PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Earl Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hanz Stokenhizer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanders comes to the cage accompanied by LL Cool J. Earl Sanders has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sanders
vs
Stokenhizer

172 cm
24
162 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

184 cm
23
162 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Earl Sanders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Hanz Stokenhizer!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Atkins and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stokenhizer ducks under a wild hook from Sanders.
Stokenhizer avoids a kick to the body.
Sanders looks to throw the jab but Stokenhizer is out of range.
Stokenhizer misses with a takedown attempt - Sanders sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stokenhizer will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stokenhizer dodges the punch combination from Sanders.
Stokenhizer slips under a jab.
Sanders tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice defenses there by Stokenhizer.
Nice straight punches there by Sanders. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sanders.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stokenhizer changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sanders looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Stokenhizer cracks Sanders with a big right hand but Sanders just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Stokenhizer works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Sanders sneaks out the side door and pushes Stokenhizer away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Stokenhizer tries to clinch but Sanders is having none of it.
Sanders misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Sanders.
Sanders misses with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Sanders.
Sanders is breathing heavily.
Stokenhizer moves out of range of the strikes.
Sanders misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sanders tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sanders lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stokenhizer circles away quickly and effectively.

Stokenhizer gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Stokenhizer lands with a left to the head.
Sanders avoids the elbow strike from Stokenhizer, against the cage.
Sanders tries to pull guard but Stokenhizer holds him up against the cage and eventually Sanders drops back down to his feet.
Stokenhizer misses with the head strike.
Sanders tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Stokenhizer lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Sanders jumps guard but Stokenhizer stands there with Sanders around his waist. Sanders gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Earl Sanders. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanders tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stokenhizer just stands there and leans against the cage.
Stokenhizer throws a punch but it's blocked by Sanders.
Sanders is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Sanders's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

Stokenhizer lands a takedown into guard.
Stokenhizer wants to control from the top but Sanders keeps moving.
Sanders avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stokenhizer chips away with some ground and pound.
Stokenhizer keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sanders's head.
Stokenhizer postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stokenhizer stops Sanders from standing up.
Stokenhizer lands a couple of elbows.
Stokenhizer cracks Sanders with a solid left hand.
Stokenhizer cracks Sanders with a solid left hand.
Stokenhizer lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Stokenhizer's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sanders looking for a guillotine here but Stokenhizer defends easily.
Sanders can't keep his opponent in guard - Stokenhizer advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Stokenhizer working the head and body with strikes.
Stokenhizer lands with a punch from half guard.
Sanders tries to kick Stokenhizer off but Stokenhizer keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Stokenhizer drops an elbow to the side of Sanders's head.
Sanders taking some punishment here, with Stokenhizer in his half guard.
Stokenhizer is tying to control. Sanders wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stokenhizer works his way into full mount!
Stokenhizer prevents Sanders from getting the reversal.
Sanders is bucking up trying to escape but Stokenhizer cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Stokenhizer has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Stokenhizer scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stokenhizer lands a big elbow.
The referee warns Sanders that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Sanders wants to try and get back to his feet.
Stokenhizer is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Stokenhizer cracks Sanders with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Stokenhizer putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Stokenhizer lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Sanders is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Stokenhizer landing strikes from the mount and Sanders is in trouble!
Sanders tries to buck Stokenhizer off but he can't manage it.
Stokenhizer working Sanders over with strikes here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stokenhizer putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Stokenhizer connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Sanders is looking to improve his position but Stokenhizer isn't that keen on the idea.
Sanders is trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hanz Stokenhizer dominated that round.
That's time! Sanders's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stokenhizer misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stokenhizer uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sanders.
Stokenhizer looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sanders is fending him off so far but Stokenhizer persists. Nope, Sanders circles away and we're back to standing.
Sanders plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Stokenhizer scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sanders might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Stokenhizer is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Stokenhizer working over Sanders with some ground and pound. Sanders looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Stokenhizer thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Sanders manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Sanders throws a head kick that half lands.
Sanders misses with a hook. Stokenhizer ducked under it nicely.
Stokenhizer avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stokenhizer fails in his attempt to clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stokenhizer will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Earl Sanders has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hanz Stokenhizer.
Sanders tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sanders looks to land a combination but Stokenhizer avoids it well.
Stokenhizer tries to clinch but Sanders is having none of it.
Sanders looks to land a combination but Stokenhizer avoids it well.
Sanders throws a nice looking combination but Stokenhizer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Stokenhizer shoots for a takedown but Sanders saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A combination from Sanders does no damage.
Sanders misses with a looping left.
Good shot there by Stokenhizer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Stokenhizer clinches.
Stokenhizer tries to land knees in the clinch but Sanders avoids the damage to the body.
Sanders tries to pull guard but Stokenhizer holds him up against the cage and eventually Sanders drops back down to his feet.
Stokenhizer is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Stokenhizer can't find room to land a body shot as Sanders controls the action.

Sanders jumps guard and drags Stokenhizer to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Sanders keeping moving, preventing Stokenhizer from controlling successfully.
Sanders striking off his back but it's not causing Stokenhizer any problems.

Sanders has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stokenhizer can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sanders is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Stokenhizer is controlling him.
Stokenhizer wants to control from the top but Sanders keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanders looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Stokenhizer wants to control from the top but Sanders keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sanders.
Stokenhizer looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sanders stuffs the takedown.
Earl Sanders is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sanders throws a head kick that Stokenhizer semi-blocks.
Sanders avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stokenhizer moves in looking to clinch but Sanders pushes him off.
Stokenhizer misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

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.
Sanders misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stokenhizer misses with a body kick.
Sanders misses with a head kick.
Stokenhizer tries to clinch but Sanders moves out of range.
Sanders tries a head kick but it misses.
Stokenhizer moves out of range of the strikes.
Stokenhizer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Earl Sanders is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stokenhizer closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sanders circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stokenhizer takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Stokenhizer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sanders swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sanders thows a left - swing and a miss!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Earl Sanders will probably get the nod.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sanders misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sanders fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sanders throws a head kick that misses.
Stokenhizer shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sanders but Sanders pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Stokenhizer misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Some wild striking there from Sanders.
Sanders stuffs the takedown.
Earl Sanders has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hanz Stokenhizer.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanders looks to land a left hand but Stokenhizer moved out of range nicely.

Stokenhizer gets a takedown into half guard.
Stokenhizer not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stokenhizer sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sanders defending well though.
Sanders is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sanders pushes Stokenhizer off looking to stand but Stokenhizer dives back in and keeps control.
Stokenhizer passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Sanders!
Stokenhizer working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Sanders is bucking up trying to escape but Stokenhizer cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Sanders manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Stokenhizer stops Sanders from getting back to his feet.
Stokenhizer looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Stokenhizer wants to pass the guard but Sanders is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Stokenhizer prevents Sanders from improving his position.
Stokenhizer thows a huge punch but Sanders dodges it nicely.
Stokenhizer thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sanders's head.
Stokenhizer trying to control the action but Sanders is working from the bottom.
Stokenhizer throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sanders throws a right and a left that both miss.
No joy there for Sanders, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A jab from Sanders misses.
Stokenhizer tries for a takedown but Sanders sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Stokenhizer avoids the head kick by Sanders.
Stokenhizer changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sanders tries to avoid it but Stokenhizer manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sanders to the ground. Sanders escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders connects with a high kick.
Sanders misses with a straight left.
Sanders cracks Stokenhizer with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Stokenhizer tries for a takedown but Sanders sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sanders connects with a solid leg kick.
A slow jab from Sanders misses its intended target.
Stokenhizer shoots for a takedown but Sanders saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sanders lands a jab-cross combination.
Stokenhizer avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nice cross by Stokenhizer.
Stokenhizer fails with a takedown attempt.
Sanders is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Sanders misses with the combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A punch combination from Sanders misses.
Stokenhizer shoots for a double leg takedown but Sanders sprawls well. He's pushed Stokenhizer's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sanders misses with the combination.
Stokenhizer shoots for a takedown but Sanders saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Good exchange - Sanders coming out on top.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanders misses with a looping left.
Stokenhizer uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sanders.
Stokenhizer fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

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 Earl Sanders.
I think Sanders 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Hanz Stokenhizer!
Judge James Atkins scores the fight for Hanz Stokenhizer!
Judge James Glass scores the fight for Hanz Stokenhizer!

Hanz Stokenhizer wins by unanimous decision!