PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Juan Cesar Miranda Sanchez (ranked 4359 p4p, 4174 weight class) and James River (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Miranda Sanchez
vs
River

182 cm
25
130
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
145
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Juan Cesar Miranda Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, James River !
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Ryoma Takatsuka and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
River tries to clinch there but Miranda Sanchez circles away.
Miranda Sanchez throws a combination. River tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Excellent takedown into side control there by River .

Miranda Sanchez explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Miranda Sanchez's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Miranda Sanchez duly obliges.
Miranda Sanchez feints a jab promting River to slip. Miranda Sanchez then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. River slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
A nice combination there by Miranda Sanchez.
River shoots in but Miranda Sanchez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Miranda Sanchez goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Miranda Sanchez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miranda Sanchez displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
River throws a combination that misses
and Miranda Sanchez counters with a series of strikes. River will be more careful next time no doubt.
Miranda Sanchez is working the combinations to good effect here.
Miranda Sanchez closes the distance and lands a one-two.

River dives in and scores a takedown into Miranda Sanchez's guard.
River trying to control the position from guard on top but Miranda Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
River prevents Miranda Sanchez from getting back to his feet.
Miranda Sanchez being controlled here, momentarily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Miranda Sanchez has control of River 's left arm, preventing River from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miranda Sanchez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst River is controlling him.
River is looking to stand up but Miranda Sanchez won't let him.
Miranda Sanchez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst River is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Miranda Sanchez stalks River and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into River 's face. River staggers backwards, shaken.
River looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miranda Sanchez connects with a nice looking jab.

River has taken the fight to the clinch.
River misses with a punch on the inside.
Miranda Sanchez tries to circle away but River has him pinned against the cage.

River pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
River shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Miranda Sanchez counters with a three punch combo that has River backing up. River nods at Miranda Sanchez to acknowledge the strikes.
Juan Cesar Miranda Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James River .
Miranda Sanchez feints a jab promting River to slip. Miranda Sanchez then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. River slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
River tries to clinch but Miranda Sanchez moves away
and Miranda Sanchez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miranda Sanchez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
River gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Miranda Sanchez counters with a three punch combo that has River backing up. River nods at Miranda Sanchez to acknowledge the strikes.
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!

River shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Miranda Sanchez keeping moving, preventing River from controlling successfully.
Miranda Sanchez being controlled here, momentarily.
River won't allow Miranda Sanchez to sweep him here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Cesar Miranda Sanchez dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Miranda Sanchez closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Miranda Sanchez throws a series of strikes that have River backpedaling.
Miranda Sanchez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that River can do to turn this around?
Some wild striking there from Miranda Sanchez.

River shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Miranda Sanchez napping and manages to drive through into side control!
River in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
River throws a strike aimed at the side of Miranda Sanchez's head but Miranda Sanchez avoids it well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

River is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Miranda Sanchez is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miranda Sanchez wants to control but River postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

River goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Miranda Sanchez has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for River but great work by Miranda Sanchez.
Miranda Sanchez in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
River tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Miranda Sanchez presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
River tries to lock up and control but Miranda Sanchez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Juan Cesar Miranda Sanchez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Miranda Sanchez sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
River blocking the ground and pound.
River wants to control but Miranda Sanchez is having none of it.
River is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Miranda Sanchez jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but River manages to avoid the submission attempt.
River is trying to control Miranda Sanchez's posture but Miranda Sanchez avoids it.
River is looking for a sweep.
River is trying to control Miranda Sanchez's posture but Miranda Sanchez avoids it.
Miranda Sanchez tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River is trying to get back to his feet.
River struggling a bit here.

River sneaks out the side door and pushes Miranda Sanchez away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Sloppy strikes from Miranda Sanchez. Those never looked like landing.
River with a poor takedown

and Miranda Sanchez moves into the clinch.
River with an attempt at a knee that misses.
River is struggling to control the position.

River breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miranda Sanchez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

River gets a clinch.
River manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Miranda Sanchez manages to break the clinch.
Miranda Sanchez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Miranda Sanchez tests River 's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Cesar Miranda Sanchez dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

River moves into range and clinches up with Miranda Sanchez.
River tries to land knees in the clinch but Miranda Sanchez avoids the damage to the body.
Miranda Sanchez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Miranda Sanchez wants to break the clinch but can't.

River breaks from the clinch.
River tries to clinch up
and Miranda Sanchez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

River drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
River trying to control the action but Miranda Sanchez is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

River stands up and we're back to a striking position.
River tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Miranda Sanchez swivels and escapes.
A left and a right from Miranda Sanchez both land. Nice combination.
Miranda Sanchez getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Juan Cesar Miranda Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

River gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
River has Miranda Sanchez pressed against the cage, preventing Miranda Sanchez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
River can't get the takedown.
River stalling the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miranda Sanchez managing to block the knees to the body from River .
River using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Miranda Sanchez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
River looking for a takedown.
Juan Cesar Miranda Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James River .

River jumps into guard, dragging Miranda Sanchez to the mat.

Miranda Sanchez gets to his feet. River looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Juan Cesar Miranda Sanchez is winning the standup battle so far.
River doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Miranda Sanchez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Miranda Sanchez.
River tries to pull guard but Miranda Sanchez won't allow it.
Miranda Sanchez is trying to break the clinch but River is controlling him.
The referee is keeping an eye on River - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

River escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
River has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
River fails with the takedown
and Miranda Sanchez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Miranda Sanchez closes this distance looking for a takedown but River circles away.
Miranda Sanchez lands a two punch combo.
River looks to clinch
and Miranda Sanchez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Miranda Sanchez blocks the body kick.
It looked like Miranda Sanchez was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Miranda Sanchez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
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!
River has his takedown stuffed
and Miranda Sanchez counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River tries to close the distance and clinch up but Miranda Sanchez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
River throws a right hand that Miranda Sanchez ducks under and follows up with a left that Miranda Sanchez also avoids with ease.
Miranda Sanchez is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Miranda Sanchez stuffs the takedown.
River takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Miranda Sanchez lands a two punch combo.
River takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

River clinches with his opponent.
A nice right hand lands inside from Miranda Sanchez.
River displaying some good clinch control by pressing Miranda Sanchez up against the cage.
Miranda Sanchez lands a shoulder strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Cesar Miranda Sanchez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Miranda Sanchez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Cesar Miranda Sanchez!