PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ntokozo Mpungose (ranked 25374 p4p, 25446 weight class) and Bob Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Sanders's choice of entrance music: Gansbaai. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Mpungose
vs
Sanders

186 cm
25
201
0 - 3 - 0

185 cm
20
210
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
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 - 3 - 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 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bob Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Winston Alpacca and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mpungose tries to clinch but Sanders moves away

and Sanders counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Mpungose is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Sanders dives into side control.

Sanders is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mpungose knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Sanders goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Mpungose has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Sanders but great work by Mpungose .
Mpungose tries to advance to mount but can't.
Mpungose tries to get to his feet but Sanders is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Mpungose in his guard.
Mpungose tries to free his leg and advance position but Sanders is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders keeping moving, preventing Mpungose from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mpungose accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mpungose is looking to stand up but Sanders won't let him.
Mpungose passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sanders parries the strikes from Mpungose easily there. Mpungose is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Sanders to escape.
Mpungose trying to control the position but Sanders is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mpungose just content to control the position.

Mpungose is trying to get an arm triangle but Sanders is defending well.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Sanders tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mpungose sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Sanders is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mpungose trying to control the position but Sanders is working away.
Mpungose working away.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mpungose tries to clinch up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mpungose is defended easily by Sanders.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mpungose throws a leg kick that is checked

and Sanders decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mpungose 's guard.
Sanders won't allow Mpungose to sweep him here.
Mpungose will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Mpungose throwing short punches from the bottom.
Sanders stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mpungose swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mpungose will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Sanders is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mpungose lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanders has a closed guard, preventing Mpungose from standing up.
Mpungose pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanders is keeping the position for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ntokozo Mpungose will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Horrible takedown attempt by Sanders or perhaps it was just good defense by Mpungose , which made it look bad.
Mpungose misses with a takedown attempt - Sanders sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mpungose is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sanders sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sanders is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mpungose sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Sanders feints and as Mpungose raises his hands in defense, Sanders changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Mpungose is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Sanders presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Mpungose tries to pull guard but Sanders forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ntokozo Mpungose . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanders can't get the takedown.
Mpungose goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sanders prevents it.
Sanders is trying to drag Mpungose to the mat but Mpungose just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mpungose tries to pull guard but Sanders forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Mpungose scores with a shot to the side of Sanders's head.
Mpungose tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mpungose tries to pull guard but Sanders forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Mpungose is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sanders to keep the fight standing.
Mpungose is trying to force a seperation but Sanders has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Sanders decides to pull guard.
Mpungose would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sanders keeping moving, preventing Mpungose from controlling successfully.
Sanders is pulling down on Mpungose 's head. It's preventing any offense from Mpungose , at least for the moment.
Sanders wants to stand up but Mpungose is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Mpungose is looking to work some ground and pound but Sanders has wrist control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
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.
Mpungose wants to control from the top but Sanders keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Sanders darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sanders tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mpungose knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Mpungose gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mpungose wants to stand up but Sanders is controlling him.
Mpungose keeping moving, preventing Sanders from controlling successfully.

Mpungose is looking for a triangle but Sanders pushes his legs off easily.
Mpungose bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sanders's guard.

Mpungose trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanders 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanders tries to pass to full mount but Mpungose defends it.
Mpungose is pressing down on Sanders's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
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.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Mpungose throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sanders's waist but Sanders gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mpungose off to one side.
Mpungose tries for a takedown but Sanders circles away easily

and Sanders counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mpungose trying to control here.
Sanders works his way into full mount!
Sanders can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mpungose is looking to escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanders with the ground and pound from mount.
Mpungose has given up his back here. Will Sanders look for the submission or keep pounding away?

Sanders working for a choke but Mpungose is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanders is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Sanders is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Mpungose has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Mpungose breaks Sanders's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Mpungose trying to control but Sanders is working from the bottom.

Mpungose avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sanders takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mpungose wants to stand and escape but instead Sanders has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Sanders stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mpungose swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanders looking to sit in guard and control but Mpungose gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Mpungose is looking to advance position but Sanders has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Mpungose wants to hold on but Sanders pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mpungose regains half guard.
Sanders is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Mpungose looking to control.
Mpungose can't keep his opponent in guard - Sanders advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Mpungose is trying to control but can't.
Sanders tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Mpungose tries to get to full guard but Sanders has control of the leg.
Sanders works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanders goes for an armbar but Mpungose turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Mpungose .
Mpungose looking to sit in guard and control but Sanders gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sanders stands and steps away. Mpungose gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mpungose clinches up against the cage.
Sanders tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mpungose just stands there and leans against the cage.
Bob Sanders has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ntokozo Mpungose is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sanders tries to throw a body punch but Mpungose avoids it by throwing Sanders back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bob Sanders comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mpungose has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ntokozo Mpungose !
An out of breath Ntokozo Mpungose thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.