PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Junior Sasi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Townsley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Sasi
vs
Townsley

179 cm
18
201 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Junior Sasi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Townsley!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Jorge Garcia and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Townsley or perhaps it was just good defense by Sasi which made him look bad.

Townsley moves into range and clinches up with Sasi.

Townsley breaks the clinch.

Townsley forces Sasi back against the cage and clinches.
Sasi is trying to maintain a safe position but Townsley gets an underhook and turns Sasi into the cage.
Sasi tries to score a body lock takedown but Townsley shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sasi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Townsley's efforts to push away.
Sasi is trying to maintain a safe position but Townsley gets an underhook and turns Sasi into the cage.
Sasi has Townsley pressed against the cage, preventing Townsley from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sasi is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Townsley is keeping busy.
Sasi is looking for a takedown.
Knees to the body from Townsley.
Townsley drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sasi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Townsley shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sasi pinned against the cage. Sasi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Junior Sasi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Townsley.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Townsley tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sasi swivels and escapes.

Townsley moves into the clinch successfully.
Sasi is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Townsley is keeping busy.
Sasi tries to score a body lock takedown but Townsley shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Townsley is trying to pull guard but Sasi has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sasi is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Townsley scores with a shoulder strike.
Townsley tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sasi just stands there and leans against the cage.
Townsley prevents a takedown attempt there.
Townsley throws a knee to the head but misses.
Townsley gets underhooks to prevent Sasi's takedown attempt.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Townsley breaks the clinch.

Townsley rushes Sasi and presses him up against the cage.
Sasi is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Townsley connects with a knee to the head.
Townsley gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sasi.
Townsley landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Sasi tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sasi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Townsley prevents it.
Sasi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Townsley avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sasi is breathing heavily.

Townsley manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Townsley trying to keep a closed guard but Sasi is proving a slippery customer.
Sasi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sasi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Townsley has momentary wrist control but Sasi slips an elbow through the middle.
Sasi throws a big elbow that misses.
Sasi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Townsley's head.

Sasi stands up and waves to Townsley to follow him.
Townsley shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sasi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Townsley's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sasi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Sasi stands up and waves to Townsley to follow him.
Townsley dives in and grabs Sasi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sasi pushes down on Townsley's head and hops out.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Townsley gets a clinch.
Townsley stops a takedown attempt from Sasi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Junior Sasi will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Townsley fails with a takedown attempt.
Townsley shoots in looking for a takedown but Sasi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Townsley's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ben Townsley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sasi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sasi wants it to stay on the feet.
Junior Sasi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Townsley.
Townsley looks for a takedown but Sasi sprawls well.
Sasi doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Townsley darts in and clinches Sasi up against the cage.
Sasi wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Sasi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Townsley pulls his leg out and moves away.
Townsley throws a wild body kick that Sasi sees coming a mile off.
Townsley throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sasi's waist but Sasi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Townsley off to one side.
Townsley tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sasi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Townsley somewhat.
Townsley is breathing heavily.
Townsley goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Townsley getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Townsley doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sasi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sasi.

Sasi stands up from Townsley's guard - Sasi perhaps looking for a knockout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Townsley shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sasi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sasi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sasi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sasi 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sasi lands a couple of elbows.
Sasi distracts Townsley with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sasi scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sasi lands a couple of digs.
Sasi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sasi scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sasi working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Townsley really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sasi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sasi stands up over Townsley, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sasi working some strikes from top position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Townsley is working an open guard so Sasi takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ben Townsley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Townsley.

Townsley fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sasi, pushing him back against the cage.
Sasi is trying to maintain a safe position but Townsley gets an underhook and turns Sasi into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Townsley prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sasi wants to stall.
Townsley has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ben Townsley seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sasi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Townsley is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sasi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Townsley avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sasi trying to stall but Townsley improves his position.
Sasi goes for a takedown attempt but Townsley pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Townsley throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sasi's waist but Sasi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Townsley off to one side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Sasi dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Townsley looks for a takedown but Sasi sprawls well.
Sasi slaps away a takedown attempt from Townsley, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Townsley shoots in and drives through. Sasi sprawls well.
Junior Sasi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Townsley.

Townsley gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sasi has Townsley pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Townsley manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sasi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Townsley prevents it.
Sasi wants a takedown but no success here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Townsley stops a takedown attempt from Sasi.
Townsley has Sasi pressed against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Townsley can't break the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Sasi has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Townsley after a bit of a struggle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Townsley prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sasi is trying to stall.
Townsley gets underhooks to prevent Sasi's takedown attempt.
Townsley is pressed up against the cage. Sasi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Townsley down to the mat. Townsley avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Townsley fails to land the takedown.

Townsley rushes Sasi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Townsley will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sasi up against the cage.
Townsley prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sasi wants a takedown.
Sasi looking to slow down the pace here.
Townsley controlling the action here for a moment.
Sasi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Townsley pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Townsley fails with a takedown attempt.
Townsley looks to land a body kick but Sasi moved away.
Townsley will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Sasi tries to keep at a distance but Townsley has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sasi is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Townsley is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sasi is defending well.
Sasi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Townsley pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sasi looking to slow down the pace here.
Townsley tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Townsley is pressed up against the cage. Sasi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Townsley down to the mat. Townsley avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Townsley lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Townsley lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Sasi backs up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Townsley takes the fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Townsley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sasi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Junior Sasi!