PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Raul Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Doctor Baldacchino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Sanchez
vs
Baldacchino

168 cm
21
147 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

169 cm
21
143 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

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 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Raul Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Doctor Baldacchino!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Steve Erwin and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baldacchino slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Sanchez scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Sanchez fails to land with a series of punches.
Baldacchino fails with the takedown.
Baldacchino shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sanchez as he jumps to the side.
Baldacchino shoots in for a takedown but Sanchez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Raul Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Doctor Baldacchino.
Sanchez tries a head kick but it misses.
Sanchez tries a head kick but it misses.
Sanchez thows a body shot but no joy.
Some wild striking there from Sanchez.
Sanchez swinging wildly here.
Sanchez with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Baldacchino to score with a decent uppercut.
Sanchez is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A right-left combo lands from Sanchez.
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!
Sanchez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Baldacchino.
A good leg kick by Sanchez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez misses with a body shot.
Doctor Baldacchino seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baldacchino fails to land with a series of punches.
Sanchez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Baldacchino.
Raul Sanchez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sanchez connects with a nice looking jab.
Nice takedown defense from Sanchez. No joy for Baldacchino on that attempt.
Baldacchino looks gassed!
Sanchez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Baldacchino moves away.

Baldacchino is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sanchez's half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez trying to control from the bottom.

Baldacchino is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez wants to control but Baldacchino is keeping busy.

Baldacchino is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sanchez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Baldacchino advances position into side control!

Baldacchino looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Baldacchino tries to move to mount but Sanchez blocks the move with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baldacchino working away.
Sanchez is looking to regain half guard here but Baldacchino keeps moving and retains side control.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Baldacchino is trying to get an arm triangle but Sanchez is defending well.
Sanchez can't do much from the bottom here.
Sanchez is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Baldacchino has just dragged him back down to the mat.

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

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.
Sanchez is looking to reverse the position.
Sanchez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Baldacchino on the ground.
Sanchez manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Baldacchino wants to improve his position but Sanchez is controlling well.

Baldacchino actively working from the bottom here.
Sanchez is thwarting Baldacchino's attempts to control the position.

Baldacchino looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanchez trying to control from half guard but Baldacchino is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Raul Sanchez will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Baldacchino is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sanchez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sanchez looks to score with a jab to the body but Baldacchino is just out of range.
Baldacchino is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sanchez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Danga de danga de dang - Sanchez scores with a four punch combination!
A combination from Sanchez does no damage.
Sanchez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Baldacchino counters with a stiff right hand.
Sanchez throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Baldacchino's head.
Horrible takedown by Baldacchino or perhaps it was just good defense by Sanchez which made him look bad.
Raul Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Doctor Baldacchino.
Baldacchino misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sanchez chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sanchez lands a head kick!
Sanchez slips a straight right by Baldacchino.
Baldacchino throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sanchez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Baldacchino circles away quickly and effectively.
Baldacchino throws a looping overhand right but Sanchez ducks down to avoid it.
Sanchez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sanchez fails to land with a series of punches.
Baldacchino misses with a takedown attempt - Sanchez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sanchez slaps away a takedown attempt from Baldacchino, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sanchez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Baldacchino.
Baldacchino shoots in for a double leg but Sanchez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Baldacchino drives through with a takedown into guard.
Baldacchino trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanchez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baldacchino postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Baldacchino is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Baldacchino pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanchez is keeping the position for now.

Sanchez scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Sanchez misses with a looping left.
Baldacchino lands a head shot.
Sanchez throws a series of punches but Baldacchino avoids them all with ease.

Baldacchino shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Baldacchino showed some decent athleticism there.
Baldacchino wants to pass to mount but Sanchez is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baldacchino is working for a kimura but Sanchez is defending it quite comfortably.
Sanchez manages to get to full guard.

Baldacchino drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Baldacchino jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Baldacchino tries to free his leg and advance position but Sanchez is retaining full guard.
Sanchez seems keen to control Baldacchino's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Baldacchino pushing down on Sanchez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Sanchez kicks off Baldacchino and gets to his feet.
Sanchez stuffs the takedown.
Sanchez darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Sanchez leaves Baldacchino with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sanchez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Baldacchino scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sanchez wants to control but Baldacchino is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Baldacchino is working for a kimura but Sanchez is defending it quite comfortably.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Baldacchino is trying to work for a kimura but Sanchez is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Doctor Baldacchino will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Sanchez moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sanchez lands with a thumping leg kick.

Baldacchino drives through with a takedown into guard.

Baldacchino drops back looking for a leg! Sanchez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sanchez manages to kick Baldacchino off! Baldacchino jumps back into Sanchez's guard.
Sanchez is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Baldacchino drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sanchez dives on top into guard.
Sanchez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baldacchino looking for a triangle here. Sanchez is fighting it but it looks tight! Baldacchino pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Sanchez is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Doctor Baldacchino!