PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Arthur Pandora (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcello Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pandora comes to the ring accompanied by Gonna Fly Now. Marcello Sanchez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pandora
vs
Sanchez

180 cm
36
181 lbs
33 - 31 - 1

183 cm
30
186 lbs
12 - 21 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 33 - 31 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Arthur Pandora!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 21 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcello Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Albert Achterberg and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sanchez gets a takedown into half guard.
Sanchez looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Pandora wants to control but Sanchez is keeping busy.

Sanchez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pandora doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sanchez.
Sanchez content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pandora avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sanchez.
Sanchez is looking to advance position but Pandora won't allow it.
Sanchez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Sanchez tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pandora knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sanchez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Pandora gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sanchez sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sanchez looking to pass the guard.
Sanchez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Sanchez might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Pandora just misses with a punch to the body.
Sanchez shoots in and drives through. Pandora sprawls well.
Pandora slaps away a takedown attempt from Sanchez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Arthur Pandora is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sanchez dives in for a single leg takedown but Pandora sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
Arthur Pandora has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcello Sanchez.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sanchez.

Sanchez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pandora is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Sanchez taking a breather here.
Pandora prevents Sanchez from moving into mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sanchez content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcello Sanchez dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but Pandora shows good takedown defense.
Pandora lands a high kick!

It looks like Marcello Sanchez has been cut.

Sanchez takes the fight into the clinch.

Sanchez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck for Sanchez with that takedown attempt.

Sanchez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Sanchez trying to control the action but Pandora is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pandora keeping control of the position.
Pandora keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Pandora is looking to control Sanchez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pandora avoid being mounted?
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sanchez in particular looking to stall.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Pandora misses with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Sanchez dives in and scores a takedown into Pandora's guard.
Sanchez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Let's hope that Sanchez has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Sanchez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pandora swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanchez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pandora defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sanchez.
Arthur Pandora has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcello Sanchez.

Sanchez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sanchez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A lull in the action here as Sanchez stalls from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pandora knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sanchez tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pandora can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcello Sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Marcello Sanchez's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sanchez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pandora swivels and escapes.
Pandora throws a head kick but Sanchez moves out of range.
Sanchez fails with a takedown attempt.
Sanchez takes one to the chin there.
Pandora slaps away a takedown attempt from Sanchez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Arthur Pandora has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcello Sanchez.

Pandora gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sanchez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pandora swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanchez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
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.
Sanchez is continuing to stall.
Arthur Pandora has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Sanchez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Pandora has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sanchez has managed to get both his arms back between Pandora's legs - danger averted.
Sanchez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pandora is keeping the position for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Sanchez closes the distance and pushes Pandora back into the ropes.
Pandora missing with knees to the body.
Sanchez jumps guard but Pandora turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
Pandora tries to land knees in the clinch but Sanchez avoids the damage to the body.

Pandora is fighting off a takedown attempt but Sanchez is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Pandora to the mat. Pandora regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Sanchez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pandora swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pandora looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sanchez's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Sanchez passes Pandora's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Marcello Sanchez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sanchez content to control rather than advance.
The adventures of Sanchez the control monster continue. Boring.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Pandora has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sanchez is working away from the top position though.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Pandora throws a push kick but Sanchez slaps the foot to one side.
Sanchez takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Pandora gets caught flat footed, as Sanchez shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sanchez tries to free his leg and advance position but Pandora is retaining full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanchez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Pandora throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Marcello Sanchez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sanchez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcello Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sanchez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcello Sanchez!
A relieved looking Marcello Sanchez thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Arthur Pandora spoke after the fight, saying 'I'll be back.'.