PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Patrushev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thiago Sanchez has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Sergei Patrushev's chin.

Patrushev
vs
Sanchez

168 cm
31
185 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

185 cm
38
184 lbs
20 - 21 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
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 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Sergei Patrushev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 21 - 0, fighting out of London, Thiago Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Atkins and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Patrushev shoots in looking for a takedown but Sanchez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Patrushev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Patrushev throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Sanchez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Patrushev is in Sanchez's guard.

Sanchez manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Sanchez breaks the clinch.
Sanchez scores with a one two! Patrushev had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Sergei Patrushev has been cut.

Sanchez clinches.
The referee is keeping an eye on Sanchez - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Patrushev has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sanchez after a bit of a struggle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanchez holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Patrushev has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sanchez after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergei Patrushev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanchez breaks from the clinch.
Nice shot by Sanchez.
Sanchez wants to clinch.
Patrushev darts in looking for a takedown but Sanchez gets double underhooks and turns Patrushev into the cage.

Sanchez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sanchez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Thiago Sanchez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Sanchez has closed the distance and engaged Patrushev in a clinch.
Sanchez connects with a knee to the head.
Sanchez is pressed up against the cage. Patrushev has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sanchez down to the mat. Sanchez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Patrushev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sanchez misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Patrushev shoots in looking for a takedown but Sanchez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Patrushev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Patrushev looks for a takedown but Sanchez sprawls well.
Sanchez fails in his attempt to clinch.

Sanchez forces Patrushev back against the cage and clinches.

Sanchez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sanchez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Sanchez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Sanchez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Patrushev dives in for a single leg takedown but Sanchez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Patrushev is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sanchez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Sanchez breaks the clinch.

Patrushev closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Sanchez quickly recovers to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Patrushev is trying to control. Sanchez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Patrushev is trying to work for a kimura but Sanchez is defending well.
Patrushev wants to pass the guard but Sanchez is defending well.
Sanchez is trying to stand.

Patrushev is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sanchez is just riding it out for now. Patrushev eventually gives up the hold.
Sanchez has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Patrushev trying to pass the guard but Sanchez defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez pushes Patrushev off looking to stand but Patrushev dives back in and keeps control.

Patrushev is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sanchez is just riding it out for now. Patrushev eventually gives up the hold.

Sanchez manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Patrushev keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Patrushev goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sanchez prevents it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Patrushev managing to block the knees to the body from Sanchez.

Sanchez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Sanchez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sergei Patrushev's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sanchez clinches up against the cage.
Patrushev drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sanchez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Sanchez swings wildly with an uppercut but Patrushev uses good head movement to avoid it.

Sanchez manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Sanchez. No joy for Patrushev on that attempt.
Sanchez scores with a three punch combo!
Patrushev with a poor takedown
and Sanchez counters with a left to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergei Patrushev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Patrushev fails to land the takedown.
Sanchez lands a jab to the nose.

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.
Patrushev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sanchez is fending him off so far but Patrushev persists. Nope, Sanchez circles away and we're back to standing.
Patrushev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sergei Patrushev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sanchez buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Sanchez clinches up against the cage.

Sanchez manages to break the clinch.
Sanchez fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Thiago Sanchez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Patrushev takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Patrushev on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Patrushev is rocked!
Patrushev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sanchez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Oh Patrushev is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Patrushev looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Sanchez pushes Patrushev up against the cage in a clinch.

Sanchez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Patrushev seems to have got his legs back now.

Sanchez gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Patrushev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanchez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Patrushev fails to land the takedown.
Patrushev avoids the body shot from Sanchez.
Patrushev swats away the attempt to clinch by Sanchez.

Sanchez rushes Patrushev and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Patrushev drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sanchez gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Sanchez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Patrushev tries for a takedown but Sanchez circles away easily
and Sanchez counters with a nice uppercut.
Sanchez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Patrushev tries to clinch but Sanchez is having none of it.
Sanchez throws a right and a left that Patrushev avoids nicely.
Sanchez changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Sanchez forces Patrushev back against the cage and clinches.
Patrushev goes for a takedown attempt but Sanchez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Patrushev doesn't manage to clinch there - Sanchez circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sanchez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Patrushev manages to avoid it.
Patrushev tries to clinch but Sanchez is having none of it.
Sanchez moves in looking to clinch but Patrushev pushes him off.
Patrushev tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sanchez defends well and Patrushev ends up having to push Sanchez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Sanchez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A punch combination from Sanchez misses.
Patrushev throws a sloppy head kick and Sanchez moves out of range easily.
Sanchez wants to clinch.
Sanchez throws a right and a left that Patrushev avoids nicely.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Patrushev fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sergei Patrushev's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sanchez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Patrushev throws a head kick but Sanchez moves out of range.
Sanchez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Patrushev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sanchez misses with the combination.
Patrushev throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Patrushev takes the fight into the clinch.

Sanchez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sanchez throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Patrushev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sanchez swivels and escapes.
Sanchez connects with a nice looking jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanchez gets a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Patrushev.
Thiago Sanchez seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Sanchez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sanchez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Patrushev.

Patrushev drives through with a takedown into guard.
Patrushev wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
Patrushev might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Patrushev stops Sanchez from standing up.
Patrushev is standing up over Sanchez. Sanchez looks to escape but Patrushev dives into side control.
Patrushev is looking to take a break and control but Sanchez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Patrushev thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Patrushev wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sanchez, who protects the arm well.
Sanchez wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Patrushev tries to move to mount but Sanchez blocks the move with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Patrushev wants to control but Sanchez is keeping him busy.

Patrushev is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sanchez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sanchez takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Thiago Sanchez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sanchez wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Patrushev is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sanchez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Patrushev is trying to get an arm triangle but Sanchez is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is trying to get back to his feet.
Patrushev is looking to take a break and control but Sanchez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Patrushev working the ground and pound from side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanchez wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergei Patrushev showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sanchez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Sanchez!
Thiago Sanchez took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Merciless Gladiators for their support in the buildup to the fight.