PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Octavio Saades (ranked 6000 p4p, 0 weight class) and ZB Penduko (ranked 6144 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Saades
vs
Penduko

185 cm
18
211 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Octavio Saades!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, ZB Penduko!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Penduko moves into the clinch.

Penduko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Penduko dives in for a single leg takedown but Saades sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Penduko clinches up with Saades and pushes him back against the cage.
Saades misses with a short punch on the inside.

Penduko tightens his grip and picks Saades up, before dumping him to the ground. Saades manages to land in guard.
Saades looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Penduko puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Saades is trying to control but can't.
Penduko looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Penduko stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Saades to get to his feet.
Penduko should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Penduko displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penduko chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Saades darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Saades throws a body punch but Penduko moves out of range.
Saades bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Saades lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Saades lands a right hook to the body.
Penduko drops his hands momentarily and Saades takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A head kick from Penduko lands but Saades takes it in his stride.

Penduko closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Saades did well to prevent Penduko getting side control.
Penduko looks winded!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saades wants to control but Penduko is keeping busy.
Penduko works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Penduko looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Penduko throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Saades is looking to get to half guard.
Penduko avoids the attempt from Saades to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penduko is landing with some decent strikes but Saades is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Saades is working to get back to half guard.
Penduko takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Penduko misses with a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saades is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Saades is working to get back to half guard.
Saades tries to lock up and control but Penduko gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Penduko jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Saades manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Penduko thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

ZB Penduko dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Danga de danga de dang - Saades scores with a four punch combination!
Penduko is trying hard to land a takedown here. Saades sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Penduko pushes Saades away with a front kick.
Penduko will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Saades misses with a body shot.
Penduko shoots in for a takedown but Saades shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Octavio Saades has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of ZB Penduko.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saades throws the kick towards the body but Penduko avoids it.
Nice uppercut there from Saades.
Saades fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Penduko looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Penduko is breathing heavily.

Penduko clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Penduko manages to break the clinch.
Saades just misses with a punch to the body.
Penduko throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Penduko closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Penduko stalling.
Penduko leaning against his opponent.
Saades can't break the clinch.
Saades swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Saades wants to break the clinch but can't.
Saades swings wildly with an uppercut but Penduko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Penduko as Saades tries to tie him up.
Saades has had enough of the clinch but Penduko keeps him there for the moment.
Saades doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Saades.
Penduko has Saades pressed against the cage, preventing Saades from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Saades misses with a short punch on the inside.
Saades gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Penduko.
Saades is trying to maintain a safe position but Penduko gets an underhook and turns Saades into the cage.

Penduko breaks the clinch.
Saades misses with a leg kick

and Penduko counters with a shoot takedown. Saades fights it but they end up in guard.
Saades wants to sweep here but Penduko controlling him for the moment.
Penduko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Penduko passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penduko performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Saades is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saades wants to control but Penduko is keeping busy.
Penduko trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Saades wants to improve his position but Penduko is controlling well.
Saades is trying to control but can't.
Saades is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Octavio Saades is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A leg kick checked by Penduko.
Penduko has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Penduko shoots in looking for a takedown but Saades manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Penduko's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Saades attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Penduko steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Saades.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Octavio Saades will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Penduko shoots in and gets a takedown into Saades's guard.
Saades can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Penduko controls the pace.
ZB Penduko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Saades looking to control.

Penduko gets to his feet - Saades follows without any prompting.
Penduko dives in for a single leg takedown but Saades sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Saades misses with a looping left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saades lands with a cross.
Penduko closes this distance looking for a takedown but Saades circles away.
Penduko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Saades throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Penduko is looking for the big counter here.
ZB Penduko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good exchange - Saades coming out on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penduko avoids a punch combination nicely.
Penduko fails with a takedown attempt.
Octavio Saades has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of ZB Penduko.
A low kick from Saades is predictable there
and Penduko counters with a nice leg kick.
Saades misses with a leg kick.
Penduko's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Saades connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Penduko scrambles back to his feet.
Nice shot lands for Saades.
Saades scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Penduko drops his hands momentarily and Saades takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saades throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Penduko on the side of the head.
Saades misses with a low kick.
Penduko tries to counter with a clinch but Saades shakes him off and moves away.
Saades is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Penduko takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Saades misses the shot to the body.
Saades paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A slapping leg kick lands for Penduko.
Penduko dodges the punch combination from Saades.
Penduko blocks a low kick nicely.
Penduko slips a jab from Saades.
Saades lands with an overhand left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Penduko has managed to clinch.
Penduko lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Saades throws a head punch that misses.

Penduko breaks the clinch.
Penduko takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Penduko is rocked!
Saades throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Penduko is still on wobbly legs! Can Saades finish him?
Saades lands with a big left! Penduko is wobbled badly! Saades comes in with a flurry of punches and drops Penduko to the floor. The ref jumps in to save him from unneccessary punishment.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Octavio Saades!