PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Israel Adesanya (ranked 2766 p4p, 4748 weight class) and Eron Saunders (ranked 128 p4p, 514 weight class). Adesanya comes to the ring accompanied by Israel Adesanya Entrance Music. 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.

Adesanya
vs
Saunders

193 cm
28
184
19 - 6 - 1

194 cm
41
181
28 - 23 - 0

Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Ajax Cloth

30th Century Beer Store

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Israel Adesanya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eron Saunders!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Colin Fray and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saunders throws a front kick aimed at Adesanya's knee but Adesanya avoids it well.
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.

Adesanya closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Adesanya is trying to push Saunders away but Saunders has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Saunders misses with a short punch on the inside.

Saunders breaks the clinch.
Adesanya bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Adesanya clinches up with Saunders and pushes him back against the ropes.
Saunders is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Adesanya is trying to push Saunders away but Saunders has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.

Adesanya manages to break the clinch.
Adesanya looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Saunders misses with a low kick as Adesanya jumps back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Adesanya is looking to slow Saunders down with leg kicks.
Saunders throws a series of punches but Adesanya moves out of range.
Saunders scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Israel Adesanya has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adesanya walks into a stiff left hand from Saunders.
Adesanya throws a right and a left that both miss.
Adesanya throws a lazy head kick
and Saunders counters with a two punch combo.
Saunders scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Adesanya tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Saunders is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Adesanya with a body shot.
Adesanya lands with a slapping head kick.
Saunders scores with the left hand. Adesanya knows he should have avoided that one.

Saunders closes the distance and clinches.
Adesanya wants to get back to striking at distance but Saunders won't allow it.
Saunders presses Adesanya against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Adesanya tries to circle away but Saunders has him pinned against the ropes.
Saunders swings wildly with an uppercut but Adesanya uses good head movement to avoid it.
Adesanya has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Adesanya's defenses.
Adesanya is trying to force a seperation but Saunders has the dominant position.

Adesanya breaks the clinch.
Adesanya fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Saunders scores with a jab. Adesanya acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A shot to the body from Saunders misses

and Adesanya counters by clinching up.

Saunders breaks from the clinch.
Saunders scores with a crisp jab that stopped Adesanya in his tracks.

Israel Adesanya's cut is getting worse.
Adesanya slips under a jab from Saunders.

Saunders moves into the clinch.
Adesanya can't break the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eron Saunders dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Israel Adesanya's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Adesanya tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Saunders paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A big right from Saunders misses.
Adesanya seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Adesanya throws a jab but it's blocked by Saunders.
Saunders thows a left - swing and a miss!
Saunders swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Eron Saunders seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Adesanya moves into the clinch.
Adesanya wants to break the clinch but can't.
Saunders doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Saunders manages to break the clinch.
Adesanya tries to clinch but Saunders is having none of it.
Saunders misses with a wild body shot.
Saunders misses with a body shot
enabling Adesanya to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders scores with a decent looking hook.

Adesanya moves into the clinch successfully.
A right hook to the body lands for Saunders.
Saunders lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Adesanya blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Saunders lands an elbow just above Adesanya 's eye.
Saunders keeps control of Adesanya as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Saunders goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Adesanya tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Saunders avoids it.
Saunders misses with a body punch.
Adesanya dodges an elbow strike from Saunders.

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

Saunders pushes Adesanya up against the ropes in a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Adesanya's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders misses with a hook from the clinch.

Adesanya escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Saunders throws a series of punches but Adesanya avoids them all with ease.
Saunders attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Adesanya thows a body kick. Saunders tries to catch it but that hurt him.
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 doesn't manage to clinch there - Adesanya circles away.
Adesanya with the inside leg kick.
Adesanya works over Saunders's head and body with a nice combination.
Adesanya tries a head kick but it misses.
Israel Adesanya is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saunders wants to clinch up but Adesanya keeps it at a distance.
Adesanya checks the leg kick.
Adesanya checks a low kick from Saunders.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Eron Saunders will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Israel Adesanya's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Adesanya takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
It looked like Adesanya was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Adesanya takes the fight into the clinch.
Saunders misses with an elbow strike.
Saunders stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Adesanya is trying to break the clinch but Saunders is controlling him.
Saunders doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Saunders breaks from the clinch.
Adesanya swats away the attempt to clinch by Saunders.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Saunders has Adesanya up against the ropes in a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Saunders.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Adesanya manages to break the clinch.
Saunders scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Saunders throws a big shot that misses.
Saunders throws a body punch but Adesanya moves out of range.
Adesanya slips under a jab from Saunders.
A telegraphed right hand from Saunders misses the target.
Saunders looks to score with a jab to the body but Adesanya is just out of range.
Adesanya looks to land a body kick but Saunders moved away.
Saunders steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Saunders takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Adesanya wants to clinch.
Saunders has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adesanya throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Saunders.
Saunders misses with a body shot.
As Saunders tries to get set, Adesanya tries to push him back and clinch up but Saunders manages to avoid the attempt.
Saunders throws a right hand that misses
and Adesanya counters with a two punch combo.
Saunders throws out a loose jab but Adesanya uses good head movement to avoid it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Adesanya fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saunders manages to avoid it.
Saunders throws a body punch but Adesanya moves out of range.
Saunders is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Adesanya avoids the body shot from Saunders.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eron Saunders really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Israel Adesanya's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Saunders lands a jab-cross combination.
Adesanya jabs at Saunders's body.
Saunders wants to land a leg kick but Adesanya is out of range.
Adesanya throws a big counter combination but Saunders scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Saunders fails with an attempt to clinch.
Saunders misses with a double jab
and Adesanya counters with a left and a right that stings Saunders.
Saunders is looking to clinch.
The fighters circling - Saunders throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunders misses with the combination.
Adesanya closes the distance but Saunders moves to the side
and Saunders counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders throws a predictable looking body shot
and Adesanya counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Saunders has managed to clinch.

Adesanya breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Adesanya throws a nice inside leg kick.
Adesanya looks to land a combination. Saunders sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Israel Adesanya has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Adesanya wants to clinch
and Saunders counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Saunders swats away the attempt to clinch by Adesanya.

Adesanya gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saunders escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Adesanya misses with the combination.
Saunders shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Adesanya looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Sloppy strikes from Saunders. Those never looked like landing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saunders looks to land a left hand but Adesanya moved out of range nicely.
As Saunders looks to move away, Adesanya throws a big counter combo but Saunders just gets out of the way.
Adesanya thuds a left hand into Saunders's body.
Saunders with a jab.
A punch combination from Saunders misses.
Eron Saunders is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Adesanya looks to land a combination but Saunders avoids it well.
Saunders is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

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 Israel Adesanya.
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 4 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 37:39
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 37:40
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 37:39

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eron Saunders!
A less than humble Eron Saunders misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.
In defeat, Israel Adesanya stepped up to the mic, saying 'Ya me conoces mantengo la misma energía. Estoy agradecido y orgulloso, pero sabes que la mierda pasa. Es una gran historia para él, pero no ha terminado, esto sigue siendo una guerra. Felicidades a él y a su equipo. Gracias a todos por venir, nos vemos la próxima vez, adiós.'.