PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lawrence Sanders (ranked 24527 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Araujo (ranked 6966 p4p, 0 weight class). Thiago Araujo will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Sanders
vs
Araujo

173 cm
25
279 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

193 cm
18
285 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lawrence Sanders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Araujo!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Luis Engracia and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanders blocks a head kick by Araujo.
Araujo moves to clinch but Sanders breaks away

and Sanders counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Araujo!
Araujo tries to improve position but can't.
Araujo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Araujo can't do much from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Araujo sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Araujo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sanders's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sanders's back!

Sanders fending off the submission attempt from Araujo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Araujo has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders tries to roll but Araujo sticks to his back.

Sanders is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Sanders might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Araujo looking to hold on to the position here but Sanders rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Araujo looking to pass the guard.
Sanders is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Sanders trying to control the position.
Araujo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araujo tries to free his leg and advance position but Sanders is retaining full guard.
Araujo lands a couple of decent looking shots.

It looks like Lawrence Sanders has been cut.
Araujo wants to pass the guard but Sanders is keeping the position.
Araujo trying to control but Sanders is working from the bottom.
Araujo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Araujo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sanders swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanders manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Araujo manages to get himself to full guard.

Araujo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Sanders is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Araujo.
Araujo is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders lands a few punches from side control.
You can see the frustration on Araujo's face as Sanders controls the position.
Sanders wants to lay and pray for a moment but Araujo keeps working.
Araujo is trying to control Sanders's posture but Sanders avoids it.
Araujo manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Araujo seems to be looking for submissions.
Araujo is keen to just control but Sanders is a slippery customer.
Araujo works his way into full mount!

Araujo working for a submission but Sanders is keeping him at bay.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Araujo fails to advance to Sanders's back.

Araujo is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Sanders has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Araujo is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Sanders is surviving well by controlling Araujo's body position as best he can.

Araujo looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Araujo throwing strikes here but Sanders is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Araujo looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Araujo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lawrence Sanders's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Araujo shoots for a takedown but Sanders saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Araujo moves in looking to clinch but Sanders pushes him off.

Sanders forces Araujo back against the cage and clinches.

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

Sanders looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sanders wants to control from the top but Araujo keeps moving.
Araujo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sanders.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Araujo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Araujo is looking for a triangle but Sanders pushes his legs off easily.
Sanders stays in close to Araujo's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanders got a little sloppy there for a moment and Araujo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sanders has managed to get both his arms back between Araujo's legs - danger averted.
Araujo is looking to sweep but instead, Sanders has passed into half guard.
Sanders prevents Araujo from improving his position.
Sanders trying to control from half guard but Araujo is working away.
Araujo regains full guard. Nicely done.
Araujo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sanders's guard.

Araujo tries to free his leg and advance position but Sanders is retaining full guard.
Sanders not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Araujo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sanders keeping full guard, as Araujo tries to pass.
Araujo forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Araujo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Araujo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Araujo trying to control the action but Sanders is working from the bottom.
Sanders trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanders slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Araujo advances to half guard.

Araujo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sanders is just riding it out for now. Araujo eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Araujo is working for a kimura but Sanders is defending it quite comfortably.
Sanders is trying to maintain the position but Araujo is very close to passing his half guard.
Araujo is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Araujo moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Sanders has worked his arm free - good work by Sanders!
Sanders prevents Araujo from moving into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Araujo goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Sanders rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Araujo's guard! Nice work there by Sanders!

Araujo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sanders doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sanders manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Thiago Araujo has got the better of the ground game so far.

Araujo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Araujo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sanders can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sanders really is a fat lump.
Araujo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Araujo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sanders defends it easily.

Araujo is looking for a triangle but Sanders pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Araujo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lawrence Sanders's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A head kick by Araujo misses

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

Sanders manages to break the clinch.

Sanders shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Araujo is trying to defend but Sanders finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Sanders controlling the action here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sanders lands a nice short elbow.
Araujo tries to roll over but Sanders keeps him under control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Araujo is trying to control but Sanders passes into side control!
Sanders misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Araujo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sanders's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Araujo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Araujo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Araujo wants to improve his position but Sanders is controlling well.

Araujo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sanders perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Araujo wants to improve his position but Sanders is controlling well.

Araujo actively working from the bottom here.
Araujo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sanders scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Araujo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sanders pulls his head out easily.
Sanders knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Araujo on the ground.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Sanders not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Araujo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sanders pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Araujo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanders looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Araujo is looking for a sweep.
Araujo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Araujo wants to improve his position but Sanders is controlling well.
Sanders throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Araujo is looking for a sweep. Sanders is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Araujo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Araujo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders wants to control from the top but Araujo keeps moving.
Araujo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sanders manages to get himself to full guard.

Sanders keeping moving, preventing Araujo from controlling successfully.

Sanders has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Araujo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Araujo tries to free his leg and advance position but Sanders is retaining full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sanders utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sanders is adopting a defensive guard.
Lawrence Sanders has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Araujo works a leg free and moves into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lawrence Sanders showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Araujo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Araujo!