PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Blake Yusaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cael Sanderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanderson has chosen Hurricane as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Yusaki
vs
Sanderson

165 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Blake Yusaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cael Sanderson!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanderson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Yusaki but Yusaki pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Yusaki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sanderson tries to avoid it but Yusaki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sanderson to the ground. Sanderson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Yusaki tries to sprawl but Sanderson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Yusaki trying to control here.
Sanderson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Yusaki really is a fat lump.
Yusaki is looking for a sweep. Sanderson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yusaki flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Sanderson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sanderson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Yusaki is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Sanderson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Sanderson slips a nice elbow through Yusaki's hands, connecting with Yusaki's forehead.
Sanderson trying to pass the guard but Yusaki defending well.
Yusaki works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sanderson is in close to Yusaki's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sanderson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Yusaki's head.
Yusaki is striking but Sanderson is not phased and passes to half guard.
Sanderson not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yusaki trying to control from the bottom.
Sanderson content to control rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Cael Sanderson was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Sanderson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Yusaki's half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Sanderson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sanderson looks to land a strike but Yusaki avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Yusaki keeping moving, preventing Sanderson from controlling successfully.
Sanderson prevents Yusaki from getting back to his feet.
Yusaki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sanderson working some strikes from top position.
Sanderson tries to free his leg and advance position but Yusaki is retaining full guard.
Yusaki looking to control.
Yusaki doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Yusaki might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sanderson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yusaki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sanderson controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson passes Yusaki's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Sanderson is working for a submission of some sort.
Sanderson stalling.
Sanderson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Yusaki does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yusaki punching from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yusaki wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cael Sanderson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Yusaki fails with a takedown attempt.

Sanderson clinches up with Yusaki and pushes him back against the cage.
Sanderson has Yusaki pushed against the cage.

Sanderson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sanderson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Yusaki throws a big elbow that misses.
Sanderson is adopting a defensive guard.
Yusaki throws an elbow that misses. Sanderson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Yusaki's guard. Nice move by Sanderson!
Sanderson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Yusaki's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanderson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sanderson trying to control but Yusaki is working from the bottom.
Yusaki trying to control the position.
Sanderson controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Cael Sanderson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Yusaki is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sanderson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Sanderson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sanderson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Yusaki wants to get back to full guard.
Yusaki trying to control from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Cael Sanderson.
Yusaki with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanderson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Yusaki is trying to defend but Sanderson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Yusaki trying to control here.
Yusaki taking some punishment here, with Sanderson in his half guard.
Sanderson content to control rather than advance.
Sanderson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Yusaki knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sanderson on the ground.
Sanderson controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Sanderson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sanderson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Sanderson trying to control the action but Yusaki is working from the bottom.
Sanderson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yusaki wants to control but Sanderson is keeping busy.
Sanderson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Cael Sanderson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Yusaki fails with the takedown

and Sanderson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cael Sanderson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Yusaki tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sanderson swivels and escapes.

Sanderson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
You can see the frustration on Yusaki's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sanderson connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Yusaki some visible discomfort.
Yusaki is trying to control Sanderson's posture but Sanderson avoids it.
Sanderson is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Yusaki will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yusaki wants to control but Sanderson postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yusaki is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sanderson is staying tight to Yusaki's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Yusaki is trying to control Sanderson's posture but Sanderson avoids it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Yusaki enables Sanderson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Yusaki manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sanderson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanderson is pushing down on Yusaki's leg trying to pass to half guard. Yusaki is fighting to maintain full guard but Sanderson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sanderson slips a nice elbow through Yusaki's hands, connecting with Yusaki's forehead.
Yusaki wants to improve his position but Sanderson is controlling well.
Sanderson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson trying to pass the guard but Yusaki defending well.
Yusaki has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sanderson is working away from the top position though.
Sanderson trying to control the pace.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Cael Sanderson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Sanderson shoots in and bounces Yusaki off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson stays in close to Yusaki's body and controls the position.
Yusaki keeping full guard, as Sanderson tries to pass.
Yusaki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sanderson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Cael Sanderson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Yusaki shoots in for a takedown but Sanderson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sanderson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yusaki is fending him off so far but Sanderson persists. Nope, Yusaki circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson fails with a takedown attempt.
Yusaki tries for a takedown but Sanderson circles away easily

and Sanderson counters with a single leg into guard. Yusaki didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blake Yusaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yusaki controls Sanderson momentarily but Sanderson frees himself.
Cael Sanderson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sanderson sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanderson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cael Sanderson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sanderson 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cael Sanderson!
Cael Sanderson took some time post fight to say the following; 'You know winnig 4 NCAA Championships is a good thing but not as good as a MMA Championship and i want one bad.'.