However, as the match wore on, things began to get more and more heated. Sanders and Douglas started to get under each other's skin, and the referee was forced to intervene on several occasions to prevent things from getting out of hand.
But things took a turn for the worse when Douglas's manager, "The Sultan" Aziz, got involved. Aziz, a notorious "shade-taker" and instigator, began to egg Douglas on, urging him to take out his frustrations on Sanders.
The DWW promotion, known for its high-flying action and intense rivalries, had been building up to this moment for months. Sanders and Douglas had been engaged in a heated feud, with both men trading blows and insults in a series of intense matches and promo exchanges.