PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keith Schafer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thiago Sanchez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sanchez
vs
Schafer

185 cm
27
182 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

190 cm
23
182 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Thiago Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Keith Schafer!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Chris Edwards and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Schafer closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sanchez's guard.
Schafer preventing the sweep.
Sanchez is working hard here to advance position.
Schafer wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
Sanchez 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.
Schafer passes into half guard.
Sanchez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sanchez regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schafer trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanchez wants to sweep but no luck.
Sanchez lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Schafer!
Sanchez is landing with some decent strikes but Schafer is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Sanchez with a couple of short strikes.
Sanchez with shots to the head and body - Schafer looks very uncomfortable down there.

Schafer is rocked!
Schafer sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Schafer is still in real trouble! Can Sanchez finish him?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanchez throwing shots but Schafer is blocking nicely.
Sanchez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Schafer on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Schafer is looking for a sweep. Sanchez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sanchez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Schafer keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schafer wants to get back to his feet.

Schafer kicks Sanchez off and gets back to his feet.
Sanchez fails to land the takedown.
Schafer seems to have recovered his senses.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.
Sanchez gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Schafer lands with an uppercut that bounces Sanchez off the cage and back into rage.
Schafer throws a right and a left that Sanchez avoids nicely.
Schafer dips to his left and cracks Sanchez with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez shoots in but Schafer avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Schafer lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Sanchez tries to keep at a distance but Schafer has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sanchez struggles to land a body shot inside as Schafer controls his hands.
A short right from Schafer.
Sanchez takes a shot to the head.
Schafer lands an uppercut.
Schafer blocking some punches.
Schafer creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sanchez's defenses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Schafer.
Nice elbow from Schafer.
Schafer lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Schafer lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Schafer lands an uppercut.
Schafer lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schafer throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sanchezs head.
Sanchez misses with the head strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A hook to the body from Schafer.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Schafer.
Schafer lands a nice elbow.
Schafer presses Sanchez against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Schafer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice cross by Schafer.

Schafer clinches.

Schafer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sanchez closes the distance and clinches up with Schafer, looking for a takedown. Sanchez pushes Schafer against the cage but Schafer circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Schafer changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sanchez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sanchez takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Schafer scores with punches from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Schafer dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Schafer lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Schafer looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Schafer closes the distance and clinches.

Schafer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Keith Schafer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Schafer fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Schafer scores with the left hand. Sanchez knows he should have avoided that one.
Horrible takedown by Sanchez or perhaps it was just good defense by Schafer which made him look bad.
Schafer dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schafer throws a nice looking combination but Sanchez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Schafer shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Schafer showed some decent athleticism there.
Schafer perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Schafer trying to mount his opponent but Sanchez defends it.
Schafer frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Schafer lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is looking to get to half guard.
Schafer wants to control the pace but Sanchez is squirming around nicely.
Schafer working away from the top, dropping strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanchez is squirming around, avoiding Schafer's attempts to control the action.
Schafer working Sanchez over with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Schafer has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Schafer trying to control but Sanchez is having none of it.
Sanchez on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sanchez tries to get out of the position.
Sanchez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Schafer breaks from Sanchez's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Schafer trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Keith Schafer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Schafer lands with some strikes.
Schafer lands a big elbow.
Schafer lands a heavy elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schafer postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sanchez looks a forlorn figure.
Sanchez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Schafer connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Schafer with good strikes from the mount here!
Schafer trying to control but Sanchez is having none of it.
Schafer putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Schafer wants to finish this one by submission but Sanchez is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Schafer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Schafer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Schafer darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sanchez wants to get back to full guard.
Sanchez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sanchez wants to get back to full guard.
Schafer drops an elbow to the side of Sanchez's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Schafer lands a nice short elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schafer lands with a punch from half guard.
Schafer trying to control the action but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Sanchez tries to get to full guard but Schafer has control of the leg.
Schafer sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Sanchez throws a strike from the bottom but Schafer passes into side control!
Sanchez is not content to let Schafer control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez prevents Schafer from moving into mount.
Sanchez is looking to regain half guard here but Schafer keeps moving and retains side control.
Schafer staying calm.
Schafer in side control lands a decent elbow.
Schafer is chipping away with strikes.
Sanchez is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Schafer off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schafer wants to get back to his feet.
Schafer rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Sanchez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sanchez looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sanchez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Schafer is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sanchez scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Schafer works his way to full guard. Good work.
Schafer has momentary wrist control but Sanchez slips an elbow through the middle.
Sanchez scoring with some ground and pound.
Sanchez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schafer controls Sanchez momentarily but Sanchez frees himself.

Schafer is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sanchez defends well.
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!
Schafer wants to get back to his feet but Sanchez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Schafer working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sanchez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sanchez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sanchez postures up and lands a big shot to Schafer's brow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Schafer kicks Sanchez off and gets to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Schafer. No joy for Sanchez on that attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keith Schafer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Schafer has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keith Schafer!