PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Derrick Sanford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Pearce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanford kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is London Calling - The Clash. Pearce has chosen Enter Sandman (Metallica) as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sanford
vs
Pearce

192 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Derrick Sanford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Pearce!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Steven Brown and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanford tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Pearce feints and as Sanford raises his hands in defense, Pearce changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sanford looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pearce is one step ahead there.
Sanford scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Sanford trying to keep a closed guard but Pearce is proving a slippery customer.
Pearce stops Sanford from standing up.
Sanford bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pearce's guard.

Sanford gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Pearce will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sanford with a poor takedown

and Pearce counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Sanford!
Sanford can't escape the position.
Sanford is working hard here to advance position.
Sanford throwing hammer fists to the chest of Pearce. What's that going to do exactly?
Pearce controlling the pace for now.
Sanford flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanford is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pearce controlling his opponent.
Pearce's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Pearce trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sanford wants to hold on but Pearce pushes him away.
Pearce controlling from mount.
Sanford keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sanford is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Pearce lands a nice shot to the head.
Pearce raining down shots from the mount!
Sanford is working to get back to half guard.
Pearce sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Sanford is looking to improve his position but Pearce isn't that keen on the idea.
Pearce can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sanford is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pearce with shots to the head and body - Sanford looks very uncomfortable down there.
Pearce pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Pearce tries to control but Sanford wriggling away.
Pearce controlling the position easily from mount.
Pearce looking to control but Sanford is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Despite being in the dominant position, Michael Pearce just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A slapping body kick lands there for Sanford.
Sanford lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Pearce backs up against the cage.
Sanford with a lazy takedown attempt

and Pearce counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Pearce not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Pearce must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sanford has a closed guard, preventing Pearce from standing up.
Pearce looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pearce trying to control but Sanford is working from the bottom.
Sanford keeping full guard, as Pearce tries to pass.
Pearce wants to control from the top but Sanford keeps moving.

Sanford is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pearce controlling from the top position.
Pearce postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sanford has his takedown stuffed

and Pearce counters with a takedown into side control.
Sanford tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sanford manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Pearce on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Sanford wants to work for an arm triangle but Pearce is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Pearce is refusing to be controlled, as Sanford sits in half guard.
Pearce blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sanford.
Pearce trying to control here.

Sanford stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Pearce to get to his feet.
Sanford shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pearce pinned against the cage. Pearce gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Pearce is breathing heavily.
Sanford tries for a takedown but Pearce sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Derrick Sanford. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pearce rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sanford moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sanford closes the distance and clinches up with Pearce, looking for a takedown. Sanford pushes Pearce against the cage but Pearce circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Michael Pearce seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Pearce.
Sanford is trying to get back to half guard.
Sanford is trying to work for a sweep but Pearce has mounted him!
Pearce controlling his opponent.
Let's hope that Pearce has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Sanford throwing hammer fists to the chest of Pearce. What's that going to do exactly?
Sanford tries to hold on but Pearce postures up.
Pearce with a couple of short strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pearce sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Pearce working Sanford over with strikes here.
Sanford tries to hold on but Pearce pushes him away.
Pearce controlling his opponent.
Sanford is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sanford slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Sanford wants to control but Pearce is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Pearce seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sanford does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sanford missing with punches from the bottom.
Sanford trying to control but Pearce postures up.
Sanford is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pearce's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pearce's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pearce defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Sanford's arms.
Sanford punishes Pearce with strikes from the back mount.
Pearce is in bad spot here.
Pearce is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Sanford.
Sanford lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Sanford scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Pearce is looking for a way out.
Pearce manages to reverse the position and now he's in Sanford's guard. Nice work there by Pearce.
Sanford seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sanford is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanford working some strikes from top position.

Sanford gets to his feet. Pearce looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Sanford moves in looking to clinch but Pearce pushes him off.

Pearce drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Pearce stands up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanford takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Pearce doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sanford counters with a body kick that stops Pearce in his tracks momentarily.

Pearce shoots in and bounces Sanford off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Pearce trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanford is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sanford throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Michael Pearce will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Sanford's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sanford feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Pearce working a defensive guard here.
Sanford trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pearce trying to control the position.
Sanford throws a big right hand that misses.

Sanford drops back looking for a leg! Pearce is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pearce manages to kick Sanford off! Sanford jumps back into Pearce's guard.
Sanford sitting in guard here, content to control.
Pearce looking for a sweep. Not yet Pearce, not yet.
Sanford 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.
Sanford in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sanford misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanford takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sanford stuffs the takedown attempt from Pearce. Pearce gets slowly back to his feet.
Pearce takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Sanford gets a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanford is looking to take a break and control but Pearce is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pearce is pressing down on Sanford's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sanford would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sanford trying to control the position from guard on top but Pearce is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pearce manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sanford manages to get himself to full guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanford working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pearce doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pearce manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sanford striking off his back but it's not causing Pearce any problems.
Sanford looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Sanford is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Pearce fails to pull guard.
Sanford tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Pearce smiles and moves away.
Sanford will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pearce misses with a takedown attempt

and Sanford counters with a shoot takedown. Pearce fights it but they end up in guard.
Derrick Sanford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Pearce.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanford stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pearce swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pearce scores with a nice shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pearce wants to stand up but Sanford is controlling him.
Pearce is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Pearce had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Sanford is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Pearce Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Sanford's back instead.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

Pearce is persistently looking for the submission but Sanford is defending it well.
I really don't envy Sanford right now.
Pearce struggling to keep hold of the position.
Pearce lands punches and elbows.
Sanford is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Michael Pearce has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sanford breaks Pearce's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Derrick Sanford has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sanford tries to free his leg and advance position but Pearce is retaining full guard.
Sanford passes Pearce's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sanford passes the guard and advances to mount!

Sanford stands up from mount. Strange move.
Sanford throws a sloppy head kick and Pearce moves out of range easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pearce gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Sanford counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Pearce's guard now.
Sanford scoring with some ground and pound.
Pearce not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pearce controlling Sanford's posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derrick Sanford showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pearce 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Pearce!