PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kasper Saunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kantemir Khashukaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kasper Saunders has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Saunders
vs
Khashukaev

173 cm
22
145 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

166 cm
20
145 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Aspire Clothing
Aspire Nutrition

Urban Fighter

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 13 - 3 - 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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kantemir Khashukaev!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, John Mangel and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khashukaev shoots for a takedown but Saunders saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Saunders gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Khashukaev to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Khashukaev wants to pass the guard but Saunders is keeping the position.
Saunders is trying to control the position but Khashukaev postures up.
Khashukaev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Khashukaev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saunders works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Saunders is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khashukaev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Khashukaev trying to control the position from guard on top but Saunders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Saunders is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Khashukaev defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Khashukaev's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Saunders controls Khashukaev momentarily but Khashukaev frees himself.
Saunders preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Khashukaev lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Saunders keeping moving, preventing Khashukaev from controlling successfully.
Khashukaev has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Khashukaev throwing strikes from guard but Saunders blocks nicely.

Khashukaev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Saunders has momentary wrist control but Khashukaev slips an elbow through the middle.
Saunders trying to keep a closed guard but Khashukaev is proving a slippery customer.
Khashukaev working some strikes from top position.
Saunders avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Saunders working for a triangle but Khashukaev defends it easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Khashukaev uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Saunders .
Saunders throws a right hand that Khashukaev ducks under and follows up with a left that Khashukaev also avoids with ease.
Saunders misses with a two punch combination.
No joy there for Saunders , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Saunders throws a right and a left that both miss.
Khashukaev misses with a takedown attempt - Saunders sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Khashukaev closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Khashukaev lands in his opponent's guard.
Saunders not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Khashukaev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Saunders has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Khashukaev has managed to get both his arms back between Saunders 's legs - danger averted.

Saunders looking for a guillotine here but Khashukaev defends easily.
Khashukaev lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Khashukaev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Saunders 's head.
Khashukaev trying to control the position from guard on top but Saunders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khashukaev chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Khashukaev distracts Saunders with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Khashukaev is in close to Saunders 's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Khashukaev stays in close to Saunders 's body and controls the position.
Khashukaev connects with a couple of short punches.

Saunders is looking for a triangle here but Khashukaev uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Saunders is looking to reverse the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khashukaev lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Saunders down.

Saunders is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kantemir Khashukaev dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Khashukaev shoots in looking for a takedown but Saunders manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Khashukaev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Saunders misses with a series of wild punches.
Kasper Saunders is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saunders ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Khashukaev moves away.

Khashukaev looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Khashukaev trying to control the action but Saunders is working from the bottom.

Saunders looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kantemir Khashukaev has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunders wants to get back to full guard.
Khashukaev takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Oh Saunders is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Khashukaev is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Saunders seems to have got his legs back now.
Khashukaev takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders is looking for a sweep. Khashukaev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Khashukaev slips a nice elbow through Saunders 's hands, connecting with Saunders 's forehead.
Khashukaev is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Saunders is trying to get back to full guard.
Saunders is trying to stand back up but Khashukaev is controlling him
Khashukaev keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
My spies in Pride inform me that Khashukaev has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Khashukaev landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Khashukaev is trying to control. Saunders wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

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 on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Saunders wants to control but Khashukaev is keeping busy.
Khashukaev is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Saunders is trying to stand up here but Khashukaev is controlling him well.
Khashukaev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Saunders is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Khashukaev pulls his head out easily.

Khashukaev is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Saunders sees it coming and defends easily.
Still in half guard, Khashukaev seems content to control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Saunders is looking for a sweep. Khashukaev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Khashukaev takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders wants to control but Khashukaev is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Saunders tries to get to full guard but Khashukaev has control of the leg.
Khashukaev slips a nice elbow through Saunders 's hands, connecting with Saunders 's forehead.

Khashukaev seems to be working for a kimura but Saunders defends the submission attempt.
Still in half guard, Khashukaev seems content to control.

Khashukaev seems to be working for a kimura but Saunders defends the submission attempt.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Khashukaev lands a nice short elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Khashukaev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Saunders defending well though.
Khashukaev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Saunders keeps working.

Khashukaev is looking for a kimura but Saunders is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Khashukaev to get the leverage.
Saunders is trying to control but can't.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Saunders catches Khashukaev with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A lazy left from Saunders finds it's target.
Saunders moves in looking to clinch but Khashukaev pushes him off.
Nice cross by Saunders .
Saunders scores with a leg kick.

Khashukaev looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saunders wants to improve his position but Khashukaev is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kantemir Khashukaev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Khashukaev takes a swing at Saunders 's ribcage but misses.

Khashukaev shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Khashukaev scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Saunders is trying to get back to full guard.
Khashukaev 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.
Khashukaev passes the guard and advances to mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunders is bucking up trying to escape but Khashukaev cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Khashukaev looking to secure an arm triangle but Saunders defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders wants to control but Khashukaev is having none of it.
Khashukaev takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Saunders wants to hold on but Khashukaev pushes him away.
Saunders is squirming around, avoiding Khashukaev's attempts to control the action.
Saunders is bucking up trying to escape but Khashukaev cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Khashukaev in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Saunders tries to lock up and control but Khashukaev gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Khashukaev connects with a bit shot that sees Saunders covering up! More strikes from Khashukaev and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Khashukaev is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kantemir Khashukaev!
Kantemir Khashukaev decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.