PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rory Markman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rico Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanchez comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Childish Gambino - R.I.P. kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Rico Sanchez acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Markman
vs
Sanchez

178 cm
32
186 lbs
20 - 17 - 0

183 cm
36
182 lbs
21 - 21 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 20 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rory Markman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rico Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Steve Montenegro and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez throws a right and a left that Markman avoids nicely.
Markman fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sanchez throws a poor cross that misses

and Markman counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Markman throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sanchez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Markman.
Markman scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sanchez wants to improve his position but Markman is controlling well.
Markman not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Markman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sanchez defending well though.
Sanchez regains full guard. Nicely done.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Markman preventing the sweep.
Sanchez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Markman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Markman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Markman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Markman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markman with a nice head shot there.
Markman's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Markman postures up in Sanchez's guard and throws a big left but Sanchez blocks it.
Markman trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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.
Sanchez tries to strike from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Markman scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Markman landing with the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sanchez is on top in guard.
Sanchez won't allow Markman to sweep him here.
Sanchez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez being controlled here momentarily.
Markman trying to keep a closed guard but Sanchez is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Markman is pulling down on Sanchez's head. It's preventing any offense from Sanchez, at least for the moment.
Sanchez looking to sit in guard and control but Markman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Markman chips away with some ground and pound.
Sanchez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Markman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Markman is one step ahead there.
Markman content to stall in guard here.
Markman postures up and lands a big shot to Sanchez's brow.
Markman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sanchez wants to stand up but Markman is controlling him.
Sanchez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Markman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sanchez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Markman scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sanchez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Markman has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Markman lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markman trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanchez looking for a sweep. Not yet Sanchez, not yet.
Markman looking to sit in guard and control but Sanchez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Markman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanchez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Markman works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Markman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Markman pulls Sanchez in close to prevent any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Markman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rory Markman dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Markman ducks right into an uppercut from Sanchez.
Rico Sanchez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Markman takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sanchez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Markman shoots in looking for a takedown but Sanchez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Markman's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sanchez looks to land a right hand but Markman moved out of range.
Sanchez scoring well with a low kick there.
Sanchez lands a jab to the nose.
Markman steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sanchez.
Sanchez misses with a lunging right hand
letting Markman counter with a right hand.
Sanchez throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Markman cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sanchez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sanchez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Markman.

Markman closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanchez is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markman perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Markman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sanchez keeps working.
Markman controlling the pace.
Sanchez is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Markman scores with a couple of nice shots.
Markman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sanchez keeps working.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Markman looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Markman takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Sanchez is looking for a sweep. Markman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sanchez wants to control but Markman is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sanchez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Markman's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Markman's back!
Markman wants to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez missing with strikes.
Sanchez keeps control of the position as Markman tries to break free.
Markman wants to control his opponent's hands but Sanchez gets his hands free.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Sanchez looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Markman taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rico Sanchez!
During a confident post fight interview, Rico Sanchez thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.