PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Al Sanchez (ranked 24167 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Barboza (ranked 4580 p4p, 424 weight class). Barboza has chosen You don't know as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Mark Barboza will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Sanchez
vs
Barboza

177 cm
19
177 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

189 cm
20
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Al Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Barboza!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barboza throws a leg kick

so Sanchez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Barboza is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Sanchez presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Barboza is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sanchez to keep the fight standing.
Sanchez wants a takedown.

Sanchez pulls guard successfully.
Sanchez has his hands on Barboza's head, controlling the position.
Barboza looking to sit in guard and control but Sanchez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Barboza is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sanchez is controlling him.
Sanchez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barboza is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Sanchez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sanchez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Sanchez drops back, looking for a kneebar! Barboza looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Barboza looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Barboza!

Sanchez avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Barboza.
Sanchez is looking for a sweep.
Barboza wants to control but Sanchez is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barboza goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Sanchez has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Barboza but great work by Sanchez.
Barboza is looking to regain half guard here but Sanchez keeps moving and retains side control.
Barboza looking for a sweep but Sanchez has passed into full mount! Oh no!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Barboza tries to reverse the position but Sanchez maintains control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sanchez jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Barboza is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Barboza and Sanchez has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barboza can't do much from the bottom here.
The ground and pound from Sanchez seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Sanchez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Barboza has escaped the position, nice work there.
Barboza wants to control but Sanchez postures up.
Barboza is looking for a sweep.
Barboza can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Sanchez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Barboza is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Sanchez decides to stand up, so the ref orders Barboza to his feet.
Sanchez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanchez stuffs the takedown attempt from Barboza. Barboza gets slowly back to his feet.

Barboza manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Sanchez on his heels. He'll look to pass Sanchez's guard now, I'm sure.

Sanchez has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Barboza has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Sanchez dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Barboza darts in and clinches Sanchez up against the cage.
Sanchez landing knees to the body.
Sanchez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Barboza to keep the fight standing.
Sanchez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Barboza avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sanchez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Barboza walks away with a smile on his face. Sanchez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Al Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez fails with a takedown attempt.
Sanchez misses with a wild combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Sanchez breaks the clinch.
Mark Barboza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barboza works Sanchez's body with a nice hook.
Barboza fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Barboza with that takedown attempt.
Sanchez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Al Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barboza will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Barboza shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Barboza misses with a takedown attempt - Sanchez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Barboza is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez stuffs the takedown attempt from Barboza. Barboza gets slowly back to his feet.

Barboza rushes Sanchez and presses him up against the cage.
Barboza throws a punch but it's blocked by Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Sanchez jumps guard and drags Barboza to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Barboza looking to sit in guard and control but Sanchez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Barboza looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sanchez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Barboza is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Barboza has escaped and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez is working an open guard so Barboza takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Barboza fails to land the takedown.
Barboza displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sanchez.
Barboza throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Barboza defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sanchez.
Barboza shoots in and drives through. Sanchez sprawls well.
Sanchez throws a big counter combination but Barboza scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Barboza defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sanchez.
Nice sprawl there from Barboza as Sanchez shoots in.
Barboza tries a head kick but it misses.
Barboza keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Barboza closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanchez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Barboza pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Barboza taking a breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mark Barboza will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Barboza shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sanchez as he jumps to the side.
Sanchez with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Barboza to counter with a crisp jab.
Barboza misses with a takedown attempt

and Sanchez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Sanchez.
Sanchez jumps guard but Barboza turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Barboza stops a takedown attempt from Sanchez.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Al Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barboza looking for a takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Barboza jumps guard and drags Sanchez to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Sanchez gets to his feet - Barboza follows without any prompting.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barboza blocks a body shot from Sanchez.
Barboza wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sanchez stalling.

Barboza has clasped his hands together around Sanchez's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Barboza stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Sanchez shoots in and gets a takedown into Barboza's guard.

Sanchez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Barboza is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Barboza has escaped and now he's on top!

Sanchez is trying to control the position but Barboza postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Barboza gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Sanchez throws an off balance right hand
enabling Barboza to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Barboza 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.
Barboza is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Barboza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez looking to control but Barboza passes into half guard.

Barboza is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sanchez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Barboza.
Sanchez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Al Sanchez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Barboza slips a nice elbow through Sanchez's hands, connecting with Sanchez's forehead.
Barboza moves nicely into side control.
Sanchez tries to improve position but can't.
Sanchez is not content to let Barboza control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Barboza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barboza 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Barboza!
Mark Barboza decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.