PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Damjan Hernandez (ranked 6337 p4p, 3299 weight class) and James Sanders (ranked 578 p4p, 393 weight class). Sanders has chosen War as his entrance music. James Sanders has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hernandez
vs
Sanders

172 cm
23
182
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
177
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Damjan Hernandez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Sergei Dronov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanders goes for a double leg but Hernandez avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hernandez continues to drive forward.
Hernandez scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like James Sanders has been cut.
Nice sprawl there from Hernandez as Sanders shoots in.
Sanders tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hernandez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sanders somewhat.
Damjan Hernandez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Sanders.
Sanders takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hernandez throws a shot to the body.
Hernandez throws a right and a left that Sanders avoids nicely.
Sanders unleashes a big counter combination but Hernandez bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Hernandez throws a nice looking combination but Sanders bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sanders enables Hernandez to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sanders manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
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!
Hernandez stopping the sweep attempt from Sanders.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sanders is on top in guard.

Sanders sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez keeping moving, preventing Sanders from controlling successfully.
Hernandez looking for a sweep. Not yet Hernandez, not yet.
Hernandez is pulling down on Sanders's head to control his posture.

Sanders gets to his feet - Hernandez follows without any prompting.

Hernandez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hernandez misses with the head strike.

Hernandez lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hernandez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sanders moves into full guard.
Sanders not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sanders being controlled here, momentarily.
Hernandez lands a couple of digs.
Sanders keeping moving, preventing Hernandez from controlling successfully.
Sanders pulls Hernandez in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Sanders has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Sanders tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hernandez postures up in Sanders's guard and throws a big left but Sanders blocks it.
Hernandez trying to control but Sanders is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Hernandez throws a right hand that Sanders ducks under and follows up with a left that Sanders also avoids with ease.

Hernandez has closed the distance and engaged Sanders in a clinch.
Hernandez wants to get back to striking at distance but Sanders won't allow it.
Hernandez is trying to force a seperation but Sanders has the dominant position.
Sanders has Hernandez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hernandez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hernandez has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Sanders clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Sanders rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Sanders makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sanders.
Sanders controlling the position.

Hernandez stands up from Sanders's guard - Hernandez perhaps looking for a knockout.
Sanders darts in looking for a takedown but Hernandez gets double underhooks and turns Sanders into the cage.
Hernandez thuds a left hand into Sanders's body.

Hernandez moves into range and clinches up with Sanders.
Sanders is looking for a takedown.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Damjan Hernandez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Sanders's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hernandez throws a wild body kick that Sanders sees coming a mile off.
Hernandez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hernandez throws a series of punches but Sanders moves out of range.
Sanders looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
No joy there for Hernandez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Despite the aggression on Sanders's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sanders takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A combination from Hernandez does no damage.

Hernandez moves into range and clinches up with Sanders.
Sanders is working for takedown but Hernandez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Hernandez prevents a takedown attempt there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hernandez gets underhooks to prevent Sanders's takedown attempt.
Damjan Hernandez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Sanders.

Hernandez jumps into guard, dragging Sanders to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sanders postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hernandez pulls Sanders in close to prevent any damage.
Hernandez striking off his back but it's not causing Sanders any problems.
Sanders engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hernandez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sanders can do to turn this around?
Hernandez pulls Sanders in close to his closed guard and prevents Sanders from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hernandez keeping moving, preventing Sanders from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hernandez throws a right hand that Sanders ducks under and follows up with a left that Sanders also avoids with ease.
As Hernandez backs off Sanders throws a huge counter combo but Hernandez manages to avoid it all.
Hernandez throws a nice looking combination but Sanders bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Despite the aggression on Sanders's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Hernandez takes the fight into the clinch.
Hernandez is trying to break the clinch but Sanders has him pressed against the cage.
Hernandez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sanders has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sanders letting Hernandez take a breather here.

Sanders lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Hernandez is trying to escape back to his feet but Sanders uses the scramble to pass into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Sanders throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Hernandez is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sanders trying to control the action but Hernandez is working from the bottom.
Damjan Hernandez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hernandez looks to move to half guard but instead Sanders has passed into mount! Damn!
Hernandez is looking to improve his position but Sanders isn't that keen on the idea.
Hernandez tries to control Sanders's body but Sanders pushes him off. Hernandez squirms to his side and now Sanders has his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders is riding his opponent, not letting Hernandez buck him off.
Hernandez just trying to survive but Sanders is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Sanders biding his time, controlling Hernandez.

Sanders is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Hernandez knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Hernandez for a finish.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hernandez is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damjan Hernandez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hernandez 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 20:18
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 20:18
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 20:18

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damjan Hernandez!
The defeated James Sanders had this to say: 'It was a war in there. I'm lucky enough to be going home tonight. I lost, and it's okay, because tomorrow we go again.'.