PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Issara Saenla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Sheridan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saenla comes into the arena with Electric Daisy Carnival blaring out of the sound system. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Saenla
vs
Sheridan

173 cm
21
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

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 New York, Issara Saenla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Sheridan!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Joseph Jones and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sheridan throws a quick inside leg kick.
Sheridan misses the body punch
and Saenla counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sheridan looks to land a right hand but Saenla moved out of range.

Saenla clinches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sheridan.
Saenla blocks an elbow strike from Sheridan.
Saenla avoiding damage as Sheridan throws knees to the body.
Sheridan connects with a knee to the head.
Sheridan looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Saenla breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saenla walks into a stiff left hand from Sheridan.
Sheridan gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Saenla connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Saenla misses with a combination
and Sheridan counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sheridan takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sheridan pivots, looking for a leg kick but Saenla is out of range and Sheridan settles back down.
Sheridan throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Saenla clinches up with Sheridan and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheridan misses with an elbow over the top.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sheridan just misses with a elbow thrown towards Saenla's brow.
Sheridan misses with an elbow strike.
Saenla dodges an elbow strike from Sheridan.
Sheridan throws an elbow but it misses.
Sheridan throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Saenla blocks an elbow strike.
Saenla can't break the clinch.
Sheridan tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sheridan lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sheridan scores with a knee to the head.
Sheridan missing with knees to the body.
Sheridan tries a knee to the head but Saenla blocks it.
Sheridan throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Saenla blocks it with crossed arms.
Saenla avoids the elbow strike from Sheridan, against the cage.
Saenla blocks the elbow strike.
Sheridan throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sheridan lands a nice elbow.

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.
Saenla on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sheridan throws an elbow but it misses.
Saenla is trying to break the clinch but Sheridan has him pressed against the cage.
Saenla is trying to break free.
Sheridan misses with an elbow strike.
Sheridan looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Saenla manages to break the clinch.

Saenla forces Sheridan back against the cage and clinches.

Saenla breaks from the clinch.
Saenla uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sheridan.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saenla misses with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Issara Saenla will probably get the nod.
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.

Sheridan throws a body punch but Saenla moves out of range.

Saenla has Sheridan up against the cage in a clinch.
Sheridan trying to land knees to the body.
Sheridan missing with knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saenla lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Saenla escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Saenla takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saenla misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sheridan.
Saenla wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sheridan throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Saenla blocks it with crossed arms.
Sheridan tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Saenla avoids it.
Sheridan is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Saenla is defending well for now.

Saenla's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sheridan tries to clinch but Saenla moves out of range.
Sheridan scores with a nice strike.
Saenla avoids the body shot from Sheridan.

That's two 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.
Sheridan throws an overhand right that lands on Saenla's shoulder, as Saenla tries to avoid the shot.
Sheridan keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A shot to the body from Sheridan misses
and Saenla counters with a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saenla closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sheridan throws an elbow but it misses.
Saenla avoids the elbow strike from Sheridan, against the cage.
Saenla takes a knee right on the jaw!
Saenla is trying to push Sheridan away but Sheridan has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sheridan trying to land knees to the body.
Sheridan misses with an elbow strike.
Sheridan misses with a knee strike.
Sheridan missing with knees to the body.
Sheridan tries to land knees in the clinch but Saenla avoids the damage to the body.
Sheridan throws an elbow that misses.
Saenla wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sheridan has him pressed against the cage.
Sheridan throws an elbow but it misses.
Sheridan misses with an elbow strike.
Saenla managing to block the knees to the body from Sheridan.

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.

Saenla pulls guard effortlessly.
Saenla tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sheridan has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Saenla is proving hard to escape from.
Saenla is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Issara Saenla.
A head kick misses from Sheridan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Issara Saenla dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Saenla closes the distance and clinches.
Sheridan tries to land knees in the clinch but Saenla avoids the damage to the body.
Saenla on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sheridan tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Saenla blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sheridan looking to throw knees to the head but Saenla is blocking nicely.
Saenla is looking to break free of the clinch but Sheridan has double underhooks.
Saenla blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Saenla avoiding damage as Sheridan throws knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sheridan is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Saenla is defending well for now.
Sheridan misses with an elbow over the top.
Sheridan with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sheridan throws an elbow but it misses.
Sheridan lands a knee to the head.
Sheridan trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saenla blocking some punches.
Saenla wants to break free but Sheridan has control.
Sheridan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Saenla.
Sheridan tries a knee to the head but Saenla blocks it.
Saenla managing to block the knees to the body from Sheridan.
Sheridan with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sheridan trying to land knees to the body.
Saenla blocks an uppercut.
Saenla working hard to break the clinch.
Saenla wants to break the clinch but can't.
Saenla avoiding damage as Sheridan throws knees to the body.
Saenla gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Saenla tries to break the clinch but Sheridan is controlling the position.
Sheridan tries to land a knee to the head but Saenla blocks with his arms.
Sheridan tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Saenla avoids it.
Sheridan throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sheridan throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Saenla avoiding damage as Sheridan throws knees to the body.
Sheridan pushes off an throws an elbow but Saenla leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's two 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.
Sheridan tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Saenla avoids it.
Sheridan putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Saenla in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Saenla is trying to break free.
Sheridan is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Saenla is defending well for now.

Saenla's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
John Sheridan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sheridan throws a lazy uppercut
and Sheridan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sheridan blocks a leg kick.
Sheridan tries to clinch there but Saenla circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheridan throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Saenla clinches up against the cage.
John Sheridan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sheridan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Saenla.
Sheridan lands an elbow inside.
Sheridan throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sheridan lands an elbow inside that Saenla shrugs off.
Sheridan creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sheridan misses with an elbow over the top.
Sheridan tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Saenla escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Sheridan instigates a clinch.
Issara Saenla is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Saenla blocks the elbow strike.
Sheridan lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Sheridan tries to land knees in the clinch but Saenla avoids the damage to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Sheridan throws an elbow but misses.
Sheridan tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Saenla avoids it.
Saenla blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sheridan with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sheridan throws an elbow but it misses.
Sheridan tries to land knees in the clinch but Saenla avoids the damage to the body.
Sheridan using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Saenla has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Saenla avoids a wild elbow strike from Sheridan.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Sheridan.
Well Saenla 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Issara Saenla!