PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ben Saunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Hughs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben Saunders has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Saunders
vs
Hughs

175 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
45
167 lbs
42 - 37 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 0 - 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 42 - 37 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Hughs!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saunders works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hughs misses with a hook. Saunders ducked under it nicely.
Saunders connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Hughs thuds his right hand into Saunders's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Saunders clinches.
Hughs trying to land knees to the body.
Hughs tries to land knees in the clinch but Saunders avoids the damage to the body.
Hughs tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Saunders tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hughs's elbow.
Saunders misses with a body punch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Saunders.
Saunders lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Hughs.
Saunders lands an uppercut.
Hughs tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Saunders.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saunders can't find room to land a body shot as Hughs controls the action.
Saunders has a couple of punches blocked by Hughs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hughs.
Saunders tries a body shot but Hughs blocks it.
Hughs blocks an uppercut.
Saunders struggles to land a body shot inside as Hughs controls his hands.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Saunders.
A right handed body shot lands from Saunders.
Hughs trying to land knees to the body.
Hughs throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Saunders on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hughs is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Saunders is defending well for now.
A body shot lands from Saunders.
Hughs misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Saunders.
Hughs blocking some punches.
Hughs prevents a body shot from Saunders.
Saunders softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hughs misses with a knee to the head.
Hughs lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Saunders backwards.
Saunders misses with some punches.
Hughs is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Saunders is defending well for now.
Hughs blocking some punches.
Saunders tries a body shot but Hughs blocks it.
Saunders lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hughs backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Saunders lands a right hand.
Saunders scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Saunders working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Saunders working aggressively here.
Saunders lands a right hand.
Hughs misses with a knee to the head.
Hughs blocks an uppercut.
A short body shot lands from Saunders as the two fighters clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughs is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Saunders is defending well for now.
Hughs tries to break free but Saunders pushes him back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Saunders.
Saunders doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A knee to the head by Hughs.
Hughs misses with a body punch.
Hughs takes a shot to the head.
Saunders on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Saunders tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Saunders throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hughss head.
Saunders lands a body shot in the clinch.
Saunders lands with a light punch inside.
Saunders lands a shoulder strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hughs.
Hughs misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Come on Saunders - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Saunders throws a punch but it's blocked by Hughs.
Hughs blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saunders misses with a body punch.
Hughs is trying to break free.
Saunders throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Saunders throws a punch but it's blocked by Hughs.
Saunders on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hughs misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Saunders.
Saunders lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hughs backwards.
Saunders presses Hughs against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Hughs fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Saunders lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Saunders managing to block the knees to the body from Hughs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Saunders dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Saunders closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hughs lands a body shot.
Hughs using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Saunders tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hughs's elbow.
Saunders misses with a body punch.
Saunders avoiding damage as Hughs throws knees to the body.
Hughs struggles to land a body shot inside as Saunders controls his hands.
Saunders lands a body punch.
A short right from Saunders.
Hughs tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunders managing to block the knees to the body from Hughs.
Hughs blocks an uppercut.
Saunders misses with a hook from the clinch.
Saunders is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hughs can do to turn this around?
Saunders on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Saunders misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughs looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Saunders lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Saunders makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Saunders struggles to land a body shot inside as Hughs controls his hands.
Hughs tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Saunders avoids it.
Hughs missing with knees to the body.
A short body shot lands from Saunders as the two fighters clinch.
Hughs blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Saunders fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Saunders tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Saunders can't find room to land a body shot as Hughs controls the action.
Hughs working hard to break the clinch.
Hughs misses with an elbow over the top.
Hughs misses with a knee to the head.
Saunders misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Saunders.
Saunders lands a body shot.
Saunders leaning against his opponent.
Saunders throws a punch but it's blocked by Hughs.
Saunders blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hughs.
Saunders misses with a punch to the body.
Saunders lands a hook that snaps the head of Hughs backwards.
Saunders tries a body shot but Hughs blocks it.
Hughs throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hughs throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hughs creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Saunders misses with a punch to the body.
Hughs tries to land knees in the clinch but Saunders avoids the damage to the body.
Saunders swings wildly with an uppercut but Hughs uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hughs throws an elbow but it misses.
Hughs tries to land a knee to the head but Saunders blocks with his arms.
Saunders lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hughs or not.
Hughs gets through Saunders's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hughs.
A right hook to the body lands for Saunders.
Hughs is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Saunders is defending well for now.
A left hand lands to the body for Saunders.
Hughs tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Saunders avoids it.
Saunders lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Saunders misses with a punch to the body.
Saunders tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hughs's elbow.
Saunders struggles to land a body shot inside as Hughs controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughs throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hughs tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Saunders avoids it.
Saunders presses Hughs against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Saunders on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Saunders fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Saunders tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hughs's elbow.
A shot in the inside from Saunders.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saunders misses with a punch to the body.
Hughs is trying to push Saunders away but Saunders has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hughs blocks an uppercut.
Saunders avoiding damage as Hughs throws knees to the body.
Hughs misses with a knee to the head.
Saunders lands a nice uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Saunders.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Saunders dominated that second round.
That's time! Saunders's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Saunders moves out of range of the body kick from Hughs.

Saunders darts in and clinches Hughs up against the cage.
Saunders misses with a hook from the clinch.
Saunders tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Saunders fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hughs trying to land knees to the body.
Saunders working aggressively here.

Saunders breaks the clinch.

Hughs forces Saunders back against the cage and clinches.
Hughs missing with knees to the body.
Ben Saunders has scored more points in the clinch so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunders managing to block the knees to the body from Hughs.
Saunders on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Saunders struggles to land a body shot inside as Hughs controls his hands.
Hughs tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hughs blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders works on Hughs's body with a couple of short punches.
Nice body punch from Saunders.
Hughs throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Saunders blocks it with crossed arms.
Saunders lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hughs backwards.
Hughs tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hughs throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Saunders misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hughs looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Saunders softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hughs throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hughs tries to land knees in the clinch but Saunders avoids the damage to the body.
A shot in the inside from Saunders.
Saunders avoiding damage as Hughs throws knees to the body.
Saunders cracks Hughs with a nice body shot.
Saunders lands a left hand.
Joe Hughs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hughs letting Saunders take a breather here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hughs looking to throw knees to the head but Saunders is blocking nicely.
Saunders lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hughs with a knee to the head.
A short body shot lands from Saunders as the two fighters clinch.
A short left from Saunders.
A head punch on the inside from Saunders fails to land.
Saunders swings wildly with an uppercut but Hughs uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hughs struggles to land a body shot inside as Saunders controls his hands.
Saunders working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Saunders makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Hughs is rocked!
Saunders misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Saunders.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hughs.
Hughs using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Saunders has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hughs tries to land knees in the clinch but Saunders avoids the damage to the body.
Saunders misses with a short punch on the inside.
Saunders tries to throw a body punch but Hughs avoids it by throwing Saunders back against the cage.
Ben Saunders is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hughs missing with knees to the body.
Hughs tries to land knees in the clinch but Saunders avoids the damage to the body.
Hughs tries to land a knee to the head but Saunders blocks with his arms.
Hughs tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Saunders avoids it.
Saunders blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders managing to block the knees to the body from Hughs.
Saunders blocks a body shot from Hughs.
Hughs missing with knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hughs.
Hughs misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Saunders.
Hughs tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hughs throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Saunders blocks it with crossed arms.
Hughs misses with a knee strike.

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 Ben Saunders.
Well Saunders has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Saunders!