PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eron Saunders (ranked 1654 p4p, 1253 weight class) and Paul Joseph Watson (ranked 226 p4p, 178 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Watson's choice of entrance music: Anarchy in the UK. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Saunders
vs
Watson

194 cm
26
215
9 - 4 - 0

190 cm
27
213
11 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eron Saunders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paul Joseph Watson!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Ivan Kurochkin and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watson sizes up Saunders with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Watson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Saunders.
Watson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Saunders throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Watson counter with a right hand.
Saunders misses with a shot to the body
and Watson counters with a stiff right hand.
Watson lands with a good body shot.
Good exchange - Saunders coming out on top.
We've been informed that Watson has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Saunders looks to score with a jab to the body but Watson is just out of range.
Saunders throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Watson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Saunders gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Watson misses with some punches.
Our sources have told us that Saunders has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Watson tries to work over Saunders's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Watson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Saunders cracks Watson with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Saunders scores with a jab.
Watson misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Saunders avoids the body shot from Watson.
Saunders connects with a good right hand that stumbles Watson. Watson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Eron Saunders is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jab by Watson.
Watson staying out of range there.
Watson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Saunders.
Saunders looks to land a combination but Watson avoids it well.
Saunders connects with a right hand. Watson shakes it off.

Saunders moves into the clinch.
Watson tries to stall but Saunders uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Watson.
Watson throws a head punch that misses.
Watson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Saunders's elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Watson scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Watson has had enough of the clinch but Saunders keeps him there for the moment.
Saunders misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Saunders tries to throw a body punch but Watson avoids it by throwing Saunders back against the cage.
Watson dodges an elbow strike from Saunders.
A right hand to the body from Saunders.
Saunders lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Saunders goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Watson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Saunders to keep the fight standing.

Watson breaks from the clinch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Saunders darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Saunders throws a body shot but no joy.
Saunders misses with a straight left.
Watson takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Saunders wants to clinch but Watson slips to the side
enabling Watson to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Saunders.
A punch combination from Saunders misses.
Watson avoids the body shot from Saunders.
Saunders lands a slapping body shot.
Saunders misses with a body shot
and Watson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Saunders misses the shot to the body.
Watson now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Watson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Watson throws a body shot but no joy.
Saunders throws a shot from downtown. Watson moves away and avoids it.
Watson drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Saunders defends it well.
Watson ducks under a wild hook from Saunders.
Saunders throws a predictable looking body shot
and Watson counters with a nice uppercut.
Saunders swings for the body but Watson moves out of range.
Saunders misses with a lunging right hand
and Watson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Watson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Saunders tries to clinch but Watson moves away
and Watson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A jab lands there for Saunders.
Some wild striking there from Saunders.
It seemed like Watson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Saunders misses with a few strikes there.
Watson throws a wild body kick that Saunders sees coming a mile off.
Saunders seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Saunders gets caught flat footed, as Watson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Watson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Watson forces his way into half guard.
Watson throwing shots but Saunders is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eron Saunders dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Saunders ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Saunders swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Watson counter with a right hand.
Saunders just misses with a punch to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Watson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Saunders throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Watson is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Saunders takes a swing at Watson's ribcage but misses.
Watson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Saunders.
Watson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Watson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Saunders.
Watson throws out a counter right but Saunders avoids it with no problem.
Saunders connects with a nice looking jab.
Saunders misses the body punch
letting Watson counter with a right hand.
A jab lands there for Saunders.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saunders fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Saunders wants to clinch up but Watson keeps it at a distance.
Saunders lands a slapping body shot.
Watson throws a leg kick which misses Saunders's front leg but catches the back leg as Saunders tries to avoid it.
Saunders lands a body shot.
Watson slips a jab and a cross from Saunders.
Saunders throws a hook to the side of Watson's head but Watson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Saunders tries to clinch up.
Watson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Saunders throws a lazy uppercut

and Watson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Saunders knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Watson is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders gets back to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Watson trying to control but Saunders is working from the bottom.
Saunders tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Watson won't allow Saunders to get back to his feet.
Saunders can't keep his opponent in guard - Watson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Watson is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Saunders!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson controlling the position easily from mount.
Saunders on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Saunders tries to get out of the position.

Watson is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Saunders has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Saunders!
Saunders won't allow Watson to sweep him here.
Saunders sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Saunders trying to control but Watson is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Watson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Saunders knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Watson on the ground.
Saunders is staying active underneath Watson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Saunders tries to get to full guard but Watson has control of the leg.
Watson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Watson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
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 Eron Saunders will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Saunders throws a lazy right hand but Watson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Saunders closes the distance but Watson moves to the side
and Watson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Saunders misses with a hook to the body
and Watson counters with a stiff right hand.
Watson avoids the body shot from Saunders.
Saunders lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Watson slips under a jab.
Saunders swings widly with a right hand
and Watson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Saunders throws a predictable looking body shot
and Watson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Saunders is rocked!
Saunders wants to clinch
and Watson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Oh Saunders is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Saunders will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Saunders seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders looks to land a right hand but Watson moved out of range.
Saunders misses with a hook. Watson ducked under it nicely.
Saunders moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Saunders darts in and clinches Watson up against the cage.
Saunders misses with the head strike.
Saunders is pressed up against the cage. Watson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Saunders down to the mat. Saunders avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nice straight punches there by Watson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Watson.
Watson stuns Saunders with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Watson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A telegraphed right hand from Saunders misses the target.
Saunders rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Watson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Saunders stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Watson throws a body shot but no joy.
Saunders is looking to counter the offense by Watson and move into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson thuds a left hand into Saunders's body.
Saunders throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Eron Saunders seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Saunders throws a series of punches but Watson avoids them all with ease.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Watson! But no joy.
Watson slips under a jab.
Watson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Watson lands a head shot.
Saunders misses with a body shot.
Watson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saunders.
Watson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Watson appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Saunders misses with a wild body shot.

Saunders gets caught napping as Watson dives in and scores a takedown. Saunders manages to retain guard.
Saunders tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Watson trying to control the position from guard on top but Saunders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Eron Saunders is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Watson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Saunders avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Watson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Saunders swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Saunders is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Watson tries to free his leg and advance position but Saunders is retaining full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Saunders fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Watson on the side of the head.
Saunders tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Watson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Watson misses with a looping right.
Watson 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 Watson off to one side.
It looked like Saunders was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Watson.
Saunders ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Watson moves away.
Watson looks for the body kick but Saunders saw that one coming.
Paul Joseph Watson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Saunders uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Watson has time to react.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Eron Saunders.
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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eron Saunders!
Eron Saunders bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.