PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shane Saunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aeneas Spyridon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Saunders
vs
Spyridon

161 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

170 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shane Saunders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aeneas Spyridon!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Cecil Peabody and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spyridon fails with the takedown.
Spyridon tries to clinch but Saunders moves out of range.
Spyridon avoids the head kick by Saunders.
Spyridon wants to clinch

and Saunders counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Spyridon escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Saunders gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Spyridon looking for a guillotine here but Saunders defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunders trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Spyridon's head.
Saunders throwing strikes from guard but Spyridon blocks nicely.

Spyridon has his foot on Saunders's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Saunders works his way back into a safe position though.

Spyridon is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Saunders is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Spyridon throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Saunders knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Spyridon on the ground.
Spyridon is trying to keep Saunders in close.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Spyridon darts in looking for a takedown but Saunders gets double underhooks and turns Spyridon into the cage.
Saunders throws the kick towards the body but Spyridon avoids it.
Shane Saunders seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spyridon fails with an attempt to clinch.
Spyridon tries to close the distance and clinch but Saunders swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Saunders shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Saunders misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Saunders fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Spyridon is out of range.

Saunders instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spyridon is looking to control Saunders's arms but Saunders gets an underhook and turns him. Now Spyridon has his back to the cage.
Saunders is working Spyridon over against the cage.
Spyridon wants to stall.
Spyridon looking to slow down the pace here.
Saunders stalls.
Saunders scores with a nice hook to the head.
Saunders is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Saunders stalling.
Saunders lands a body shot in the clinch.
Saunders's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Saunders lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Saunders breaks from the clinch.
Saunders swinging wildly here.
Spyridon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Spyridon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saunders paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Saunders tries to counter by clinching up but Spyridon breaks away and moves out of range.
Saunders misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Spyridon darts in trying to clinch

and Saunders counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Saunders dominated that round.
That's time! Saunders's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Spyridon shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Saunders defends it nicely.
Saunders misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shane Saunders is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Spyridon tries to clinch up.

Saunders gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Saunders dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Saunders stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunders has Spyridon pushed against the cage.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Saunders for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.

Saunders has hold of one of Spyridon's legs. Spyridon is fighting the takedown attempt but Saunders gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Saunders is in close to Spyridon's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders trying to control the position from guard on top but Spyridon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Spyridon working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Saunders doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Saunders manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Spyridon is trying to keep Saunders in close.
Saunders is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Spyridon can do to turn this around?

Spyridon has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Saunders can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Spyridon working for a triangle but Saunders defends it easily.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Spyridon will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Saunders lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spyridon doesn't manage to clinch there - Saunders circles away.
Saunders tries to counter with a takedown but Spyridon is quick to defend against it.
Spyridon tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Saunders counters with a takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
You can see the frustration on Spyridon's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Saunders wants to control but Spyridon is keeping him busy.
Spyridon is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Saunders's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders throws a strike but Spyridon avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Saunders throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Spyridon working for a triangle but Saunders defends it easily.

Spyridon working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Saunders doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Saunders manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane 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!

Saunders keeps the fight on the outside.
Spyridon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Spyridon thows a left - swing and a miss!
Spyridon fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Saunders avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spyridon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Saunders tries a head kick but it misses.
Saunders lands a head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Saunders.
Spyridon is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Spyridon avoids the head kick by Saunders.
Spyridon tries to close the distance and clinch but Saunders swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Spyridon tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
As Spyridon tries to get set, Saunders tries to push him back and clinch up but Spyridon manages to avoid the attempt.
Spyridon wants to clinch.
Saunders appears to be looking for a big counter.
Spyridon wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Saunders displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Spyridon.
Spyridon tries to clinch there but Saunders circles away.
Spyridon tries for a takedown but Saunders sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Saunders looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Shane Saunders has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aeneas Spyridon.
Spyridon tries to clinch but Saunders is having none of it.
Spyridon has a takedown stuffed.
Saunders lands with a nice combination. Spyridon backs away looking to recover.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spyridon checks the leg kick.
Shane Saunders is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saunders tries a head kick but it misses.
Spyridon lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
A head kick from Saunders lands but Spyridon takes it in his stride.
Spyridon tries to clinch up.
Saunders leaves Spyridon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Saunders moves into the clinch.
Saunders misses with a punch to the body.
Spyridon is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Spyridon avoiding damage as Saunders throws knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders leaning his opponent against the cage.
Saunders displaying some good clinch control by pressing Spyridon up against the cage.
Saunders taking a breather.
Saunders is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Spyridon is defending well for now.
Aeneas Spyridon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Saunders stalling against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Spyridon is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Saunders is keeping busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Spyridon misses with a hook from the clinch.
Shane Saunders is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Saunders has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Spyridon clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

And that's the end of the fight!
Shane Saunders showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Saunders has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:25
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:25
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shane Saunders!