PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mary Saunders (ranked 24795 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johhny Mike (ranked 4541 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Saunders
vs
Mike

195 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

150 cm
18
133 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Mary Saunders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Johhny Mike!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Chris Edwards and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mike changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Saunders looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Saunders is not content to let Mike control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mike decides to stand back up.

Mike has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mike is looking to break free of the clinch but Saunders has double underhooks.

Saunders breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Mike clinches with his opponent.
The referee calls for Saunders to work.

Mike has Saunders pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Mike pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Saunders tumbling to the mat - Mike dives into Saunders's guard.
Saunders looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mike wants to control from the top but Saunders keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Saunders holds on and takes a little breather.
Saunders really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mike trying to control the position from guard on top but Saunders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mike wants to stand and escape but instead Saunders has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Saunders throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mike working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Saunders.
Saunders preventing the sweep.

Mike 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mike controls Saunders momentarily but Saunders frees himself.
Saunders scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Saunders scoring with punches to the head and body.
Saunders working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mike's head.
Saunders with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Saunders scoring with punches to the head and body.
Saunders is in close to Mike's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Saunders throws a strike but Mike rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Saunders keeping moving, preventing Mike from controlling successfully.
Saunders has Mike pulled in close to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Mike is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mike trying to control the position from guard on top but Saunders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mike postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mary Saunders will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mike darts in and clinches Saunders up against the cage.
Mike blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Saunders manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunders using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Saunders's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Saunders fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mike, pushing him back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saunders misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Saunders taking a breather.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Saunders for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Saunders content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Saunders has Mike pushed against the cage.
Mike takes a shot to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Mary Saunders.
Mike throws a half hearted mid kick.

Mike clinches up with Saunders and pushes him back against the cage.
Saunders has Mike pushed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mike tightens his grip and picks Saunders up, before dumping him to the ground. Saunders manages to land in guard.

Saunders kicks Mike off and gets to his feet.
A combination from Mike does no damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Mike shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Saunders kicks Mike off and gets back to his feet.

Mike decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Mike prevents Saunders from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mike has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Saunders works to full guard.
Mike throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saunders works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Mike decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Saunders, up you get!
A lazy body kick from Mike

and Saunders decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mike's guard.
Saunders landing with the ground and pound.
Mike preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Saunders is looking to work some ground and pound but Mike has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Mike looking for a guillotine here but Saunders defends easily.
Saunders throws a big elbow that misses.
Saunders lands a couple of elbows.
Saunders is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mike can do to turn this around?
Saunders throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Saunders lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Saunders is working Mike over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Saunders will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mike preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mike is pulling down on Saunders's head to control his posture.
Saunders keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mike's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mary Saunders dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Mike shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Saunders's guard.
Saunders keeping moving, preventing Mike from controlling successfully.
Mike has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Saunders is proving hard to escape from.
Saunders keeping full guard, as Mike tries to pass.
Saunders pulls Mike in close to prevent any damage.
Saunders has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mike trying to control the position from guard on top but Saunders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Saunders holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Saunders fails with a takedown attempt.

Mike moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mike 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.
Saunders dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Mike jumps guard and drags Saunders to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Saunders postures up in Mike's guard and throws a big left but Mike blocks it.
Saunders postures up.
Saunders chips away with some ground and pound.
Saunders is in close to Mike's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Saunders's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Saunders working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mike's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Saunders postures up in Mike's guard and throws a big left but Mike blocks it.
Mike trying to control the position.
Saunders working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mike's head.
Mike is trying to control the position but Saunders postures up.
Saunders working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mike's head.
Saunders cracks Mike with a solid left hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mike is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Saunders is controlling him.
Saunders with a flurry of punches that miss.
Saunders landing some decent shots from guard.

Mike is looking for a triangle here but Saunders uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders is putting a hurting on Mike here, landing some big shots from side control.
Saunders is working Mike over with some ground and pound from side control.
Saunders scoring with punches and elbows.
Mike regains half guard, as Saunders was trying to land strikes.
It looks like Saunders is going to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saunders is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Johhny Mike has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mary Saunders is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Mike actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mary Saunders showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Saunders, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28

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