PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zi Yang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Saunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Saunders is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Yang
vs
Saunders

185 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
22
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zi Yang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matt Saunders!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Ivan Kurochkin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saunders gets the takedown into side control.

Saunders tries for a kimura but Yang is defending well.
Yang gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Saunders is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Yang can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Saunders is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Yang has managed to escape the submission attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yang wants to control but Saunders is having none of it.
Yang really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Yang is looking to improve his position but Saunders isn't that keen on the idea.

Saunders looking for a guillotine from mount but Yang is having none of it.

Saunders wants to finish this one by submission but Yang is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Saunders.
Saunders looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yang is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Saunders has control of Yang's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Yang regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Yang tries to reverse the position but Saunders maintains control.

Saunders goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Yang is on top in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yang trying to control the position from guard on top but Saunders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Saunders working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Yang doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Saunders is tightening it up a little... Yang has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Yang reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Yang taps out! nice BJJ there by Saunders!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Matt Saunders!