PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ben Saunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dyllz Tahere (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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
Tahere

175 cm
23
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

174 cm
24
160 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ben Saunders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dyllz Tahere!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Steve Montenegro and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saunders moves into the clinch.
Tahere misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tahere.
Tahere can't find room to land a body shot as Saunders controls the action.
Saunders tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tahere's elbow.
Tahere doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Saunders misses with a punch on the inside.
Tahere blocking some punches.
Saunders fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tahere misses with a hook to the ribs.
Saunders lands a hook that snaps the head of Tahere backwards.
Saunders misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tahere tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Saunders's elbow.
Saunders pushes Tahere back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Saunders has a couple of punches blocked by Tahere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunders swings wildly with an uppercut but Tahere uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tahere tries to work over Saunders's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch on the inside from Saunders fails to land.
Tahere tries to throw a body punch but Saunders avoids it by throwing Tahere back against the cage.

Tahere manages to break the clinch.
Tahere connects with a solid leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tahere connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Saunders wants to clinch up but Tahere keeps it at a distance.
Tahere swats away the attempt to clinch by Saunders.
Saunders fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tahere manages to avoid it.
Saunders lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tahere at a distance.
Saunders catches Tahere with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Saunders takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Saunders clinches up with Tahere and pushes him back against the cage.
Tahere misses with some punches.
Tahere throws a head punch that misses.
Saunders definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Saunders misses with the head strike.
Tahere doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tahere misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tahere.
Tahere tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Saunders's elbow.
Tahere throws a punch but it's blocked by Saunders.
Saunders is working Tahere over against the cage.
Tahere lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saunders fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Tahere breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick from Tahere lands but Saunders takes it in his stride.
Tahere ducks under a wild hook from Saunders.
Tahere throws a solid leg kick but Saunders takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Tahere.
Saunders throws a jab but it's blocked by Tahere.
Saunders moves away from the strike by Tahere.
Tahere misses with a low kick as Saunders jumps back.

Saunders has managed to clinch.
Tahere tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tahere lands a body punch in the clinch.
Tahere lands with a short shot to the head.
Tahere blocking some punches.
A short left from Tahere.
Tahere lands with a left to the head.
Tahere swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tahere throws a punch but it's blocked by Saunders.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Saunders.
Tahere has a couple of punches blocked by Saunders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders blocks an uppercut.
Tahere tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Saunders tries a body shot but Tahere blocks it.
A right hook to the body lands for Tahere.
Saunders misses with a body punch.
Saunders blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Saunders.
Saunders is working for takedown but Tahere is calmly controlling the position for now.
Tahere lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Saunders misses with the head strike.
Saunders tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Saunders lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tahere misses with a punch to the body.
Saunders scores with a shoulder strike.
A shot in the inside from Tahere.
Saunders lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Tahere lands a right hand that snaps the head of Saunders backwards.
Tahere lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Saunders blocks a body shot from Tahere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders prevents a body shot from Tahere.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Saunders.
Tahere tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tahere tries to break the clinch but Saunders is controlling the position.
Saunders prevents a body shot from Tahere.
Tahere throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Tahere can't find room to land a body shot as Saunders controls the action.
Saunders misses with a punch to the body.
Tahere lands a body shot in the clinch.
Saunders has a couple of punches blocked by Tahere.
Tahere pushes Saunders back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A nice left hand lands by Tahere.
Saunders lands a shoulder strike.
Tahere misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tahere doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tahere misses with a hook to the ribs.
Saunders struggles to land a body shot inside as Tahere controls his hands.
Tahere throws a punch but it's blocked by Saunders.
Saunders tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tahere's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dyllz Tahere dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tahere throws a hook to the side of Saunders's head but Saunders sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tahere connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Tahere looks to throw the jab but Saunders is out of range.
Saunders tries to clinch up but Tahere circles away and keeps his distance.
Tahere moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Tahere bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Saunders has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Tahere circles away from the clinch attempt
and Tahere counters with a nice kick to the body.
Saunders misses with an uppercut
and Tahere counters with a nice body kick.
Tahere's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Saunders connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Tahere scrambles back to his feet.
Saunders lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunders tries to clinch up but Tahere circles away and keeps his distance.
Tahere only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Tahere cracks the inside of Saunders's front leg.
Saunders checks a low kick from Tahere.
Tahere misses the shot to the body.
Saunders tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tahere paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tahere scoring well with a low kick there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tahere lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tahere.
A jab lands there for Tahere.
Saunders swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Saunders lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Saunders is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tahere.
Saunders backing away here, and Tahere unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Tahere throws a lazy right hand but Saunders sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tahere thumps Saunders with a low kick.
Saunders uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tahere.
Saunders tries to clinch but Tahere moves out of range.

Saunders clinches up with Tahere and pushes him back against the cage.

Tahere breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dyllz Tahere seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Saunders takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saunders fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tahere lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Saunders circles away quickly and effectively.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tahere.
A cross from Tahere lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tahere uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Saunders.
Tahere throws a big shot that misses.
Saunders looks to score with a jab to the body but Tahere is just out of range.
Tahere turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Tahere motions for Saunders to come forward. Tahere throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tahere throws a nice inside leg kick.
Tahere rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Saunders moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tahere throws an overhand right that lands on Saunders's shoulder, as Saunders tries to avoid the shot.
Tahere throws a wild body kick that Saunders sees coming a mile off.
Tahere with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Tahere shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Tahere shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Saunders tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tahere manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Saunders misses with a hook to the body
and Saunders takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tahere misses with a wild combination.
Good leg kick by Tahere there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tahere thumps Saunders with a low kick.
The fighters circling - Saunders throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Tahere tries to keep at a distance but Saunders has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tahere misses with a punch to the body.
Saunders blocks a body shot from Tahere.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Saunders.
Saunders throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Taheres head.
Tahere lands a body shot in the clinch.

Tahere manages to break the clinch.
Saunders missing with a left hand there. Tahere was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tahere looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Saunders tries to counter by clinching up but Tahere breaks away and moves out of range.
Saunders on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Tahere throws a nice inside leg kick.
Saunders tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Tahere cracks Saunders with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Tahere.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saunders darts in trying to clinch
and Tahere counters with a thumping low kick.
Tahere shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Saunders eats them both and turns towards Tahere to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Saunders wants to clinch up but Tahere keeps it at a distance.
Saunders moves forwards but Tahere connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Tahere lands a jab to the head.

Saunders rushes Tahere and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Saunders is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Tahere throws a head punch that misses.
Tahere struggles to land a body shot inside as Saunders controls his hands.
Saunders working aggressively here.
Saunders prevents a body shot from Tahere.
Tahere blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A shot in the inside from Saunders.
Saunders misses with some punches.
Saunders lands a body punch.
Tahere misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dyllz Tahere showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Saunders's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Tahere throws a front kick aimed at Saunders's knee but Saunders avoids it well.
Saunders wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Tahere pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Saunders displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
A nice leg kick lands there from Tahere.
Tahere swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Saunders.
Saunders fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Saunders stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Tahere.
Tahere has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Tahere pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Saunders back to the cage. Tahere follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Tahere throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Saunders's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Saunders moves into the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tahere.
Saunders blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tahere blocking some punches.

Tahere breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Saunders has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tahere finds it's way round the side to connect with Saunders's head.
Saunders keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tahere.
Tahere swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tahere avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tahere connects with a leg kick. Saunders looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Saunders tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Saunders tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tahere was well out of range. Poor timing from Saunders.
Saunders misses with a two punch combination.
Tahere fails to land with a series of punches.
Saunders half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Tahere throws a big shot that misses.
Saunders ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tahere moves away.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tahere. That's going to slow Saunders down.
A leg kick checked by Saunders.
Some wild striking there from Saunders.
Tahere is looking for the big counter here.
Saunders misses with an uppercut. Tahere saw that one coming.
Tahere has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Saunders takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Good work by Saunders as he checks the leg kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Tahere!
Tahere tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Saunders was well out of range. Poor timing from Tahere.
Ben Saunders has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders walks into a straight right hand from Tahere.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saunders tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Tahere counters with a nice kick to the body.
Saunders looks to score with a jab to the body but Tahere is just out of range.
Tahere throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Saunders uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tahere.
Saunders misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tahere.
Saunders tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tahere paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Saunders misses the shot to the body.
Saunders tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tahere manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tahere smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Saunders moves into the clinch.
Tahere lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Saunders lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Tahere backwards.
Tahere misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Saunders tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tahere tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders tries to work over Tahere's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Saunders has a couple of punches blocked by Tahere.
Tahere tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Saunders tries a body shot but Tahere blocks it.
Saunders misses with a hook from the clinch.
Saunders lands a body punch.
Saunders tries to throw a body punch but Tahere avoids it by throwing Saunders back against the cage.
Saunders throws a head punch that misses.
Saunders lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A head punch on the inside from Tahere fails to land.
Still in the clinch, Saunders scores with a nice short uppercut.
Tahere misses with some punches.

Saunders breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tahere uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Saunders.
Saunders throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tahere blocks a jab.
Donk. Tahere catches Saunders right on the button with a cross.
Tahere looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tahere uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Saunders has time to react.
A good leg kick by Tahere.
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!
Tahere lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Saunders has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Tahere.
Tahere shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Tahere throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Saunders on the side of the head.
Saunders tries to clinch but Tahere is having none of it.
Tahere connects with a looping right hand.
Tahere connects with an inside leg kick.
Decent striking displayed by Saunders there.
Saunders fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tahere manages to avoid it.
Saunders scores with a body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tahere chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Saunders tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tahere manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tahere staying out of range there.
Tahere uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Saunders.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dyllz Tahere comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tahere winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dyllz Tahere!