PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matt Saunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Boris Brushnikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Saunders
vs
Brushnikov

173 cm
23
130 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

170 cm
23
138 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

2KMMA Ultimate Nutrition 144 Quality

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matt Saunders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Boris Brushnikov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Konstantin Menshow and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Brushnikov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Brushnikov lands in his opponent's guard.
Saunders looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Saunders is working hard here to advance position.
Saunders bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Brushnikov's guard.
Saunders looking to pass the guard.

Saunders is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Saunders avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Saunders is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Brushnikov trying to control the position.

Brushnikov has his foot on Saunders's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Saunders works his way back into a safe position though.

Brushnikov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Saunders doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Saunders manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Saunders trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders forces his way into half guard.
Saunders wants to pass to mount but Brushnikov is defending the position.

Brushnikov looking for submissions off his back.

Saunders is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Brushnikov defends it well.
Saunders is breathing heavily.
Brushnikov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Brushnikov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Saunders is one step ahead there.

Saunders avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Brushnikov is keeping the position for now.
Brushnikov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Saunders!
Saunders is in a horrible position here. Brushnikov smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Brushnikov with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Brushnikov has control of Saunders's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Saunders regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Saunders tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Brushnikov is working for a guillotine from mount but Saunders frees his head quite easily.

Brushnikov jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Saunders manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Brushnikov has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Saunders!
Brushnikov takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Saunders is trying to break free.
Saunders is keeping busy.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Brushnikov doesn't have the hooks in and Saunders manages to turn into his guard.
Brushnikov keeping full guard, as Saunders tries to pass.

Saunders avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders preventing the sweep.

Brushnikov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Brushnikov holds on and takes a little breather.
Saunders forces his way into half guard.
Brushnikov gets full guard.
Brushnikov managing to control the position.
Saunders looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris Brushnikov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Brushnikov tries to clinch there but Saunders circles away.

Brushnikov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Saunders sprawls well initially but Brushnikov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
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.
Saunders wants to get back to full guard.
Saunders taking some punishment here, with Brushnikov in his half guard.
Brushnikov is looking to take a break and control but Saunders is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Saunders is looking for a sweep. Brushnikov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Boris Brushnikov has got the better of the ground game so far.

Brushnikov is working for a kimura but Saunders is defending it quite comfortably.
Brushnikov trying to control from half guard but Saunders is working away.

Brushnikov is trying to work for a kimura but Saunders is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Saunders gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Brushnikov counters with a single leg into guard. Saunders didn't expect that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Saunders is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Brushnikov trying to control the position from guard on top but Saunders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Brushnikov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Brushnikov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Brushnikov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Saunders throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Saunders escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Brushnikov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Brushnikov pushing down on Saunders's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Brushnikov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Saunders is trying to get back to full guard.

Brushnikov decides to return to a standing position.
Brushnikov tries to close the distance and clinch but Saunders swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Brushnikov 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.
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!
Brushnikov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Brushnikov postures up and lands a big shot to Saunders's brow.
Saunders looking to hit a scissor sweep but Brushnikov is one step ahead there.

Saunders looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders looking for a sweep. Not yet Saunders, not yet.
Brushnikov forces his way into half guard.
Brushnikov is keen to just control but Saunders is a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Saunders shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Saunders is looking for a kimura but Brushnikov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Saunders to get the leverage.
Brushnikov moves into full guard.

Saunders drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Saunders jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Brushnikov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Saunders!

Brushnikov is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Brushnikov clinches up against the ropes.
Brushnikov has Saunders pressed against the ropes.

Brushnikov has hold of one of Saunders's legs. Saunders is fighting the takedown attempt but Brushnikov gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Brushnikov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saunders is keeping the position for now.
Saunders bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Brushnikov's guard.
Brushnikov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Saunders manages to get himself to full guard.
Brushnikov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Saunders working for a triangle but Brushnikov defends it easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Brushnikov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris Brushnikov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Brushnikov misses with a body kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Brushnikov.
Saunders tries to improve position but can't.
Brushnikov works to advance to full mount. Saunders defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Brushnikov putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Saunders is looking to get to half guard.

Brushnikov stands up from mount. Strange move.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Brushnikov.

Brushnikov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Saunders has escaped the position, nice work there.
Saunders prevents Brushnikov from improving position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saunders is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brushnikov has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Saunders misses with a takedown attempt

and Brushnikov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Brushnikov frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Brushnikov working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Brushnikov scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Brushnikov is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Saunders has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Brushnikov looking for a guillotine from mount but Saunders is having none of it.
Brushnikov punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brushnikov looking to control but Saunders is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Brushnikov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Brushnikov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Brushnikov prevents Saunders from getting the reversal.
Brushnikov lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Saunders really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Saunders is squirming around, avoiding Brushnikov's attempts to control the action.
Saunders is trying to escape the mount but Brushnikov keeps good control and instead manages to take Saunders's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Brushnikov is looking for the choke from the back position but Saunders is controlling his hands well.

Brushnikov looking for the choke from the back.
Saunders can't escape the position.

Brushnikov is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Saunders knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Saunders for a finish.
Saunders tries to escape but Brushnikov has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Brushnikov looking to soften up his opponent with punches.

Brushnikov is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Saunders knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Saunders for a finish.
Brushnikov just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

Saunders is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Brushnikov gets his way!
Saunders tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Brushnikov has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Brushnikov softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Brushnikov trying to control momentarily.

Brushnikov looking for the choke from the back.

Brushnikov has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Brushnikov is trying to stick to Saunders's back but Saunders is turning into Brushnikov. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Brushnikov's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Saunders.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Brushnikov is looking for a triangle but Saunders pushes his legs off easily.
Brushnikov wants to sweep here but Saunders controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Boris Brushnikov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Brushnikov 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 26:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Boris Brushnikov!