PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kasper Saunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Yocum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Saunders
vs
Yocum

173 cm
18
145 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

161 cm
22
140 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kasper Saunders !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Yocum!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Glass and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saunders misses with a two punch combination.
A little jabbing left from Yocum on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A low kick from Saunders is predictable there
and Yocum counters with a nice uppercut.
Saunders throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Yocum looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Saunders tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yocum was well out of range. Poor timing from Saunders .
It seemed like Yocum was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A big left from Yocum misses.
Saunders misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Saunders misses with a combination

and Yocum counters by clinching up.
Yocum using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Saunders has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Yocum stalling.
Yocum has Saunders pressed against the cage, preventing Saunders from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yocum gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Saunders misses with a punch to the body.
Saunders is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Yocum tries to land a knee to the head but Saunders blocks with his arms.
Saunders takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yocum gets through Saunders 's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Yocum lands a damaging elbow.
Saunders tries a body shot but Yocum blocks it.
Yocum missing with knees to the body.
Saunders tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Yocum keeps control of Saunders as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Yocum told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Yocum lands with a left to the head.
Yocum lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Yocum misses with a hook from the clinch.
Saunders has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Yocum gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Yocum throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Yocum fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Yocum.
Saunders dodges an elbow strike from Yocum.
Yocum lands an elbow just above Saunders 's eye.
Yocum keeps control of Saunders as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Yocum lands a knee to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yocum lands a damaging elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Yocum blocks a body shot from Saunders .
Saunders takes an elbow to the forehead.
Saunders is trying to break the clinch but Yocum is controlling him.
Yocum works on Saunders 's body with a couple of short punches.
Yocum tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Yocum lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Yocum lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Saunders avoids the elbow strike from Yocum, against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Yocum.
Yocum taking a breather.
Saunders looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Yocum will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Saunders up against the cage.
Saunders blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Yocum lands an elbow that stopped Saunders in his tracks for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yocum lands a knee to the body.
A right hand to the body from Saunders .
Saunders has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Saunders has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Saunders wants to break the clinch but can't.
Saunders has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Yocum lands a damaging elbow.
Yocum lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Saunders backwards.
Saunders is trying to break free.

Yocum pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Saunders fails to land with a series of punches.
Saunders misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yocum.
Saunders pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A little jabbing left from Yocum on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Yocum moves into the clinch.
A short right from Yocum on the inside.
Yocum throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Saunders blocks it with crossed arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yocum comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Yocum tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Yocum dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Saunders doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Yocum lands with a short head shot on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yocum fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Yocum lands a knee to the head.
Saunders blocks an elbow strike from Yocum.
Saunders swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Yocum creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Yocum throws an elbow that misses.
Saunders misses with a short punch on the inside.
Saunders misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Yocum lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Saunders wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Yocum has him pressed against the cage.
Saunders swings wildly with an uppercut but Yocum uses good head movement to avoid it.
Saunders wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Good shot there by Saunders .
Yocum has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Saunders checks a leg kick nicely.
Yocum connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Yocum gets cracked there but stands up to it.

It looks like Johnny Yocum has been cut.
Saunders fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Yocum looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Saunders looks to score with a jab to the body but Yocum is just out of range.
Saunders tries to score with a low kick but Yocum moves his leg out of the way.
Yocum misses with a lunging right hand
and Saunders counters with a stiff right hand.
Yocum takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Yocum has closed the distance and engaged Saunders in a clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Yocum.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yocum creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Saunders 's defenses.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Yocum landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Yocum comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Saunders is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Yocum is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yocum is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Johnny Yocum seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Yocum lands an elbow just above Saunders 's eye.
Yocum lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Yocum lands an elbow that stopped Saunders in his tracks for a moment.
Yocum lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Yocum breaks from the clinch.
Yocum misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Saunders is looking for a counter combo.
Yocum checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Yocum gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
With the fighters up against the cage, Yocum throws an elbow but misses.
Saunders prevents a body shot from Yocum.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Yocum takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Saunders wants to break free but Yocum has control.
Nice elbow from Yocum.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders is trying to break the clinch but Yocum is controlling him.
Yocum gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yocum lands an uppercut.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Yocum.
Saunders is trying to break the clinch but Yocum is controlling him.
Yocum lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Saunders misses with a punch on the inside.
Saunders wants to stall.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yocum.
Yocum with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Yocum creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Saunders 's defenses.
Yocum connects with a nasty looking knee right to Saunders 's face.
Saunders has a couple of punches blocked by Yocum.
Saunders has had enough of the clinch but Yocum keeps him there for the moment.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Yocum takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Yocum breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Yocum moves into the clinch.
Saunders is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Yocum is keeping busy.
Yocum keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Saunders 's efforts to push away.
Saunders wants to stall.
Saunders takes an elbow to the temple.
Yocum stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Saunders is trying to break the clinch but Yocum is controlling him.
Yocum lands a nice uppercut.
Yocum softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Saunders tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Yocum lands a nice elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yocum taking a breather.
Saunders tries to work over Yocum's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Saunders takes an elbow to the temple.
Saunders misses with a hook to the ribs.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Yocum.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saunders tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Saunders is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Yocum is keeping busy.
Saunders has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Saunders takes an elbow to the forehead.
Saunders wants to break free but Yocum has control.
Yocum blocking some punches.
Yocum keeps control of Saunders as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Saunders tries a body shot but Yocum blocks it.

Yocum breaks from the clinch.
Good standup being displayed there by Saunders as he connects with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Yocum showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Johnny Yocum's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Saunders swinging wildly here.
A shot to the body from Saunders misses
and Yocum counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Yocum keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Yocum let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Saunders misses with a series of wild punches.
A combination from Saunders does no damage.
Kasper Saunders is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yocum throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Saunders sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Saunders uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yocum.
Saunders is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yocum misses with a few strikes there.
A punch combination from Saunders misses.
Kasper Saunders seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saunders throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Yocum to counter with a crisp jab.
Saunders throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yocum scores with the left hand. Saunders knows he should have avoided that one.

Yocum closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Yocum scores with a shoulder strike.
Saunders working hard to break the clinch.
Saunders misses with a punch to the body.
Saunders goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Yocum lands an elbow that stopped Saunders in his tracks for a moment.
Yocum lands with a short shot to the head.
Yocum throws a head punch that misses.
Saunders trying to control the position but instead, Yocum has worked for underhooks and has pushed Saunders into the cage.
Nice elbow from Yocum.
Yocum lands an uppercut.
Saunders takes an elbow to the forehead.
Yocum blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Yocum landing knees to the head.
Kasper Saunders has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Saunders is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yocum is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Oh Saunders is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Saunders takes a shot to the head.
Yocum scores with a shoulder strike.
Saunders misses with a punch on the inside.
Saunders takes an elbow to the forehead.
Yocum working Saunders over with knees to the body.
Saunders tries to break the clinch but Yocum is controlling the position.
Saunders is trying to push Yocum away but Yocum has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Yocum scores with a nice hook to the head.
Saunders can't find room to land a body shot as Yocum controls the action.
Yocum lands a left hand.
Yocum dips a shoulder and cracks Saunders with a mighty uppercut! Saunders falls back against the cage and Yocum unloads with a barrage of strikes! Saunders is completely out with his eyes open, only supported by the cage! Save him ref! Eventually the ref decides to do his job and jumps in - Yocum screams abuse at the incompetent official before going over to celebrate with his corner. Brutal stuff!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Johnny Yocum!
A victorious Johnny Yocum thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.