PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dean Fellows (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Saunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Fellows
vs
Saunders

180 cm
26
155 lbs
7 - 11 - 1

175 cm
25
168 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 11 - 1, fighting out of New York, Dean Fellows!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ben Saunders!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, John Roberts and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fellows tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Saunders counters with a stiff right hand.

Saunders clinches with his opponent.
Saunders lands a nice uppercut.
Saunders misses with some punches.
Saunders blocks the elbow strike.
Saunders misses with some punches.
Fellows with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Saunders lands a shoulder strike.
Saunders on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Saunders lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Our sources have told us that Fellows has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Fellows lands with a short shot to the head.
Fellows trying to land knees to the body.
Fellows throws an elbow but it misses.
Saunders struggles to land a body shot inside as Fellows controls his hands.
Fellows tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Saunders avoids it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fellows gets through Saunders's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Saunders scores with a nice short uppercut.
Fellows is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Saunders is defending well for now.
Fellows blocks an uppercut.
Saunders swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Fellows creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Saunders's defenses.
Saunders is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Fellows blocks a body shot from Saunders.
Fellows doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Saunders blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Saunders lands a nice shot to the body.
Fellows misses with the head strike.
Saunders throws a punch but it's blocked by Fellows.
Fellows tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Saunders avoids it.
Saunders swings wildly with an uppercut but Fellows uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fellows comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Fellows with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Saunders lands a left hand that snaps the head of Fellows backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders scores with a hook to the body.
Fellows blocking some punches.
Fellows lands a left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fellows blocking some punches.
Saunders can't find room to land a body shot as Fellows controls the action.
Fellows throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Fellows is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Fellows breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fellows does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Fellows finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Saunders misses with a hook. Fellows ducked under it nicely.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Saunders checks a leg kick.
Fellows throws a leg kick
letting Saunders counter with a right hand.
Saunders misses with a wild combination.
Fellows tries to land a front kick but Saunders steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fellows tries to close the distance and clinch up but Saunders swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Fellows takes the fight into the clinch.
Saunders is trying to stall.
Saunders blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Saunders blocks a body shot from Fellows.
Fellows misses with a knee strike.
Saunders stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Fellows comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Ben Saunders has been cut.
Fellows pushes off an throws an elbow but Saunders leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.

Fellows pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fellows misses with a low kick.
Saunders connects with a single shot there.

Saunders darts in and clinches Fellows up against the ropes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Fellows with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Fellows stalls.
Fellows looking to stall.
Saunders blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Saunders managing to block the knees to the body from Fellows.
Fellows is trying to maintain a safe position but Saunders gets an underhook and turns Fellows into the ropes.
Saunders scores with a shoulder strike.
Fellows tries to land knees in the clinch but Saunders avoids the damage to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fellows digs a right hand underneath Saunders's ribcage. Saunders let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Fellows tries to throw a body punch but Saunders avoids it by throwing Fellows back against the ropes.
Fellows misses with a punch on the inside.
Saunders goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Saunders swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Fellows trying to land knees to the body.
Saunders lands a right hand that snaps the head of Fellows backwards.
Saunders fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ben Saunders will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ben Saunders's cut.
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.

Saunders gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Fellows lands a hook that snaps the head of Saunders backwards.
Fellows tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Saunders swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Fellows.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Saunders.
Fellows tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Saunders misses with the head strike.
Saunders takes a shot to the head.
Saunders makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Saunders misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Fellows's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fellows trying to land knees to the body.
Saunders has a couple of punches blocked by Fellows.
Fellows tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Fellows scores with a nice hook to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fellows tries to throw a body punch but Saunders avoids it by throwing Fellows back against the ropes.
Fellows lands an elbow just above Saunders 's eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fellows misses with some punches.
Fellows misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Saunders.
Fellows works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Fellows trying to land knees to the body.
Saunders lands a left hand that snaps the head of Fellows backwards.
Dean Fellows has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Fellows has a couple of punches blocked by Saunders.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Saunders throws a head punch that misses.
Fellows tries to break the clinch but Saunders is controlling the position.
Fellows misses with the head strike.
Saunders misses with a body punch.
Fellows lands an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Saunders.
Saunders takes an elbow to the forehead.
Fellows working aggressively here.
Fellows tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Saunders working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Fellows pushes off an throws an elbow but Saunders leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders avoids the elbow strike from Fellows, against the ropes.
Fellows scores with a shoulder strike.
Saunders misses with a punch on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fellows wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Fellows trying to land knees to the body.
Saunders managing to block the knees to the body from Fellows.
Fellows lands a knee to the head.
Fellows looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Saunders keeps control of Fellows as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Saunders scores with a shot to the side of Fellows's head.
Fellows tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Saunders lands with a right to the head.

Fellows breaks from the clinch.
Saunders moves in looking to clinch but Fellows pushes him off.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fellows holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
Saunders tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Saunders.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Saunders throws a head punch that misses.

Saunders pulls guard effortlessly.
Saunders keeping moving, preventing Fellows from controlling successfully.
Fellows is pushing down on Saunders's leg trying to pass to half guard. Saunders is fighting to maintain full guard but Fellows has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders wants to stand back up but Fellows manages to pass into side control.

Fellows wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Saunders, who protects the arm well.
Fellows controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Fellows dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ben Saunders's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Saunders throws a jab when Fellows was well out of range.
Fellows ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saunders moves away.
Saunders misses the jab.
Saunders throws a head kick that misses
and Fellows counters with a head kick.
Fellows takes one to the side of the head.
Fellows swats away the attempt to clinch by Saunders.
Fellows throws a low kick but Saunders avoids it.
Saunders throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fellows.
Ben Saunders seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Saunders rushes Fellows and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Fellows tries to throw a body punch but Saunders avoids it by throwing Fellows back against the ropes.
Fellows lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Fellows lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Fellows tries to land knees in the clinch but Saunders avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Fellows smiles and moves away.
Fellows is looking to clinch.
Dean Fellows is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fellows displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Saunders throws out the jab.
Saunders swings widly with a right hand
and Fellows counters with a three punch combo that has Saunders backing up. Saunders nods at Fellows to acknowledge the strikes.
Fellows tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Saunders was well out of range. Poor timing from Fellows.
Saunders throws a big shot that misses.
Fellows blocks a jab.
Fellows is looking to land body kicks.

Fellows tries to keep at a distance but Saunders has taken the fight into the clinch.

Fellows breaks the clinch.
Saunders lands a lovely overhand right.
Fellows throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Fellows manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Saunders has closed the distance and engaged Fellows in a clinch.
Fellows misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Saunders.
Fellows tries to land knees in the clinch but Saunders avoids the damage to the body.
Fellows missing with knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saunders swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Saunders misses with a hook from the clinch.
Fellows tries a knee to the head but Saunders blocks it.
Saunders gets through Fellows's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Saunders makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Fellows as Saunders tries to tie him up.
Fellows connects with a nasty looking knee right to Saunders's face.
Fellows lands a body shot.
Fellows tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Saunders avoids it.

Saunders breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Saunders wants to clinch.
Saunders might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Saunders cracks Fellows with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Fellows misses with a head kick.

Saunders rushes Fellows and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Saunders fails to land.
Saunders on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Saunders misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders takes a knee to the side of the body.
Saunders prevents a body shot from Fellows.
Saunders struggles to land a body shot inside as Fellows controls his hands.

Saunders breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ben Saunders seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fellows defending well as Saunders loads up on a big left hand.
Fellows finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Saunders misses with a hook
and Fellows counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Fellows looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Saunders lands a nice shot that snaps Fellows's head back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saunders tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Fellows paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fellows lands a nice hook to Saunders's body. Saunders takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Fellows blocks a head kick by Saunders.
Saunders lands an overhand right.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ben Saunders.
I think Saunders 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ben Saunders!