PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bruno Belanger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cyrus Sawyer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sawyer has chosen MegaDeth- This Day We FIGHT! as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Belanger
vs
Sawyer

179 cm
30
142 lbs
11 - 11 - 1

178 cm
26
142 lbs
13 - 8 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

CEC Nutrition Q160

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 11 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Bruno Belanger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 1, fighting out of New York, Cyrus Sawyer!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Lou da Vinci and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Sawyer.
Belanger thows a body shot but no joy.
Belanger misses with a body shot.
Sawyer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sawyer lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Sawyer clinches up against the cage.
Belanger gets through Sawyer's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Belanger misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Belanger really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A hook to the body from Belanger.
Sawyer blocks a body shot from Belanger.
Belanger throws a punch but it's blocked by Sawyer.

Sawyer's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Sawyer scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Sawyer is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Belanger knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Belanger tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An elbow from Sawyer crashes against the mat.

Sawyer tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Belanger struggling a bit here.
Belanger is looking to regain half guard here but Sawyer keeps moving and retains side control.

Sawyer is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Belanger has escaped the position, nice work there.
Belanger taking punishment in the form of punches.
You can see the frustration on Belanger's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Belanger is looking to reverse the position.
Belanger gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Sawyer lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer is trying to control the action in half guard but Belanger is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Belanger gets back to full guard.
Belanger is trying to keep Sawyer in close.
Sawyer trying to control but Belanger is working from the bottom.
Belanger trying to keep a closed guard but Sawyer is proving a slippery customer.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Belanger wants to sweep but no luck.
Sawyer with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sawyer postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sawyer wants to control from the top but Belanger keeps moving.
Sawyer pushing down on Belanger's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sawyer lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Belanger works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belanger controls Sawyer momentarily but Sawyer frees himself.
Sawyer slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Sawyer lands some shots froms side control.
Belanger is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sawyer off and has taken his back!

Sawyer defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sawyer trying to control but not successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sawyer turns into Belanger and is now in his guard.

Belanger is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Sawyer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Belanger is looking for a triangle but Sawyer pushes his legs off easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sawyer not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Sawyer trying to control the position from guard on top but Belanger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sawyer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sawyer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sawyer tries to free his leg and advance position but Belanger is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cyrus Sawyer dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sawyer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sawyer shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Belanger sprawls well. Belanger wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sawyer gets slowly back to his feet.
Belanger uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sawyer.
Belanger misses with a straight left.
Belanger throws a lazy right hand but Sawyer sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sawyer doesn't manage to clinch there - Belanger circles away.
Cyrus Sawyer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Belanger digs a good body shot into Sawyer's ribs.
Belanger misses with the combination.
Belanger chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sawyer can pounce on him.
Sawyer tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Belanger swivels and escapes.
Sawyer misses the shot to the body.
Nice defenses there by Belanger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sawyer slips a straight right by Belanger.
Belanger misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sawyer lands a head shot.
Sawyer shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Belanger defends it nicely.
Bruno Belanger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cyrus Sawyer.
Belanger throws a hook but Sawyer blocks it.
Sawyer shoots in for a takedown but Belanger shows good takedown defense.
Belanger swinging wildly here.
A telegraphed right hand from Sawyer misses the target.
Belanger scores with a nice right hand.
Sawyer swings for the body but Belanger moves out of range.
Belanger blocks a low kick nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sawyer rushes Belanger and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sawyer jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Belanger walks away with a smile on his face. Sawyer gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Bruno Belanger is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sawyer throws a body kick that misses.
A lazy body kick from Sawyer
and Belanger counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Belanger misses with a looping right.
Sawyer looks to land a combination. Belanger sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Sawyer takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Belanger uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sawyer.
Belanger throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sawyer sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sawyer jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Belanger cracks Sawyer with a good jab.
Belanger loads up on a big right hand but Sawyer slips the punch.
Belanger misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sawyer fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Belanger slaps away a takedown attempt from Sawyer, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belanger lands with a good body shot.
Sawyer connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Belanger's hands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sawyer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A looping hook to the body misses from Belanger. Sawyer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Belanger slips a jab from Sawyer.
Belanger uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sawyer.
Belanger lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Belanger slips a jab from Sawyer.
Sawyer connects with a crisp jab.
Sawyer scores with a shot to the body.
Belanger bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Belanger.
A left lands for Belanger.
Cyrus Sawyer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sawyer misses with a low kick.
Sawyer looks to score with a jab to the body but Belanger is just out of range.
Belanger listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sawyer tries to land a leg kick but Belanger saw it coming and moves away.

Sawyer clinches.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sawyer lands a hook that snaps the head of Belanger backwards.
Belanger misses with the head strike.
Belanger lands an uppercut.
Sawyer misses with a knee strike.
Belanger fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sawyer misses with a punch on the inside.
Sawyer with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sawyer blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Sawyer breaks the clinch.
Sawyer misses the shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Cyrus Sawyer will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sawyer throws a leg kick that misses.
Sawyer throws a lazy right hand but Belanger sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Belanger getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Sawyer lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Belanger has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Belanger and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Sawyer scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Belanger slips a jab and a cross from Sawyer.
Belanger lands a lovely overhand right.
Belanger avoids the body shot from Sawyer.
Sawyer fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sawyer misses the body punch
and Belanger counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Belanger's corner calls for a 1-2. Belanger obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Belanger uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Sawyer tries for a takedown but Belanger circles away easily
and Belanger cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sawyer jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belanger keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sawyer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sawyer thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sawyer fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Belanger is out of range.
Belanger scores with a punch to the head.
Belanger takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Belanger missing with a left hand there. Sawyer was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Belanger swats away the attempt to clinch by Sawyer.
Sawyer looks to clinch
and Belanger counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sawyer throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Belanger moves away from the strike by Sawyer.
A swing and a miss from Sawyer.
Sawyer uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Belanger.
Sawyer misses with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer shoots in and drives through. Belanger sprawls well.
Sawyer steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Belanger.
Sawyer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sawyer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Belanger paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sawyer bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Belanger moves out of range as Sawyer strikes.
Sawyer misses with a low kick.
A big left from Sawyer misses.
Belanger lands with a hook. Sawyer tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Belanger misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sawyer slips a jab and a cross from Belanger.
Belanger ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sawyer fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sawyer. Belanger does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sawyer finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Belanger waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sawyer.
Sawyer tries to clinch but Belanger moves out of range.
Sawyer keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Belanger keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Belanger thuds his right hand into Sawyer's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sawyer dives in and grabs Belanger's left leg, looking for a takedown. Belanger pushes down on Sawyer's head and hops out.
Bruno Belanger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cyrus Sawyer.
Belanger scores with a body shot.
Sawyer throws a looping overhand right but Belanger ducks down to avoid it.
Belanger thuds his right hand into Sawyer's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Sawyer has Belanger up against the cage in a clinch.
Belanger throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Belanger in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A hook to the body from Belanger.
Sawyer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sawyer tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Belanger just stands there and leans against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sawyer throws a punch but it's blocked by Belanger.
Still in the clinch, Belanger scores with a nice short uppercut.
Belanger lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sawyer.
Sawyer throws a head punch that misses.
Sawyer blocks a body shot from Belanger.
Belanger throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sawyers head.
Bruno Belanger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sawyer has had enough of the clinch but Belanger keeps him there for the moment.
Sawyer tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nice body punch from Belanger - that landed with a thud.
Sawyer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Belanger tries a body shot but Sawyer blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Belanger lands with a short shot to the head.
Sawyer jumps guard but Belanger stands there with Sawyer around his waist. Sawyer gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Belanger swings away with an uppercut that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Bruno Belanger.
I think Sawyer 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 John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cyrus Sawyer!
An out of breath Cyrus Sawyer thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.