PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sanford Fanning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ram Man Rijal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Ram Man Rijal enters the cage!

Fanning
vs
Man Rijal

182 cm
23
216 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

193 cm
23
205 lbs
2 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Great elbows
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sanford Fanning!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ram Man Rijal!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fanning chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rijal can pounce on him.
Rijal shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fanning as he avoids it easily.
Rijal scores with a shot to the body.
Fanning seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rijal checks a leg kick.
Rijal walks into a left hand.
Rijal lands a slapping body shot.
Fanning stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fanning wants it to stay on the feet.

Fanning closes the distance and clinches.
Fanning softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Fanning tries a body shot but Rijal blocks it.
Rijal wants a takedown but no success here.
Sanford Fanning has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ram Man Rijal.
Rijal drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rijal is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Fanning to keep the fight standing.
Rijal misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rijal drops down looking for an ankle pick but Fanning pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rijal lands a nice leg kick that just misses Fanning's sensitive parts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fanning lands with a shot to the body.
Fanning connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rijal's hands.
Fanning misses with a combination

and Rijal moves into the clinch.
Rijal blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rijal wants a takedown.
Rijal goes for a takedown in the clinch but Fanning prevents it.

Fanning manages to break the clinch.
Fanning connects with a leg kick. Rijal looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Fanning closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fanning tries a body shot but Rijal blocks it.
Rijal tries to land a knee to the head but Fanning blocks with his arms.
Fanning working aggressively here.
Fanning lands an uppercut.
Rijal blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Fanning.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head punch on the inside from Rijal fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rijal jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Fanning walks away with a smile on his face. Rijal gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Fanning has closed the distance and engaged Rijal in a clinch.
Fanning lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Fanning throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Fanning blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rijal tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Fanning smiles and moves away.
Rijal throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fanning's waist but Fanning gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rijal off to one side.
Rijal looks winded!
Rijal fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fanning manages to avoid it.
Fanning buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Fanning rushes Rijal and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Fanning lands a hook that snaps the head of Rijal backwards.
Fanning misses with a punch to the body.
Fanning misses with some punches.
Fanning working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Fanning prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rijal has Fanning pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Fanning manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rijal throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Fanning swings wildly with an uppercut but Rijal uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fanning.
Fanning fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rijal is trying to pull guard but Fanning has him pressed against the cage.
Fanning scores with a hook to the body.
Rijal changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Fanning fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Fanning throws a big shot that misses.
Fanning changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Rijal gets tackled into the cage by Fanning. Fanning maintains the clinch.
Fanning pushes Rijal back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Fanning lands with a left to the head.
Rijal tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Fanning works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Fanning lands with a left to the head.
Fanning swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Fanning lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rijal backwards.
A shot in the inside from Fanning.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fanning softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Fanning works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rijal tries to stall but Fanning uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Fanning lands a shoulder strike.
Fanning lands a right hand.

Rijal is rocked!
Fanning throws a big uppercut that drops Rijal! More strikes from Fanning and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Rijal lies dazed against the cage as Fanning celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:18 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sanford Fanning!
An out of breath Sanford Fanning thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.