loads up on a big right hand but Makunouchi slips the punch.
Sanchez ducks under a wild hook from Makunouchi.
Sanchez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Makunouchi.
No joy there for Makunouchi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Makunouchi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sanchez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Makunouchi thuds a left hand into Sanchez's body.
Makunouchi misses with a wild combination.
Makunouchi misses with a looping left.
Sanchez with a poor takedown
and Sanchez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makunouchi throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sanchez on the side of the head.
Sanchez has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Makunouchi finds it's way round the side to connect with Sanchez's head.
Sanchez connects with the punch.
Makunouchi lunges at Sanchez with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sanchez's hand.
Makunouchi lands a slapping body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanchez throws the kick towards the body but Makunouchi avoids it.
Sanchez fails with the takedown
and Makunouchi counters with a left to the body.
Makunouchi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sanchez slips a straight right by Makunouchi.
Ippo Makunouchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Makunouchi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Makunouchi throws a nice looking combination but Sanchez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Makunouchi throws a combination. Sanchez tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sanchez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sanchez misses with a hook.
The fighters circling - Sanchez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Good shot there by Makunouchi.
Sanchez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Makunouchi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Makunouchi digs a good hook to Sanchez's body.
A nice combination there by Makunouchi.
A jab lands there for Makunouchi.
Makunouchi lands with a hook. Sanchez tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sanchez drops his hands momentarily and Makunouchi takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A jab lands there for Makunouchi.

Oooh a lovely combination from Makunouchi sends Sanchez down but not out. Makunouchi dives into side control looking to finish.

Sanchez is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Sanchez can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Makunouchi.
The ground and pound from Makunouchi seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Sanchez struggling a bit here.
Makunouchi taking a break here but Sanchez is having none of it and regains half guard.
Makunouchi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sanchez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Makunouchi lands with a punch from half guard.
Makunouchi throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Sanchez to regain full guard.
Sanchez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Makunouchi manages to get himself to full guard.
Makunouchi trying to control the position.
Sanchez tries to free his leg and advance position but Makunouchi is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is working hard here to advance position.
Makunouchi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Makunouchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Makunouchi wants to get back to his feet but Sanchez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Makunouchi lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ippo Makunouchi dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sanchez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Makunouchi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Makunouchi lands a nice looking body shot.
Sanchez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sanchez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sanchez throws a front kick aimed at Makunouchi's knee but Makunouchi avoids it well.
Makunouchi lands with a nice combination. Sanchez backs away looking to recover.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanchez tries a low kick but Makunouchi avoids it.
Makunouchi connects with a looping right hand.
Makunouchi throws an overhand right that lands on Sanchez's shoulder, as Sanchez tries to avoid the shot.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but Makunouchi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sanchez walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makunouchi throws out a loose jab but Sanchez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sanchez shoots in looking for a takedown. Makunouchi tries to sprawl out of it but Sanchez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Makunouchi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Makunouchi throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Makunouchi with a jab.
Sanchez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Makunouchi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sanchez shoots in looking for a takedown. Makunouchi tries to sprawl out of it but Sanchez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Makunouchi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dj Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Makunouchi lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sanchez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Makunouchi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Makunouchi moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sanchez fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Makunouchi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Makunouchi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sanchez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Makunouchi swivels and escapes.
Sanchez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Makunouchi.
Makunouchi lands with an uppercut that bounces Sanchez off the cage and back into range.
Makunouchi lands with a nice combination. Sanchez backs away looking to recover.
Sanchez takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Sanchez throws a leg kick but Makunouchi sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi jabs Sanchez to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Makunouchi lands a really nice looking cross but Sanchez seems unphased.
Makunouchi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sanchez throws a lazy right hand but Makunouchi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Makunouchi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sanchez at a distance.
Makunouchi scores with the left hand. Sanchez knows he should have avoided that one.
Ippo Makunouchi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice sprawl there from Makunouchi as Sanchez shoots in.
Sanchez takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Makunouchi connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Makunouchi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Makunouchi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Ippo Makunouchi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Makunouchi scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

A jab-cross combination lands for Makunouchi and sends Sanchez crashing to the mat! Makunouchi follows him down to the mat - Sanchez regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!
Oh Sanchez is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

It looks like Dj Sanchez has been cut.
Makunouchi working over Sanchez with some ground and pound. Sanchez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Makunouchi scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Makunouchi is taking a breather. Sanchez says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Sanchez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Makunouchi.
Makunouchi keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Sanchez seems to have got his legs back now.
Sanchez wants to control but Makunouchi is keeping busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Makunouchi swats away the attempt to clinch by Sanchez.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sanchez throws a left and a right that both miss
and Makunouchi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Makunouchi fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ippo Makunouchi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dj Sanchez's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Makunouchi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sanchez wants to clinch.
Sanchez slips under a jab.
Makunouchi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Makunouchi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sanchez shoots in but no luck this time.
Makunouchi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Makunouchi jabs Sanchez right on the nose. Sanchez blinks but takes it well.
Makunouchi lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Makunouchi lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Makunouchi scores with a jab.
Makunouchi looks to land a combination but Sanchez avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makunouchi lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Makunouchi cracks Sanchez with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Makunouchi Rushes Sanchez and starts throwing punches like they are going out of style! Sanchez is up against the cage and has nowhere to go. Makunouchi Piles on the pressure and Sanchez crumples to the floor! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ippo Makunouchi!