PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tad Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barthez Dalembert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sanders
vs
Dalembert

209 cm
25
151 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

176 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tad Sanders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Barthez Dalembert!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Nard Betker and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dalembert forces Sanders back against the cage and clinches.

Sanders has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Dalembert uses from the top position.
Dalembert trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanders wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Dalembert manages to pass to side control.
Sanders tries to roll over but Dalembert keeps him under control.

Sanders looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanders is staying active underneath Dalembert, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders is looking to improve his position.
Dalembert is trying to control. Sanders wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dalembert content to control rather than advance.
Sanders is looking for a sweep. Dalembert is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them 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.
Sanders is staying active underneath Dalembert, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Dalembert scores with a sloppy right hand. Sanders should have avoided that one.
Barthez Dalembert seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice defenses there by Sanders.
Dalembert connects with a body shot that sends Sanders's belly button to the back.
Dalembert tests Sanders's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Dalembert moves into the clinch.
Sanders is trying to pull guard but Dalembert turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dalembert gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Sanders regains guard.
Sanders throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Dalembert wants to control from the top but Sanders keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dalembert might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sanders haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Sanders keeping full guard, as Dalembert tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Dalembert puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Dalembert is looking to advance position but Sanders won't allow it.
Dalembert trying to control the pace.
Dalembert seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sanders does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sanders closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sanders lands in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barthez Dalembert 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.

Dalembert drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sanders is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Dalembert dives into side control.

Sanders is looking to reverse the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dalembert trying to control the position but Sanders is working away.
Barthez Dalembert has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Dalembert trying to control the action but Sanders is working from the bottom.

Dalembert decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dalembert goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sanders avoids the body shot from Dalembert.

Dalembert closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Sanders ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sanders no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Sanders has his foot on Dalembert's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dalembert works his way back into a safe position though.
Dalembert trying to control but Sanders is working from the bottom.
Dalembert stands and throws Sanders's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders is not content to let Dalembert control the position.
Sanders really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sanders manages to work his way to half guard, despite Dalembert's best efforts.
Dalembert is keen to just control but Sanders is a slippery customer.
Sanders wants to get back to full guard but Dalembert has passed into side control.
Dalembert trying to control the position but Sanders is working away.
Dalembert is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

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 is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Dalembert is looking to take a break and control but Sanders is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barthez Dalembert showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Dalembert has Sanders up against the cage in a clinch.
Dalembert has had enough of the clinch but Sanders keeps him there for the moment.
Sanders is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Dalembert managing to block the knees to the body from Sanders.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dalembert gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Sanders kicks Dalembert off and gets back to his feet.

Dalembert takes the fight into the clinch.

Dalembert gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders missing with punches from the bottom.
Dalembert wants to take a breather but Sanders is having none of it.
Dalembert has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

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.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Dalembert throws a right hand that misses

and Sanders holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sanders trying to land knees to the body.

Sanders breaks the clinch.

Dalembert clinches up against the cage.
Sanders stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Dalembert is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Sanders jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Dalembert walks away with a smile on his face. Sanders gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dalembert throws a combination that misses

and Sanders counters by clinching up.

Sanders pulls guard effortlessly.

Sanders working for submissions but it's allowed Dalembert to get to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dalembert wants to pass to mount but Sanders is defending the position.
Dalembert wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sanders keeps working.
Dalembert is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dalembert is just content to waste time from the top position. Sanders takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Dalembert pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanders is keeping the position for now.
Sanders will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Sanders working for a triangle but Dalembert defends it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dalembert postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

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 Tad Sanders.
Well Dalembert has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Barthez Dalembert!