PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Niko Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sanders
vs
Smith

185 cm
24
200 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Niko Sanders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Smith!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith lands a jab-cross combination.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.

Sanders moves into the clinch.

Sanders's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Sanders gets a clinch.

Sanders escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Sanders has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Sanders has him pressed against the cage.
Sanders lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sanders drops down looking for an ankle pick but Smith pulls his leg out and moves away.
Smith wants to clinch but Sanders slips to the side

and Sanders counters by clinching up.
Sanders scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Sanders won't allow it.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Sanders breaks from the clinch.

Sanders has taken the fight to the clinch.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Sanders has him pressed against the cage.

Sanders breaks from the clinch.
Sanders connects with a vicious head kick that knocks Smith to the floor! Sanders dives in looking for the finish!

Smith is rocked!

It looks like Mike Smith has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith wants to stand back up but Sanders manages to pass into side control.
Smith is still in real trouble! Can Sanders finish him?

Sanders stands up.
Smith seems to have recovered his senses.
Niko Sanders seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to clinch up

and Sanders counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sanders scores with a knee to the head.
Smith can't break the clinch.
Smith is looking to break free of the clinch but Sanders has double underhooks.

Sanders breaks from the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Sanders manages to break the clinch.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Sanders closes the distance and pushes Smith back into the cage.
Smith is trying to break free.
Smith looks gassed!
Sanders landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sanders effectively controlling the action here.

Sanders gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Sanders is stalling in the full guard.

Sanders decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Smith, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanders has taken the fight to the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sanders.

Sanders has clasped his hands together around Smith's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
You can see the frustration on Smith's face as Sanders controls the position.

Sanders stands up.

Sanders clinches.
Sanders lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sanders lands a shot to the body.
Sanders lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Sanders has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders unloads a knee to the mid-section. Smith lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sanders.
Sanders landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Sanders pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mike Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Sanders has managed to clinch.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sanders connects with a knee to the head.
Smith takes an elbow to the temple.

Sanders pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Sanders clinches.
Smith is trying to break free.

Sanders breaks the clinch.
Smith misses with a body kick.

Sanders drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.

Sanders pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Sanders drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.
Smith wants to break free but Sanders has control.
Sanders with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sanders lands an elbow inside.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sanders lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sanders.

Sanders breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Sanders ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Sanders lands with a slapping head kick.
Smith lands a head kick. Sanders smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Sanders closes the distance and clinches.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Sanders won't allow it.
Sanders lands a right hand.

Sanders breaks the clinch.
Smith throws a head kick that misses

and Sanders holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sanders controlling the action here for a moment.
Sanders softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith is looking to break free of the clinch but Sanders has double underhooks.

Sanders escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sanders.
Smith scores with a hook to the body. Sanders takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Sanders dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mike Smith's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sanders gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sanders is working Smith over against the cage.
Sanders scores with a shot to the side of Smith's head.

Sanders manages to break the clinch.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Sanders closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Sanders won't allow it.

Sanders escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith looks to clinch

and Sanders counters by clinching up.

Sanders breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith lands a right hook to the body.

Sanders closes the distance and clinches.
Smith is trying to break free.
Smith tries to break the clinch but Sanders is controlling the position.

Sanders decides to pull guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sanders is on top in guard.

Sanders stands up and waves to Smith to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanders has Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sanders lands an elbow inside.

Sanders breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith misses with the combination.
Niko Sanders is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sanders closes the distance and clinches.
Sanders landing knees to the head.
Sanders manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Sanders scores with a knee to the head.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Sanders won't allow it.
Smith's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Sanders manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Smith wants to stand but Sanders is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanders uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Sanders rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Smith is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Sanders breaks the clinch.

Sanders has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
Sanders is stalling here.
Sanders crunches a lovely knee into Smith's ribcage.
Smith is trying to break free.
Sanders lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Sanders.
Sanders gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanders breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Sanders moves into range and clinches up with Smith.
Sanders with a knee to the head.
Sanders dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Sanders won't allow it.
Sanders tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Sanders has him pressed against the cage.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Sanders has him pressed against the cage.
Smith wants to break free but Sanders has control.
Smith prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Smith wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sanders has him pressed against the cage.
Smith wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sanders has him pressed against the cage.
Sanders gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Sanders breaks from the clinch.

Smith tries to keep at a distance but Sanders has taken the fight into the clinch.
Niko Sanders has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sanders gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Sanders breaks from the clinch.
Sanders looks to throw the jab but Smith is out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to clinch but Sanders moves away

and Sanders moves into the clinch.
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Sanders breaks from the clinch.
Smith takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
An inside leg kick from Smith misses.
Smith walks into a stiff left hand from Sanders.
Sanders tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sanders tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Smith lands a head kick. Sanders smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Sanders swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sanders prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.

Sanders breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sanders throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sanders shoots in for a double leg but Smith sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Smith takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Smith tries to clinch up

and Sanders holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Sanders dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mike Smith's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Smith is looking to clinch.

Sanders fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smith, pushing him back against the cage.
Sanders lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Smith.
Sanders prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Sanders scores with a shoulder strike.
Sanders lands an elbow inside that Smith shrugs off.
Sanders landing knees to the head.
Smith is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sanders lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sanders is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?
Sanders lands an elbow inside.
Sanders unloads a knee to the mid-section. Smith lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sanders lands an elbow that stopped Smith in his tracks for a moment.
Sanders pressing his opponent against the cage.
Sanders lands an elbow just above Smith 's eye.

Sanders breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Sanders moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanders prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.

Sanders breaks from the clinch.

Sanders clinches.
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Sanders.
Sanders lands a left hand.
Smith tries to break the clinch but Sanders is controlling the position.

Sanders escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Sanders fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smith, pushing him back against the cage.
Sanders crunches a lovely knee into Smith's ribcage.

Sanders breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sanders blocks a head kick by Smith.

Sanders moves into the clinch.
Smith wants to break free but Sanders has control.

Sanders breaks from the clinch.

Sanders moves into the clinch successfully.
Knees to the body from Sanders.
Sanders avoiding damage.
Sanders lands a nice knee to the body.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sanders working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Sanders keeps control of Smith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sanders landing knees to the body.

Sanders breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to clinch

and Sanders holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Sanders escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sanders's sensitive parts.

Sanders clinches up with Smith and pushes him back against the cage.
Smith has had enough of the clinch but Sanders keeps him there for the moment.
Sanders working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Sanders lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sanders lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Sanders pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smith tries to break the clinch but Sanders is controlling the position.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sanders.
Sanders lands a nice knee to the body.
Sanders lands an elbow inside that Smith shrugs off.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.

Sanders pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith tries to clinch up but Sanders circles away and keeps his distance.
Niko Sanders is winning the standup battle so far.
Sanders throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Smith.

Sanders shoots in and bounces Smith off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Sanders is standing up over Smith. Smith looks to escape but Sanders dives into side control.
Sanders slows the pace down.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanders has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanders decides to stand back up.
Mike Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Niko Sanders is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Niko Sanders showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sanders has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Niko Sanders!