PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raykuza Maui (ranked 744 p4p, 1378 weight class) and Eron Saunders (ranked 21 p4p, 13 weight class). Raykuza Maui has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Maui
vs
Saunders

195 cm
26
300
10 - 5 - 0

194 cm
29
240
12 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Conviction

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Raykuza Maui!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eron Saunders!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Franklyn Lucas and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saunders has taken the fight to the clinch.
Saunders goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nice elbow from Saunders.

It looks like Raykuza Maui has been cut.
Maui takes an elbow to the temple.
Maui doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Maui misses with a short punch on the inside.
Saunders gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Maui lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Maui misses with some punches.
Saunders works on Maui's body with a couple of short punches.
Maui goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Maui goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Maui blocks an uppercut.
Saunders misses with a punch to the body.
Maui avoids a wild elbow strike from Saunders.

Maui breaks from the clinch.
We've been informed that Saunders 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.
Eron Saunders seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maui just misses with a punch to the body.
Saunders uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Maui.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maui breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saunders looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saunders slips a jab from Maui.
Saunders throws the left hand but Maui avoids the punch easily.
Maui misses with a straight left.
Maui misses with a body shot.
We've been told by Maui's head coaches at UnderGround BJJ & MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Saunders works Maui's body with a nice hook.
Saunders takes a swing at Maui's ribcage but misses.
It looked like Maui wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Saunders wants to clinch.
Maui swats away the attempt to clinch by Saunders.
It looked like Maui wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Saunders wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maui misses with the combination.
Saunders tries to clinch but Maui is having none of it.
A jab lands there for Saunders.

Raykuza Maui's cut is getting worse.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saunders looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saunders tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
It looked like Maui was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Saunders.
Saunders tries to clinch but Maui is having none of it.

Maui sends Saunders crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Maui is motioning to the referee to let Saunders up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

Saunders is rocked!

It looks like Eron Saunders has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Saunders clinches.
Saunders lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Saunders pushes Maui back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Maui misses with a hook from the clinch.
Maui tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Maui wants to stall.
Saunders blocks an uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Raykuza Maui will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Saunders forces Maui back against the cage and clinches.
Saunders scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Maui throws a head punch that misses.
Maui has a couple of punches blocked by Saunders.
Maui stalls.
Saunders tries to work over Maui's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Maui has a couple of punches blocked by Saunders.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Saunders.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Maui.
Saunders misses with a hook from the clinch.
Saunders has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Maui after a bit of a struggle.
Saunders misses with a hook to the ribs.
Saunders misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Maui.
A shot in the inside from Maui.
Maui takes an elbow to the temple.
Maui struggles to land a body shot inside as Saunders controls his hands.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Maui.
A nice right hand lands inside from Saunders.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maui prevents a body shot from Saunders.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maui working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Maui drops Saunders onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Saunders is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!
Saunders is still on wobbly legs! Can Maui finish him?
Maui misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Maui throws a punch but it's blocked by Saunders.
Saunders misses with a punch on the inside.
Saunders comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Saunders seems to have recovered his senses.
Maui swings wildly with an uppercut but Saunders uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maui can't find room to land a body shot as Saunders controls the action.
Saunders digs a right hand into Maui's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Maui's gas tank.
Maui fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maui lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Saunders backwards.
Saunders blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Saunders tries a body shot but Maui blocks it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Maui.
Saunders pushes off an throws an elbow but Maui leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Maui has a couple of punches blocked by Saunders.
Saunders misses with a hook from the clinch.
Saunders stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Saunders tries to work over Maui's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Maui blocks an uppercut.
Maui tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Saunders blocks an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Maui.
Saunders tries a body shot but Maui blocks it.
Saunders lands a shot to the body.
Saunders goes for a takedown attempt but Maui pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Saunders tries to clinch there but Maui circles away.
Maui was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Saunders doesn't manage to clinch there - Maui circles away.
Maui appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Saunders tries to clinch there but Maui circles away.

Maui feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Saunders sprawling to the canvas! Saunders rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Maui finish him?!
Saunders throws a shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saunders waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Maui.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saunders looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Raykuza Maui is winning the standup battle so far.
Saunders tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maui paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Maui on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Raykuza Maui dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Saunders clinches up against the cage.
Eron Saunders has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maui swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Maui breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jab from Saunders.
Saunders scores with a jab.
Maui misses with a straight left.

Saunders moves into the clinch successfully.
Maui lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Saunders backwards.
Maui misses with the head strike.
A short left from Saunders.
Saunders tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Maui's elbow.
A short right from Maui.
Maui blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Maui fails to land.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maui misses with the head strike.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Maui lands with a light punch inside.
Maui is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saunders can do to turn this around?
Saunders misses with an elbow over the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saunders pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Saunders fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Maui, pushing him back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Maui.
Maui working aggressively here.
Maui misses with a short punch on the inside.
Saunders throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mauis head.
A head punch on the inside from Maui fails to land.
Saunders doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Saunders tries a body shot but Maui blocks it.
Raykuza Maui is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maui avoids the elbow strike from Saunders, against the cage.
Saunders tries to work over Maui's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Maui lands a shoulder strike.
Raykuza Maui has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Saunders lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Maui backwards.
Saunders creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Saunders breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saunders looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saunders moves into range and clinches up with Maui.
Saunders lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Maui backwards.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Saunders swings wildly with an uppercut but Maui uses good head movement to avoid it.
Still in the clinch, Maui scores with a nice short uppercut.
Saunders tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Maui dodges an elbow strike from Saunders.
Maui has a couple of punches blocked by Saunders.
Saunders lands a body shot.
Saunders has a couple of punches blocked by Maui.
Saunders misses with a punch to the body.
Saunders tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eron Saunders comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Maui has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raykuza Maui!
Post fight, an emotional Raykuza Maui said '17-1 BABY! I'M THE BEST!'.