PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kasper Saunders (ranked 5114 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anton Poirier (ranked 3354 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Saunders
vs
Poirier

173 cm
25
145 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

173 cm
28
146 lbs
5 - 7 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 14 - 5 - 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 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anton Poirier!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Tiny Johnson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poirier moves away from the strike by Saunders .
Poirier steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Saunders .
Poirier is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
That kick from Poirier tenderised Saunders 's leg. Saunders is trying to keep his angry face on.
Saunders 's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Poirier connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Saunders scrambles back to his feet.
A slapping leg kick lands for Saunders .
Saunders scores with a shot to the body.
Saunders throws a half hearted mid kick.
Saunders paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Saunders tries to close the distance and clinch up but Poirier swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A punch combination from Saunders misses.
Poirier tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Saunders is looking to clinch.
Poirier changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Saunders fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Poirier manages to avoid it.
Poirier is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A swing and a miss from Saunders .
Poirier moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poirier misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Saunders misses with a two punch combination.
Kasper Saunders seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Poirier dodges the punch combination from Saunders .
Saunders throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Saunders lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Poirier circles away quickly and effectively.
Poirier tries to counter by closing the distance.
Saunders misses with an attempted mid kick.
Poirier smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Saunders misses with a straight right.

Saunders gets a clinch.
Saunders working aggressively here.
Saunders throws a punch but it's blocked by Poirier.
Poirier has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Saunders avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Poirier goes for a takedown attempt but Saunders pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Poirier closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poirier fails to pull guard.
Kasper Saunders has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anton Poirier.
Saunders misses with a hook to the ribs.
Poirier tries to work over Saunders 's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Poirier blocking some punches.
Poirier is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Saunders is defending well.
Poirier blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Poirier tries to pull guard but Saunders won't allow it.
Saunders swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Saunders struggles to land a body shot inside as Poirier controls his hands.
A short uppercut from Poirier.

Poirier breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Poirier checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Poirier circles away from the clinch attempt.
Saunders pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Poirier throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Saunders 's waist but Saunders gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Poirier off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Saunders throws a hook but Poirier blocks it.
Saunders throws a combination that misses

and Poirier counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Poirier blocking some punches.
Poirier has Saunders pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Saunders manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Poirier.
Poirier blocks a body shot from Saunders .
Saunders swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Saunders swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short left from Poirier.
Poirier goes for a takedown attempt but Saunders pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A big left from Poirier misses.
Saunders looks to score with a jab to the body but Poirier is just out of range.
Saunders misses with the combination.
Poirier lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Poirier.

Poirier clinches with his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saunders tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Poirier tries to stall but Saunders uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Saunders struggles to land a body shot inside as Poirier controls his hands.
Saunders misses with a short punch on the inside.
Poirier lands with a left to the head.
Saunders lands a shoulder strike.
Saunders misses with a hook to the ribs.
Saunders tries to work over Poirier's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Saunders goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Poirier works on Saunders 's body with a couple of short punches.
Poirier lands a hook to the side of the head.
Poirier can't find room to land a body shot as Saunders controls the action.
Saunders fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Saunders misses with a hook to the ribs.
Saunders tries a body shot but Poirier blocks it.
Poirier blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kasper Saunders dominated that 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.

Saunders wants to clinch
enabling Poirier to counter with a crisp jab.
Saunders doesn't manage to clinch there - Poirier circles away.
Saunders moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromPoirier.
Saunders fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Poirier has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Saunders misses with a low kick as Poirier jumps back.
Poirier connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Saunders 's hands.

Saunders is rocked!
Poirier misses with a series of wild punches.
Oh Saunders is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kasper Saunders is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A leg kick checked by Poirier.
Saunders seems to have got his legs back now.
Saunders swings widly with a right hand
and Poirier counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Poirier cracks Saunders with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Saunders tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Poirier pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Saunders is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Anton Poirier!
Anton Poirier decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.