PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Byron Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Nelson had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Nelson
vs
Sanders

170 cm
22
147 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
23
155 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

aKua

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, James Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Byron Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Donald Grub and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nelson closes the distance and clinches.
Sanders goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nelson prevents it.
Nelson tries a knee to the head but Sanders blocks it.
Nelson lands an elbow just above Sanders 's eye.
Sanders keeps control of Nelson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sanders keeps control of Nelson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Nelson breaks from the clinch.
James Nelson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nelson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Byron Sanders has been cut.
Sanders keeps the fight on the outside.
A head kick misses from Nelson.
Nelson wants to clinch.

Sanders drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sanders working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sanders works over Nelson with some ground and pound from guard.
Nelson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanders pushes down on Nelson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Nelson is trying to get back to full guard.
Sanders passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Nelson!
Sanders landing shots from mount.
Sanders cracks Nelson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Sanders connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Nelson is desperately trying to improve his position but Sanders has a good base and remains in mount.
Nelson regains half guard.
Nelson tries to kick Sanders off but Sanders keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sanders lands strikes from half guard.
Sanders has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sanders stops Nelson from getting back to his feet.
Sanders sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nelson defending well though.
Sanders is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sanders prevents Nelson from standing back up.
Nelson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nelson is breathing heavily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nelson misses with a looping left.
Sanders is looking to clinch.

Nelson has closed the distance and engaged Sanders in a clinch.
Nelson tries to break the clinch but Sanders is controlling the position.
Nelson throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Nelson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sanders backwards.
Nelson wants to break free but Sanders has control.
Nelson looking to throw knees to the head but Sanders is blocking nicely.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Nelson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nelson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nelson tries to clinch up

and Sanders decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nelson's guard.
Nelson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sanders distracts Nelson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sanders tries to free his leg and advance position but Nelson is retaining full guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sanders is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Nelson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sanders with a nice head shot there.
Sanders working some strikes from top position.
Nelson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sanders!
A nice elbow there by Nelson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson wants to control the pace but Sanders is squirming around nicely.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Nelson wants to finish this one by submission but Sanders is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Nelson.
Sanders is desperately trying to improve his position but Nelson has a good base and remains in mount.
Nelson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sanders is looking to escape.
Sanders is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Byron Sanders dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Byron Sanders's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sanders walks into a straight right hand from Nelson.
Nelson wants to clinch but Sanders slips to the side

and Sanders decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nelson's guard.
Sanders trying to move into half guard but instead Nelson has managed to sweep!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sanders can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sanders tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nelson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sanders swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Nelson drops back looking for a leg! Sanders is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sanders manages to kick Nelson off! Nelson jumps back into Sanders's guard.
Nelson wants to get up but he can't break Sanders's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Nelson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Nelson closes the distance looking to clinch

and Sanders counters with a shoot takedown. Nelson fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson is looking to stand up but Sanders isn't so interested in that idea.
Sanders looking to pass the guard.
Sanders with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nelson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sanders's guard.
Sanders tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Nelson stands up from Sanders's guard - Nelson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Nelson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sanders's sensitive parts.
Some wild striking there from Nelson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
James Nelson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nelson is looking to chop away at Sanders's legs.
Nelson tries to clinch

and Sanders counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Nelson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sanders is one step ahead there.
Sanders stops Nelson from standing up.
Sanders works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sanders throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nelson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sanders trying to control the action but Nelson is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sanders.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nelson throws a head kick that half lands.
Nelson misses with a double jab.
Nelson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sanders counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nelson won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanders working away.
Nelson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nelson is not content to let Sanders control the position.
Sanders lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders throwing strikes but Nelson manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Sanders dodges the ground and pound from Nelson.
Sanders tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Byron Sanders has got the better of the ground game so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Nelson drives through and clinches with Sanders against the cage.

Nelson breaks the clinch.
Nelson tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Sanders counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanders throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nelson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sanders loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nelson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Byron Sanders showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Byron Sanders's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nelson rushes Sanders and presses him up against the cage.
Sanders stalling.
Sanders has Nelson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nelson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nelson has had enough of the clinch but Sanders keeps him there for the moment.
Nelson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nelson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nelson misses with a knee to the head.
Nelson is looking to break free of the clinch but Sanders has double underhooks.

Nelson manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nelson throws a head kick but Sanders moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanders shoots in for a double leg but Nelson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sanders takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Nelson tries to clinch up

and Sanders counters with a single leg into guard. Nelson didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Nelson jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Sanders manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Sanders striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Sanders tries to bench press Nelson off him but Nelson keeps the position.
Sanders is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sanders takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Sanders tries to bench press Nelson off him but Nelson keeps the position.
Nelson wants to stand but Sanders is controlling his arm.
Nelson looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Sanders is avoiding damage well.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sanders changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nelson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Nelson is looking to reverse the position.
Sanders wants to control for a moment but Nelson uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Nelson 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.
Nelson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Nelson is trying to control. Sanders wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sanders gets full guard.
Nelson postures up in Sanders's guard and throws a big left but Sanders blocks it.
Sanders manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nelson tries to reverse the position but Sanders maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nelson's face.
Nelson throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Nelson is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sanders pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
A nice elbow there by Sanders.
Sanders lands with some strikes.
Sanders unloads with some shots from mount but Nelson bucks and avoids them well.
Nelson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sanders raining down shots from the mount!
Sanders lands a heavy elbow.
Sanders punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
You get the feeling that Nelson really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Nelson is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sanders putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Nelson is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Sanders avoids the attempt from Nelson to control.
Sanders raining down shots from the mount!
Sanders prevents Nelson from getting the reversal.
Sanders has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nelson's face.
Nelson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
A nice elbow there by Sanders.
Sanders lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
James Nelson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sanders misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Nelson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Byron Sanders comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sanders winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

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