PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Janik Sarkisyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Saunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sarkisyan's entrance music is "Smack My Bitch Up" by Prodigy. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sarkisyan
vs
Saunders

164 cm
21
138 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
22
132 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Janik Sarkisyan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jason Saunders!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sarkisyan throws a body kick that misses.
Janik Sarkisyan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saunders scores with a head kick.
Saunders lands with a cross.

Sarkisyan shoots in and bounces Saunders off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Sarkisyan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sarkisyan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Saunders has his feet on Sarkisyan's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Saunders blocks a head kick by Sarkisyan.
Sarkisyan takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Saunders tries for a takedown but Sarkisyan circles away easily

and Sarkisyan counters with a single leg into guard. Saunders didn't expect that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sarkisyan scoring with punches to the head and body.

Saunders is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sarkisyan is aware though and is defending well.
Sarkisyan scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sarkisyan content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sarkisyan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sarkisyan is breathing heavily.
Saunders throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sarkisyan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sarkisyan wants to pass the guard but Saunders is keeping the position.

Saunders looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sarkisyan content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Saunders is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sarkisyan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Saunders tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sarkisyan postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Saunders lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sarkisyan!
Saunders landing shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders lands a heavy elbow.
Saunders is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Saunders is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Sarkisyan to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Sarkisyan shrugs it off.
Sarkisyan is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Saunders punishing his opponent with strikes.
Saunders trying to control but Sarkisyan is having none of it.
Saunders lands a nice shot to the head.
Sarkisyan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Sarkisyan defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Saunders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sarkisyan wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Sarkisyan is squirming around, avoiding Saunders's attempts to control the action.

Saunders is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Sarkisyan can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Saunders tries to control but Sarkisyan wriggling away.
Sarkisyan wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sarkisyan takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Saunders has control of Sarkisyan's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Sarkisyan regains control of the situation pretty easily.
The referee warns Sarkisyan that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Saunders looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Saunders punching from mount but Sarkisyan doing a good job of avoiding damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saunders looking to control but Sarkisyan is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jason Saunders will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sarkisyan feints and as Saunders raises his hands in defense, Sarkisyan changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Saunders is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Saunders working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sarkisyan.
Saunders has a closed guard, preventing Sarkisyan from standing up.
Sarkisyan stopping the sweep attempt from Saunders.

Saunders has his foot on Sarkisyan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sarkisyan works his way back into a safe position though.
Sarkisyan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sarkisyan throws and elbow that misses. Saunders uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sarkisyan's guard. Nice move by Saunders!

Saunders stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sarkisyan gets caught flat footed, as Saunders shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Saunders throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Saunders has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Sarkisyan scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Saunders fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sarkisyan works over Saunders's head and body with a nice combination.
Saunders swinging wilding here.
Sarkisyan looks for a takedown but Saunders sprawls well.
Sarkisyan blocks a low kick nicely.
Sarkisyan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Saunders.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Saunders is defended easily by Sarkisyan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sarkisyan tries to land a front kick but Saunders steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sarkisyan misses with a double jab
and Saunders connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Saunders misses with an attempted mid kick.
Saunders lands a two punch combo.
Saunders throws a head kick but Sarkisyan moves out of range.
Sarkisyan misses the jab.
Saunders changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sarkisyan tries to avoid it but Saunders manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sarkisyan to the ground. Sarkisyan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Sarkisyan closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Saunders to the mat! Saunders manages to get full guard.
Sarkisyan stops Saunders from standing up.

Sarkisyan decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sarkisyan throws a combination that misses
and Saunders counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Saunders tries a head kick but it misses.
Sarkisyan connects with a right hand. Saunders shakes it off.
Saunders avoids a punch combination nicely.
Saunders misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sarkisyan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Saunders misses with a takedown attempt
and Sarkisyan counters with a two punch combo.
Janik Sarkisyan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Saunders.
Sarkisyan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Saunders moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sarkisyan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Saunders throws a head kick but Sarkisyan moves out of range.
Sarkisyan swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Saunders has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sarkisyan swinging wilding here.
Sarkisyan throws a left and a right that both miss

and Saunders counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Saunders trying to mount his opponent but Sarkisyan defends it.

Sarkisyan kicks off Saunders and gets to his feet.
Saunders has a takedown stuffed.
Sarkisyan jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Saunders throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Saunders tries to clinch up but Sarkisyan circles away and keeps his distance.
Sarkisyan closes the distance and lands a one-two.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jason Saunders will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Saunders tries to clinch up but Sarkisyan circles away and keeps his distance.
Sarkisyan throws a right and a left that Saunders avoids nicely.
Sarkisyan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Saunders closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sarkisyan to the mat! Sarkisyan manages to get full guard.
Saunders is working Sarkisyan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sarkisyan keeping full guard, as Saunders tries to pass.
Sarkisyan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saunders slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sarkisyan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Saunders is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders wants to pass the guard but Sarkisyan is keeping the position.
Sarkisyan is looking to stand up but Saunders isn't so interested in that idea.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Saunders fails with an attempt to clinch.
Saunders pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Saunders fails with a takedown attempt.
Saunders throws a nice looking combination but Sarkisyan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Janik Sarkisyan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sarkisyan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Saunders tries to clinch but Sarkisyan is having none of it.
Sarkisyan misses with the combination.
Sarkisyan stuffs the takedown.
Janik Sarkisyan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sarkisyan misses with the combination.
Saunders with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sarkisyan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Janik Sarkisyan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Saunders.
Saunders is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sarkisyan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sarkisyan throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sarkisyan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Saunders is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Saunders working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sarkisyan.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sarkisyan closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Sarkisyan keeps the fight on the outside.
Sarkisyan's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Sarkisyan duly obliges.
Saunders has a takedown stuffed.
Sarkisyan is trying hard to land a takedown here. Saunders sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Saunders cracks Sarkisyan with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Saunders uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sarkisyan.
Saunders fails in his attempt to clinch.

Saunders gets a takedown into half guard.

Sarkisyan looking for submissions off his back.
Saunders wants to pass the guard but Sarkisyan is defending well.
Saunders is trying to control. Sarkisyan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jason Saunders.
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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 27:30

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