PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Vincent Askew (ranked 5110 p4p, 4163 weight class) and Evan Saunders (ranked 539 p4p, 477 weight class). Evan Saunders will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Askew
vs
Saunders

198 cm
25
240
0 - 1 - 0

210 cm
25
265
3 - 5 - 0

Great elbows
Very strong

Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Vincent Askew!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Evan Saunders!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Winston Alpacca and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good exchange - Saunders coming out on top.
Nice defenses there by Askew.

Saunders tries to keep at a distance but Askew has taken the fight into the clinch.
Askew slows down the pace here.
Askew wants to stall.

Askew escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No joy there for Saunders, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A counter left hand to the body from Askew misses its target.
Saunders throws out a leg kick but Askew moves out of range and Saunders only half commits.
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.
Askew has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Saunders finds it's way round the side to connect with Askew's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunders fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Saunders throws a head kick that misses.
Saunders misses with an uppercut. Askew saw that one coming.
Saunders keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A countering left hand to the body from Saunders misses.

Saunders clinches up against the ropes.
Saunders with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Askew breaks the clinch.
Saunders tries to clinch up but Askew circles away and keeps his distance.

Askew has taken the fight to the clinch.
Saunders misses with a hook from the clinch.
Askew pushes Saunders back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Askew blocks a body shot from Saunders.
Saunders misses with a punch on the inside.
Askew managing to block the knees to the body from Saunders.
Saunders fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Saunders tries a body shot but Askew blocks it.
Saunders can't find room to land a body shot as Askew controls the action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Askew.
Askew blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Saunders lands a body punch in the clinch.
Askew is pushing Saunders up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Askew tries to stall but Saunders uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders lands a hook to the side of the head.
Askew throws an elbow but it misses.
Saunders misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Saunders is looking to control Askew's arms but Askew gets an underhook and turns him. Now Saunders has his back to the ropes.
Saunders tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Askew's elbow.
Askew is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Saunders is keeping busy.
Saunders tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Askew trying to control the position but instead, Saunders has worked for underhooks and has pushed Askew into the ropes.
Saunders misses with a hook to the ribs.

Askew breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Askew swinging wildly here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Evan Saunders dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

No joy there for Saunders, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Saunders tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Askew takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Both fighters circling a little - Saunders finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Saunders moves into the clinch.

Askew breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A clash of legs there as Askew blocks the low kick.
As Saunders tries to get set, Askew tries to push him back and clinch up but Saunders manages to avoid the attempt.
Evan Saunders seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saunders throws a chopping leg kick but Askew manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Askew is looking to clinch.
Nice straight punches there by Saunders. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Saunders.
Saunders looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Askew clinches up against the ropes.
Askew blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Saunders lands a left hand.
Saunders misses with a punch to the body.
Saunders struggles to land a body shot inside as Askew controls his hands.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Askew manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders keeps the fight on the outside.
Vincent Askew is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saunders swats away the attempt to clinch by Askew.
Despite the aggression on Saunders's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Saunders throws the kick towards the body but Askew avoids it.
Saunders throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Saunders throws a quick inside leg kick.
Askew throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Saunders.
Saunders throws a nice inside leg kick.
Askew misses with a straight left.
Saunders has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Askew is looking to clinch.
Saunders goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Vincent Askew has been cut.
Saunders swings for the body but Askew moves out of range.
Askew half committed to a counter leg kick.
Saunders misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Askew throws the kick towards the body but Saunders avoids it.
Saunders loads up on a big right hand but Askew slips the punch.
Saunders misses with a jab, cross combination.
Askew throws a big counter combination but Saunders scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders tries a head kick but it misses.

Askew clinches with his opponent.
Saunders has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Saunders blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Saunders misses with a short punch on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saunders swings wildly with an uppercut but Askew uses good head movement to avoid it.

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

Saunders rushes Askew and presses him up against the ropes.

Askew breaks from the clinch.
Nice straight punches there by Saunders. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Saunders.
Askew will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Saunders connects with the punch.
Saunders misses with a head kick.
Askew moves in looking to clinch but Saunders pushes him off.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Evan Saunders showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Vincent Askew's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Saunders is looking to land body kicks.
Evan Saunders is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Saunders keeps the fight on the outside.

Saunders moves into range and clinches up with Askew.
A short left from Saunders.
Saunders tries to work over Askew's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Askew wants to stall.

Askew manages to break the clinch.
Saunders throws a leg kick but Askew sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Askew tries to counter by clinching up but Saunders breaks away and moves out of range.
Saunders throws a jab but it's blocked by Askew.
Askew rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Saunders moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askew walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Saunders misses with a wild body shot.
Askew was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Askew throws a right and a left that Saunders avoids nicely.
Saunders cracks Askew with a right hand to the side of the head.
Askew pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Saunders! But no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askew moves in looking to clinch but Saunders pushes him off.
Saunders is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Askew.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Askew fails with an attempt to clinch.
Saunders is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Askew tries to clinch there but Saunders circles away.
Askew tries to close the distance and clinch but Saunders swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Saunders lands with a good body shot.
Evan Saunders is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saunders throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Evan Saunders seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Saunders lands with an overhand left.
Saunders swinging wildly here.
Saunders tries to clinch there but Askew circles away.
Askew throws a big counter combination but Saunders scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Saunders checks a low kick from Askew.
The fight stays on the outside here - Askew looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saunders shapes to counter with a head kick.
Askew tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Saunders manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Saunders raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Askew drops his hands momentarily and Saunders takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askew misses with a double jab.
A head kick by Askew misses
and Saunders counters with a thumping low kick.
Saunders misses with a head kick.
Askew tries to counter by clinching up but Saunders breaks away and moves out of range.
Saunders connects with a right hand. Askew shakes it off.
Saunders throws a sloppy head kick and Askew moves out of range easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saunders lands a head kick. Askew smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Saunders moves into the clinch.
Saunders goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Askew escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Saunders is looking to slow Askew down with leg kicks.
Askew throws a lazy right hand but Saunders sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The fighters circling - Saunders throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Saunders fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Saunders throws an overhand right that lands on Askew's shoulder, as Askew tries to avoid the shot.
Vincent Askew has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Askew is looking to land body kicks.
Saunders throws a sloppy head kick and Askew moves out of range easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Evan Saunders comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Saunders has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evan Saunders!
An out of breath Evan Saunders thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.