PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kasper Saunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Kasper Saunders has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Saunders
vs
Smith

173 cm
20
145 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

163 cm
25
140 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Lion Fightwear

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kasper Saunders !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, George Smith!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Ben Hemmingworth and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saunders instigates a clinch.
We've been informed that Smith has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Saunders scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Saunders throws a nice looking combination but Smith bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A jab from Saunders misses.
Saunders throws a nice inside leg kick.
Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Saunders .
Saunders moves out of range of the body kick from Smith.
Smith lands with a kick to the temple. Saunders shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Saunders closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smith.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Smith breaks from the clinch.
We've been told by Saunders 's head coaches at Vicious Striking that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Saunders scores with the left hand. Smith knows he should have avoided that one.
Smith on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders throws a series of strikes that have Smith backpedaling.
Saunders misses the jab.
Smith connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Smith ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Saunders staying out of range there.
A big right from Saunders misses.

Saunders clinches up with Smith and pushes him back against the cage.
Smith tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Saunders 's elbow.
Saunders is trying to break free.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Smith misses with an attempted mid kick.
Saunders lands with a good body shot.
A shot to the liver by Smith. Beautiful body shot.
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 misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saunders takes the fight into the clinch.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Saunders takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Smith takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Saunders lands with a right hand.
Smith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Saunders manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Saunders throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
A jab from Smith finds it's way through Saunders 's defenses.
Smith tries to clinch but Saunders moves away
and Saunders cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Saunders misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith throws a right and a left that Saunders avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders misses with the combination.
Saunders ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Smith goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Saunders looks to land a combination but Smith avoids it well.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Saunders .
Smith tries to bum rush Saunders with a series of wild strikes but Saunders uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Saunders swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smith connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jab from Saunders .
Saunders misses with a jab, cross combination.
Saunders fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Saunders throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Smith stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Saunders circles away.
Smith gets cracked there but stands up to it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Good leg kick by Smith there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Saunders throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Saunders throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Saunders is looking to score with low kicks.
Smith shapes to counter with a head kick.
Saunders tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Saunders lands a jab-cross combination.
Saunders misses with a double jab.
Smith is looking for the big counter here.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A low kick from Smith misses
and Saunders counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Smith thinking.
Saunders avoids the head kick by Smith.
Saunders misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kasper Saunders dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Smith wants to land a leg kick but Saunders is out of range.
Saunders is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?
Saunders blocks a head kick by Smith.

Saunders drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.
Smith misses with a hook from the clinch.
Saunders lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Saunders prevents a body shot from Smith.
Smith taking a breather.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunders throws a series of strikes that have Smith backpedaling.
Smith throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Saunders throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
Saunders is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Saunders clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Smith.
Saunders blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Smith looking to stall.
Saunders blocks an elbow strike.
Saunders working hard to break the clinch.
Saunders lands a hook that snaps the head of Smith backwards.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Kasper Saunders is winning the standup battle so far.
Smith swings for the body but Saunders moves out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - Saunders scores with a four punch combination!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Saunders throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Saunders 's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Saunders duly obliges.
Saunders throws a leg kick
letting Smith counter with a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Saunders circles away quickly and effectively.
Saunders tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from Saunders .
Saunders blocks a head kick by Smith.
Smith moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Saunders dips to his left and cracks Smith with an uppercut!
Saunders throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
Saunders scores with a hook.
Smith is looking to chop away at Saunders 's legs.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Saunders lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders throws a right and a left that both miss.
Saunders misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smith throws a head kick but Saunders moves out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Saunders .
Smith lands a front kick.
Smith misses with a looping right.

Saunders gets tackled into the cage by Smith. Smith maintains the clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Saunders misses with some punches.
Saunders lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A shot in the inside from Saunders .
Saunders swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kasper Saunders has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Saunders counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice body kick from Smith.
Saunders swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.

Saunders moves into the clinch.
A short left from Saunders .
Saunders lands a right hand.
Smith swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Saunders manages to break the clinch.
Saunders lands with a hook. Smith tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Saunders throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kasper Saunders dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith throws a head kick that misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Saunders swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Smith throws out a leg kick but Saunders moves out of range and Smith only half commits.
Smith lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Smith takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Saunders misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunders fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Smith checks it well.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Saunders lands a slapping body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders moves out of range as Smith strikes.
Saunders falls off balance throwing a combination
and Smith counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smith moves to clinch but Saunders breaks away
and Saunders counters with a straight right hand.
Smith with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Smith dodges the punch combination from Saunders .
Smith looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Saunders connects with a jab.
Saunders scores with a jab to the jaw.
Saunders stuns Smith with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a head kick.
It looked like Saunders was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Saunders swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saunders 's corner calls for a 1-2. Saunders obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Smith feints and then cracks Saunders 's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Saunders down.
The crowd cheers as Saunders lands an impressive looking overhand right. Smith doesn't seem phased though.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Saunders crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Smith - the referee stops the clock and Saunders gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Smith. Saunders manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Saunders misses with a double jab.
Smith gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Smith is rocked!
Saunders with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Saunders throws a combination. Smith tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Smith is still on wobbly legs! Can Saunders finish him?
Smith closes the distance looking to clinch
and Saunders counters with a left and a right... And another left! Smith is down! He's done! The ref dives in to save him and that's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kasper Saunders !