PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ntokozo Mpungose (ranked 4307 p4p, 6361 weight class) and Bob Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ntokozo Mpungose is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Mpungose
vs
Sanders

186 cm
25
201
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
210
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ntokozo Mpungose !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bob Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Daniel Franklin and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mpungose tries to clinch up but Sanders circles away and keeps his distance.
Mpungose tries to bum rush Sanders with a series of wild strikes but Sanders uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sanders throws a counter combo.
Mpungose misses with a head kick.
Sanders misses with a takedown attempt - Mpungose sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mpungose doesn't manage to clinch there - Sanders circles away.
Mpungose throws a head kick that misses

and Sanders counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mpungose is looking to stand back up but Sanders counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Mpungose .
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mpungose has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sanders is working away from the top position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanders wants to free his trapped foot but Mpungose is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mpungose is looking to improve his position.
Sanders content to control rather than advance.
Mpungose looks like he's trying to stand up.
Mpungose is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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.
Sanders is pressing down on Mpungose 's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mpungose is holding on for now.
Sanders controlling the action here.
Sanders lands strikes from half guard.

Sanders is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mpungose doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sanders.
Mpungose wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mpungose lands a body shot.
Mpungose fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mpungose fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mpungose tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sanders manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters circling a little - Mpungose finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
A punch combination from Mpungose misses.
Mpungose looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanders clinches up with Mpungose and pushes him back against the cage.

Mpungose pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mpungose shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mpungose pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mpungose shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sanders but Sanders pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ntokozo Mpungose . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mpungose is breathing heavily.

Sanders clinches up against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sanders has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mpungose after a bit of a struggle.
Mpungose lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sanders backwards.
Mpungose wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bob Sanders will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mpungose tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sanders swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mpungose wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Sanders shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mpungose manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sanders must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Mpungose has his foot on Sanders's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sanders works his way back into a safe position though.

Sanders drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Mpungose dives on top into guard.

Mpungose forces his way into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mpungose wants to control but Sanders is keeping him busy.

Mpungose is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mpungose is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Mpungose 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. Mpungose eventually gives up the hold.
Mpungose trying to control from Sanders's half guard. Sanders has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mpungose passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Mpungose swings around for an armbar but Sanders sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Mpungose 's guard.
Mpungose keeping full guard, as Sanders tries to pass.
Mpungose wants to stand up but Sanders is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mpungose looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bob Sanders has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mpungose looking to control but Sanders passes into half guard.

Mpungose manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Sanders uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mpungose .
Sanders follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
No joy there for Mpungose , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mpungose looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Sanders gets the takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mpungose is looking to reverse the position.
Sanders wants to stand but Mpungose has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Sanders slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanders trying to control the action but Mpungose is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mpungose can't do much from the bottom here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ntokozo Mpungose will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Mpungose throws a predictable looking body shot

and Sanders counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Mpungose uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Sanders stuffs the takedown attempt from Mpungose . Mpungose gets slowly back to his feet.
Mpungose throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sanders.
Sanders is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Mpungose tries to clinch up.
Mpungose tries to clinch but Sanders is having none of it.
Mpungose lands a jab to Sanders's midsection.
Sanders throws a jab but it's blocked by Mpungose .

Sanders shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sanders wants to free his trapped foot but Mpungose is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Mpungose works to full guard.
Sanders won't allow Mpungose to sweep him here.
Sanders advances position into side control!

Sanders wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mpungose , who protects the arm well.
Sanders advances nicely into full mount.

Sanders jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Mpungose is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Mpungose and Sanders has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mpungose wants to control but Sanders postures up.
Sanders tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Sanders wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mpungose , who protects the arm well.
Mpungose manages to get back to half guard.
Sanders prevents Mpungose from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders wants to control but Mpungose is keeping him busy.
Sanders has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Mpungose slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Sanders is keen to just control but Mpungose is a slippery customer.
Sanders wants to pass to mount but Mpungose is defending the position.
Mpungose wants to get back to full guard but Sanders has passed into side control.

Sanders tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sanders has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mpungose is looking for a sweep.

Sanders tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Sanders thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanders tries to advance to mount but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bob Sanders comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sanders 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29

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