PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Diego Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brent Squires (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sanchez
vs
Squires

180 cm
32
182 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

176 cm
23
175 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry
Last 4 Clothes

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Diego Sanchez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brent Squires!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sanchez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Squires!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sanchez cracks Squires with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Sanchez lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Squires down.
Squires is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Sanchez's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Sanchez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Squires looking for submissions off his back.
Squires is trying to get back to full guard.
Squires avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sanchez.
Sanchez prevents Squires from improving his position.
Nice strikes from Sanchez there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Squires looking for submissions off his back.
Sanchez wants to stand but Squires has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Squires won't allow Sanchez to pass to mount.
Squires wants to get back to full guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sanchez connects with a nice short shot to Squires's temple.
Sanchez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez working Squires over with strikes.

Squires looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Squires is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sanchez pulls his head out easily.
Sanchez is looking to stall here but Squires recovers full guard.

Squires looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez postures up in Squires's guard and throws a big left but Squires blocks it.
Sanchez tries to free his leg and advance position but Squires is retaining full guard.

Squires escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sanchez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sanchez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanchez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Squires works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Squires isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Sanchez stacks Squires on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Sanchez!
Squires sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Squires tries to get to full guard but Sanchez has control of the leg.
Sanchez seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sanchez drops an elbow to the side of Squires's head.

Sanchez is working for a kimura but Squires is defending it quite comfortably.
Sanchez working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Sanchez decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Squires fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sanchez avoids it really well and circles away.
Sanchez ducks under a wild hook from Squires.
A leg kick checked by Sanchez.
Squires throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sanchez sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Squires loads up on a big right hand but Sanchez slips the punch.

Sanchez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
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 is looking for a kimura but Squires is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sanchez to get the leverage.
Sanchez passes to side control.
Sanchez throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Squires is not content to let Sanchez control the position.

Sanchez looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Squires tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Sanchez dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A looping hook to the body misses from Squires. Sanchez does a little dance to reset his feet.

Squires tries to sprawl but Sanchez drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Squires is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sanchez pulls his head out easily.

Squires actively working from the bottom here.

Squires looking for submissions off his back.
Sanchez tries to pass the half guard into mount. Squires knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sanchez thows a huge punch but Squires dodges it nicely.
Squires works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sanchez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Squires's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanchez decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Diego Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A big left from Sanchez misses.
Sanchez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Squires swivels and escapes.
Sanchez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A swing and a miss from Squires.
Squires has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Sanchez is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Sanchez cracks Squires with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Squires looks for the body kick but Sanchez saw that one coming.
Squires connects with a body shot.
Squires fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sanchez manages to avoid it.

Sanchez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Squires, pushing him back against the cage.

Sanchez breaks the clinch.
Sanchez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sanchez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sanchez slips a jab from Squires.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Squires misses with an uppercut

and Sanchez counters with a shoot takedown. Squires fights it but they end up in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Squires keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.

Squires is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sanchez defends well.
Sanchez trying to control but Squires is working from the bottom.
Sanchez's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Squires looking for a guillotine here but Sanchez defends easily.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Squires is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez landing some decent shots from guard.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Squires keeps moving.

Squires 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 trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sanchez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Diego Sanchez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Squires throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez passes Squires's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sanchez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sanchez wants to control but Squires is keeping him busy.
Sanchez not doing much here.

Squires looking for subs from the bottom but Sanchez mounts him!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sanchez scoring with strikes but Squires is staying in there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Squires is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sanchez is landing with some decent strikes but Squires is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Sanchez dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Squires lands with a good body shot.

Sanchez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Squires is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sanchez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sanchez's back!
Sanchez rolls, trying to escape but Squires keeps control of the position.

Squires patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Sanchez is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Squires looking for the RNC.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sanchez is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Sanchez is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.

Squires tries to keep at a distance but Sanchez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Squires is working for takedown but Sanchez is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Squires tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sanchez just stands there and leans against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sanchez.

Sanchez has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Squires is trying to keep an underhook but Sanchez manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Sanchez is just content to waste time from the top position. Squires takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Sanchez scoring with some ground and pound.

Squires throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Sanchez escapes and throws Squires's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Sanchez scoring with punches and elbows.
Squires manages to get back to half guard.
Sanchez passes to full mount!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Squires is wriggling around trying to escape.
Squires takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Squires tries to lock up and control but Sanchez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Squires takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Sanchez lands a big shot there that rocks Squires but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Squires is trying to escape the mount.
Squires is still trying to improve position.
Sanchez looking to control and managing it successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Squires looks a forlorn figure.
Sanchez scoring with strikes but Squires is staying in there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Squires?
Squires gets back to half guard.
Sanchez looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Squires looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sanchez slips a nice elbow through Squires's hands, connecting with Squires's forehead.
Sanchez slows the pace down in half guard.
Squires is trying to get back to full guard.
Sanchez lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Squires actively working from the bottom here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sanchez seems to be working for a kimura but Squires defends the submission attempt.
Squires is refusing to be controlled, as Sanchez sits in half guard.
Squires throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Sanchez has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
A nice elbow there by Sanchez.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Squires is in a horrible position here. Sanchez smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Sanchez clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sanchez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Squires defends well and Sanchez ends up having to push Squires into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Squires wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sanchez has him pressed against the cage.
Sanchez looking to throw knees to the head but Squires is blocking nicely.
Squires has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sanchez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Sanchez tightens his grip and picks Squires up, before dumping him to the ground. Squires manages to land in guard.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Squires keeps moving.

Squires escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sanchez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sanchez trying to control but Squires is working from the bottom.
Sanchez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Squires swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Squires throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Squires keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.

Squires had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sanchez defends it easily.

Sanchez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Squires is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Squires is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanchez sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Squires's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Squires actively working from the bottom here.
Sanchez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Sanchez looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sanchez content to control rather than advance.

Squires looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Sanchez seems to be working for a kimura but Squires defends the submission attempt.
Sanchez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but Squires defending well.

Sanchez seems to be looking for submissions.

Squires looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Squires looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Squires is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sanchez takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sanchez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Squires is looking for a sweep. Sanchez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez controlling the action here.

Squires actively working from the bottom here.
Sanchez working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Well, if Sanchez 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.
Squires is refusing to be controlled, as Sanchez sits in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanchez prevents Squires from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Sanchez had his way with Brent Squires in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sanchez fails to land with a series of punches.
Sanchez attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Squires misses with a straight left.
Squires fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Sanchez gets a clinch.
Squires is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Sanchez pulls guard successfully.
Squires tries to free his leg and advance position but Sanchez is retaining full guard.
Sanchez wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sanchez wants to sweep but no luck.
Squires wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Sanchez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Sanchez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Diego Sanchez.

Sanchez closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Squires's guard.
Sanchez slips nicely into half guard.

Squires looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Squires trying to control here.
Sanchez tries to stand and escape but Squires is controlling the position.
Sanchez controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is looking to take a break and control but Squires is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Diego Sanchez wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Squires fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sanchez looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Squires ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Squires throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Sanchez clinches up with Squires and pushes him back against the cage.
Squires is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Squires jumps guard.
Sanchez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sanchez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Squires is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sanchez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Squires looking for a guillotine here but Sanchez defends easily.

Sanchez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sanchez passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Squires is looking for a sweep.
Sanchez working the ground and pound.
Brent Squires has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Squires struggling a bit here.
Sanchez landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Squires is not content to let Sanchez control the position.
Squires is looking for a sweep.

Sanchez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Squires has escaped the position, nice work there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanchez controls the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Squires manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Squires looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Diego Sanchez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sanchez wants to take a breather but Squires is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Diego Sanchez.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sanchez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 50:45
Judge George Francis scores the fight 50:45
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diego Sanchez!
Diego Sanchez is the new welterweight champion!
After winning the bout, Diego Sanchez thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.