PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lawrence Mars (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Filipino Saint (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mars comes to the cage accompanied by Avenged Sevenfold's Nightmare. Filipino Saint will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Mars
vs
Saint

167 cm
21
141 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

175 cm
25
145 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Nutrition Oracle

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lawrence Mars!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Filipino Saint!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Eddie Farnsworth and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mars throws a jab when Saint was well out of range.
Saint slips under a jab.
Saint displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mars throws out the jab.
Saint waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mars.
Mars misses with a hook. Saint ducked under it nicely.

Mars shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Saint is trying to defend but Mars finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Mars passes to full mount!
Mars lands a big elbow.
Mars looking to ground and pound but Saint is blocking nicely.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Saint can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mars throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Mars tries to control but Saint wriggling away.
Mars thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Poor strikes thrown by Mars there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Mars raining down shots from the mount!
Mars sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Mars unloads with some shots from mount but Saint bucks and avoids them well.
Mars throwing strikes here but Saint is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two 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.
Saint avoids a series of strikes thrown by Mars.
Saint wants to get back to his feet.
Mars thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Mars trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mars 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.
Saint is bucking up trying to escape but Mars cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mars throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Saint because Mars loaded up on that one.
Mars looking to control but Saint is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Mars misses with a head shot.
Saint's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
BOOM! Mars connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Mars throws some wild stikes that Saint manages to avoid easily.
Mars trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mars thowing shots but they're missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mars trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mars lands a nice shot to the head.
Mars lands a big elbow.
Mars misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Mars trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lawrence Mars dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Saint uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mars.
Mars looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mars throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mars displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Saint throws out the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mars changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Saint tries to avoid it but Mars manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Saint to the ground. Saint escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mars fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Saint avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lawrence Mars. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mars closes this distance looking for a takedown but Saint circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saint bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Mars's head.
Nice body punch from Saint.
Mars shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Saint as he avoids it easily.
Mars swings away with a body shot that misses
and Saint counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Saint swinging wildly here.
The fighters circling - Mars throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mars is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Saint's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mars throws a jab when Saint was well out of range.
Mars throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Mars throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mars misses with a wild body shot.
Mars misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Saint counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Mars misses the shot to the body.
Mars fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Saint. Mars does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saint scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Some wild striking there from Saint.
Mars misses the body punch
and Saint counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Saint ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Mars with a lazy takedown attempt
and Saint counters with a stiff right hand.
Mars has his takedown stuffed
and Mars takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A slow jab from Mars misses its intended target.
Mars throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Saint!
Mars avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Saint steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mars.
Saint slips a jab from Mars.
Lawrence Mars seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice takedown defense from Saint. No joy for Mars on that attempt.
Mars ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saint moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Filipino Saint showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Mars swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mars takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Saint misses with a body shot.
Saint leaves Mars with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice defenses there by Saint.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Mars misses.
Mars misses with a body punch
and Saint counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A cross from Mars lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mars swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mars misses with a jab to the body
letting Saint counter with a right hand.
Saint will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Mars shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Saint as he jumps to the side.
Mars throws a jab when Saint was well out of range.
Saint shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mars but Mars pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Saint throws a hook but Mars avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Mars throws an overhand right that lands on Saint's shoulder, as Saint tries to avoid the shot.
Mars gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Saint counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lawrence Mars. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mars misses with an uppercut. Saint saw that one coming.
Saint ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mars moves away.
Mars fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Saint uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mars.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saint throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mars has a takedown stuffed.
Mars keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Saint.
Mars throws a looping overhand right but Saint ducks down to avoid it.
Saint finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Mars looks to throw the jab but Saint is out of range.
Saint has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Mars thows a body shot but no joy.

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.
Mars uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Saint.
Mars fails with the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mars.
Mars misses the shot to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mars showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Saint.
Saint misses with a hook. Mars ducked under it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Filipino Saint comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Saint 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Filipino Saint!