PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mason Panama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Saunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Panama
vs
Saunders

187 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mason Panama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ben Saunders!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Hugh Johnson and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab lands there for Saunders.
Panama throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Saunders to counter with a crisp jab.
Saunders closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Panama counter with a right hand.
Panama throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Saunders wants to clinch but Panama slips to the side
and Saunders takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Saunders tries to clinch but Panama moves away
and Panama counters with a straight right hand.
Panama misses with a looping right.
Panama getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Saunders lands with a shot to the body.
Panama throws an off balance right hand
and Saunders counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Saunders looks to clinch
and Panama counters with a series of strikes. Saunders will be more careful next time no doubt.
Panama misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saunders.
Saunders wants to clinch.
Panama misses with a lunging right hand
and Panama takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saunders fails with a takedown attempt.
Saunders tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Panama counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Panama will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Saunders looks to clinch
and Panama counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Saunders gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Panama counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Panama.
Panama misses with a body shot.
Saunders with a lazy takedown attempt
and Panama counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mason Panama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Saunders.
Saunders tries to clinch
and Panama counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Saunders tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Saunders takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Saunders tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Panama to counter with a crisp jab.
Saunders closes the distance looking to clinch
and Panama cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Panama misses with a lunging right hand
and Saunders counters with a head kick.
Saunders keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Panama throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Saunders takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Saunders tries to clinch
and Panama counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Saunders misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders looks to clinch
and Panama counters with a one-two to the body.
Saunders tries for a takedown but Panama circles away easily
and Panama counters with a stiff right hand.
Saunders looks gassed!
Saunders darts in trying to clinch
and Panama cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mason Panama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saunders closes the distance but Panama moves to the side
and Panama counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Saunders closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Panama counter with a right hand.
Saunders misses with a takedown
and Panama counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Panama misses with a wild body shot.
Panama rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Saunders counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Saunders.
Panama lands a right hand.
Panama stalling.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
With the fighters up against the cage, Saunders throws an elbow but misses.
Panama has Saunders pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders is trying to break the clinch but Panama is controlling him.
Saunders lands an elbow inside that Panama shrugs off.
Saunders creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Saunders misses with some punches.
Panama blocks the elbow strike.

Panama breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Panama throws a shot from downtown. Saunders moves away and avoids it.
Panama misses with a double jab.
Ben Saunders seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Panama swings widly with a right hand
and Saunders counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Panama throws out a loose jab but Saunders uses good head movement to avoid it.
Panama throws an off balance right hand

and Saunders moves into the clinch.
Panama blocks an elbow strike from Saunders.
Panama working hard to break the clinch.
Saunders misses with a hook from the clinch.
Saunders prevents Panama from breaking the clinch.
Panama lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Saunders backwards.
Come on Panama - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Saunders tries to land knees in the clinch but Panama avoids the damage to the body.
Panama looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Saunders creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Saunders swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Panama tries to break free but Saunders pushes him back against the cage.
Panama digs a right hand underneath Saunders's ribcage. Saunders let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Panama has Saunders pressed against the cage, preventing Saunders from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Panama stalling in the clinch.

Panama's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Panama fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Panama connects with a right hand. Saunders shakes it off.
Panama misses the jab.
Panama thows a left - swing and a miss!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saunders shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Panama counters with a two punch combo.
Saunders closes the distance but Panama moves to the side
and Panama cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Saunders needs to keep his hands up - Panama had a free shot at his head there.
Panama staying out of range there.
Saunders tries to clinch
and Panama makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Saunders uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Panama.
Panama waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Saunders.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Saunders.
Saunders closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Panama counter with a right hand.
Panama throws a jab but it's blocked by Saunders.
Saunders avoids a punch combination nicely.
Saunders moves to clinch but Panama breaks away
and Panama counters with a nice body shot.
Panama lands an overhand right.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Panama, as that shot connected.
Saunders is trying desperately to land a takedown but Panama is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Saunders.
Saunders is breathing heavily.
Saunders with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Panama counter with a right hand.
Mason Panama is winning the standup battle so far.
Saunders moves away from the strike by Panama.
Panama looks to throw the jab but Saunders is out of range.
Panama throws out a loose jab but Saunders uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panama misses with a double jab.
Panama looks to throw the jab but Saunders is out of range.
Panama lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Panama pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Saunders darts in trying to clinch
and Saunders takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Panama misses with a lunging right hand
and Saunders connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jab, jab by Saunders - just one landing.
Saunders has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Saunders tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Saunders takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Saunders wants to clinch
and Panama counters with a nice body shot.
Saunders displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Panama throws out the jab.
Saunders tries to clinch but Panama moves away
and Panama counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Saunders looks for a takedown but Panama sprawls well.
Mason Panama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Saunders.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A big right from Panama misses.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Panama swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Saunders.
Nice defenses there by Saunders.
Saunders defending well as Panama loads up on a big left hand.
Saunders slips under a jab.
A swing and a miss from Panama.
Saunders tries to clinch but Panama moves away
and Panama connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Panama is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Saunders steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Panama.
Saunders shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Saunders takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Panama misses with a two punch combination.
Panama misses with an uppercut.
Panama is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Saunders.
Saunders displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Panama throws out the jab.
Saunders ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Panama comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Panama cracks Saunders with a right hand to the side of the head.
Panama misses with an uppercut. Saunders saw that one coming.
Saunders on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Panama swings widly with a right hand

and Saunders moves into the clinch.

Panama manages to break the clinch.
A big left from Panama misses.
Saunders tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Panama counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Saunders closes the distance looking to clinch
and Panama makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Panama swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Saunders.
Panama misses with a wild body shot.
Saunders ducks right into an uppercut from Panama.
Saunders closes the distance but Panama moves to the side
and Panama counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panama looks to land a combination but Saunders avoids it well.
Panama will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Panama looks to throw the jab but Saunders is out of range.
Saunders tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Panama counters with a straight right hand.
Panama lands a nice looking body shot.
Panama throws a hook to the side of Saunders's head but Saunders sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Some wild striking there from Panama.
A looping hook to the body misses from Panama. Saunders does a little dance to reset his feet.
Panama throws a hook but Saunders avoids it easily.
Saunders moves to clinch but Panama breaks away
and Panama counters with a stiff right hand.
Panama throws an off balance right hand
and Saunders counters with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mason Panama dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Saunders tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Panama connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Panama thows a body shot but no joy.
Panama's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Saunders connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Panama scrambles back to his feet.
Panama loads up on a big right hand but Saunders slips the punch.
Saunders closes the distance looking to clinch
and Panama counters with a stiff right hand.
Saunders tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Saunders takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Saunders is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Saunders tries to clinch
and Panama counters with a right hand to the body.
Saunders tries to clinch
and Panama counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Panama takes a swing at Saunders's ribcage but misses.
Saunders takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Saunders wants to clinch
and Panama counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Panama feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Saunderss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Saunders takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Panama.
Saunders darts in trying to clinch
and Panama counters with a stiff right hand.
Panama throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Saunders counters with a one-two to the body.
Panama throws a looping overhand right but Saunders ducks down to avoid it.
Saunders moves to clinch but Panama breaks away
and Panama connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Saunders moves into range and clinches up with Panama.
Panama lands a left hand.
Saunders blocks the elbow strike.
The referee is keeping an eye on Panama - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Saunders misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Panama.
Panama wants to break the clinch but can't.
With the fighters up against the cage, Saunders throws an elbow but misses.

Panama pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders tries to clinch
and Panama counters with a series of strikes. Saunders will be more careful next time no doubt.
Saunders with a poor takedown
and Panama counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Panama catches Saunders with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Jab from Panama.
Saunders takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Saunders moves out of range as Panama strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Panama. Saunders does a little dance to reset his feet.
Panama lands a head shot.
Saunders tries to clinch but Panama moves away
and Panama counters with a three punch combo that has Saunders backing up. Saunders nods at Panama to acknowledge the strikes.
Panama scores with a crisp jab that stopped Saunders in his tracks.
Panama throws a jab when Saunders was well out of range.
Saunders uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Panama.
Panama looks to land a left hand but Saunders moved out of range nicely.
Panama misses with a hook. Saunders ducked under it nicely.
A decent looking cross lands there for Panama.
Saunders slips under a jab.
Saunders keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Panama.
Panama keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Panama connects with a right hand. Saunders shakes it off.
Saunders keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Panama.
Panama swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Saunders slips a jab and a cross from Panama.
Panama circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Panama to counter with a crisp jab.
Saunders slips a jab and a cross from Panama.
Saunders takes one to the chin there.
Saunders tries to score a power double leg takedown but Panama sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Saunders somewhat.
Mason Panama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Saunders.
Saunders moves to clinch but Panama breaks away
and Panama counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Panama lands with a shot to the body.
Saunders slips under a jab from Panama.
Panama clobbers Saunders with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panama throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Panama tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Saunders was well out of range. Poor timing from Panama.
Panama scores with a sloppy right hand. Saunders should have avoided that one.
Panama pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Saunders tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Panama to counter with a crisp jab.
Saunders fails with the takedown
and Panama counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ben Saunders has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Panama misses with a wild body shot.
Saunders tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Panama counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Saunders thinking.
Panama connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Saunders's hands.
Saunders slips a jab from Panama.
Panama thows a body shot but no joy.
Panama is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saunders can do to turn this around?
Panama circles away from the clinch attempt
and Panama connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Panama throws a jab when Saunders was well out of range.
Mason Panama is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Panama lands a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mason Panama showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Panama, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mason Panama!