PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Craig Long Lang (ranked 4563 p4p, 11108 weight class) and Sota Sankari (ranked 492 p4p, 590 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.

Lang
vs
Sankari

183 cm
18
225
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
51
260
14 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Craig Long Lang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sota Sankari!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sankari gets tackled into the cage by Lang. Lang maintains the clinch.

Lang's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice sprawl there from Lang as Sankari shoots in.
Sankari shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Lang counters with a slapping leg kick.
Sankari looks winded!

Lang clinches with his opponent.
Lang scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Lang has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sankari is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Lang is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sankari is defending well.
Sankari wants to get back to striking at distance but Lang won't allow it.

Lang jumps into guard, dragging Sankari to the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sankari avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lang not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lang looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lang looking to control.

Lang looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lang pulls Sankari in to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice takedown defense from Sankari. No joy for Lang on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Long Lang. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lang rushes Sankari and presses him up against the cage.
Lang tries to pull guard but Sankari forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lang looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Lang working for a triangle but Sankari defends it easily.

Lang escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sankari gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Lang holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lang is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sankari is controlling him.

Sankari avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lang is adopting a defensive guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Lang gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Lang breaks the clinch.
Lang shoots in but Sankari avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lang wants to clinch up but Sankari keeps it at a distance.
Nice defenses there by Lang.
Sankari swats away the attempt to clinch by Lang.
Sankari changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lang has a takedown stuffed.
Sankari wants to counter the offense by Lang and move into the clinch position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Long Lang dominated that round.
That's time! Lang's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sankari fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lang shoots in but no luck this time.

Lang rushes Sankari and presses him up against the cage.

Lang pulls guard.
Lang is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Sankari avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lang bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sankari's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sankari is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lang is trying to get back to full guard.

Lang looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lang is trying to control but can't.
Lang could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lang is looking to improve his position.
Lang trying to control here.
We've been informed that Sankari has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Sankari thows a huge punch but Lang dodges it nicely.
Lang is looking for a sweep. Sankari is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sankari is trying to control. Lang wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lang is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sankari can do to turn this around?
Lang is trying is best to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lang slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lang is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sankari is refusing to be controlled, as Lang sits in half guard.
Lang is taking a breather. Sankari says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Lang wants to pass to mount but Sankari is defending the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's four 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.
Sankari tries to get to full guard but Lang has control of the leg.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A cross from Lang lands.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lang.
A countering left hand to the body from Sankari misses.
Nice straight punches there by Lang. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Lang.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lang is trying to drag Sankari to the mat but Sankari just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Long Lang dominated that second round.
That's time! Lang's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Lang shoots in for a takedown but Sankari shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
No luck for Lang with that takedown attempt.
Lang tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
It seemed like Sankari was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sankari is defended easily by Lang.
Lang shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sankari sprawls well. Sankari wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lang gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Long Lang. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A cross from Lang lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sankari is looking to clinch but Lang is avoiding it.
Sankari misses with a shot to the body
letting Lang counter with a right hand.
Craig Long Lang is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lang fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sankari avoids it really well and circles away.
Lang shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sankari as he avoids it easily.
Lang shoots in looking for a takedown. Sankari tries to sprawl out of it but Lang keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sankari manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lang tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sankari slaps away a takedown attempt from Lang, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lang shoots in for a takedown but Sankari shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lang keeps the fight on the outside.
Lang slips a jab from Sankari.

Lang has closed the distance and engaged Sankari in a clinch.
Lang wants to break free but Sankari has control.
Sankari tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lang smiles and moves away.
Lang slaps away a takedown attempt from Sankari, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lang lands a high kick!
Lang fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lang shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sankari as he avoids it easily.
Sankari looks for a takedown but Lang sprawls well.
Sota Sankari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lang doesn't manage to clinch there - Sankari circles away.
As Lang backs off Sankari throws a huge counter combo but Lang manages to avoid it all.
Sankari closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lang circles away.
Sankari takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Lang shoots for a takedown but Sankari saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sankari tries to counter with a clinch but Lang shakes him off and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lang takes the fight into the clinch.
Lang tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sankari just stands there and leans against the cage.
Lang tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sankari smiles and moves away.

Sankari drives through and clinches with Lang against the cage.
Sankari looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lang content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Lang drags the fight down to the ground.
Craig Long Lang is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lang preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Long Lang showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lang 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Long Lang!