PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Takeo Toast Saunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Romano Redz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takeo Toast Saunders had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Toast Saunders
vs
Redz

168 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

180 cm
22
187 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Namunamu Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Takeo Toast Saunders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Romano Redz!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Redz fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Saunders to the ground. Redz is now in Saunders's guard.
Redz postures up.
Redz trying to control the position from guard on top but Saunders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saunders seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Saunders is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Redz tries to free his leg and advance position but Saunders is retaining full guard.
Saunders has control of Redz's left arm, preventing Redz from doing any damage.
Saunders is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Saunders holds on and takes a little breather.
Redz works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Saunders controlling the position well.
Redz is trying to control the action in half guard but Saunders is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Saunders might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Redz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Redz is nestled in close to Saunders, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Redz thows a huge punch but Saunders dodges it nicely.
Saunders is trying to maintain the position but Redz is very close to passing his half guard.
Redz missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Redz trying to mount his opponent but Saunders defends it.
Redz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Saunders keeps working.
Saunders manages to get to full guard.
Saunders controls Redz momentarily but Redz frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders wants to sweep but no luck.
Saunders not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
My spies in Mano`s Elite BJJ Gym inform me that Redz has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Redz postures up in Saunders's guard and throws a big left but Saunders blocks it.
Redz passes Saunders's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Saunders wants to control but Redz is keeping busy.
Saunders is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Redz is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
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!
Saunders is refusing to be controlled, as Redz sits in half guard.
Saunders is trying to stand up here but Redz is controlling him well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Takeo Toast Saunders.
Saunders steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Redz.
Saunders steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Redz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Redz gets a double leg takedown into Saunders's guard.
Saunders trying to control the position.
Redz trying to control but Saunders is working from the bottom.
Redz tries to free his leg and advance position but Saunders is retaining full guard.
Saunders is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Team Finland that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Saunders wants to stand but Redz is controlling the position.
Redz looking to pass the guard.
Saunders tries to strike from the bottom.
Saunders is adopting a defensive guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Redz wants to control from the top but Saunders keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Redz throws a lazy right hand but Saunders sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders connects with a single shot there.

Saunders scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
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!
Saunders is looking to advance position but Redz won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Redz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Saunders.
Saunders throws a strike but Redz avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Redz looking to control.
Saunders wants to control from the top but Redz keeps moving.

Saunders got a little sloppy there for a moment and Redz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Saunders has managed to get both his arms back between Redz's legs - danger averted.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saunders throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Romano Redz will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Saunders takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A swing and a miss from Redz.

Saunders looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Saunders stalling away here and it's allowed Redz to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Redz keeping full guard, as Saunders tries to pass.
Saunders missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Saunders throwing strikes from guard but Redz blocks nicely.
Saunders stays in close to Redz's body and controls the position.
Saunders postures up and lands a big shot to Redz's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders trying to control the position from guard on top but Redz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saunders content to stall in guard here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Takeo Toast Saunders has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Saunders moves forwards but Redz connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Saunders closes the distance and clinches.
Redz stalling the fight.

Saunders successfully pulls guard.
Redz trying to control but Saunders is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Redz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saunders works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Saunders pulls Redz in close to his closed guard and prevents Redz from doing any damage or advancing position.
Redz trying to control the position from guard on top but Saunders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saunders trying to control the position here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Redz swinging wildly here.
Redz lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Saunders decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Saunders is looking to take a break and control but Redz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Saunders is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Redz sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saunders wants to work for an arm triangle but Redz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Saunders wants to take a breather but Redz is having none of it.
Redz trying to control but Saunders postures up.
Saunders missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Saunders is nestled in close to Redz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Saunders wants to pass to mount but Redz is defending the position.

Saunders looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders wants to free his trapped foot but Redz is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Redz trying to control from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Redz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Saunders.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeo Toast Saunders 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. This is the final round!

A combination from Redz does no damage.

Saunders shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Redz's guard.
Saunders throws a big elbow that misses.
Saunders works over Redz with some ground and pound from guard.
Redz manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Redz working Saunders over with strikes here.
Saunders bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Saunders wants to control from the top but Redz keeps moving.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Saunders drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Redz dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Redz slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Redz throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Redz goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Saunders rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Redz's guard! Nice work there by Saunders!
Saunders works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Saunders scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Saunders throwing shots but Redz is blocking nicely.
Redz is holding on to half guard well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Redz gets back to full guard.
Saunders looking to pass the guard.

Saunders is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Redz has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Saunders is looking to defend but Redz has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Saunders! Redz pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Saunders taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Romano Redz!
A relieved looking Romano Redz thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.