PBP Commentary

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

Saunders
vs
Lisser

202 cm
24
270 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
20
284 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Richard Saunders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Lisser!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lisser shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Saunders sprawls well. Saunders wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lisser gets slowly back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Lisser or perhaps it was just good defense by Saunders which made him look bad.
Horrible takedown by Lisser or perhaps it was just good defense by Saunders which made him look bad.
Richard Saunders has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Lisser.
Saunders stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Saunders wants it to stay on the feet.
Lisser shoots in for a double leg but Saunders sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lisser dodges the punch combination from Saunders.
No joy there for Saunders, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Saunders misses with a looping right.

Lisser is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Saunders's half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Lisser not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lisser drops an elbow to the side of Saunders's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lisser takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Saunders is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lisser is looking to advance position but Saunders won't allow it.
Lisser content to control rather than advance.
Saunders on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Saunders tries to get out of the position.
Lisser throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Saunders has hold of Lisser's hands but Lisser slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lisser.
Saunders taking some punishment here, with Lisser in his half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lisser thows a huge punch but Saunders dodges it nicely.
Lisser thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Saunders's head.
Lisser throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Lisser looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Lisser has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lisser takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Saunders is breathing heavily.
Lisser throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lisser with the ground and pound but Saunders uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Lisser scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lisser wants to control from the top but Saunders keeps moving.
Lisser content to stall in guard here.
Lisser postures up in Saunders's guard and throws a big left but Saunders blocks it.
Lisser trying to control the position from guard on top but Saunders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saunders preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lisser scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lisser content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Lisser thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lisser throwing strikes from guard but Saunders blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lisser landing some decent shots from guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lisser trying to control but Saunders is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Saunders working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lisser.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Lisser dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lisser tries to close the distance and clinch but Saunders swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lisser fails to land the takedown.
Saunders stuffs the takedown.
Saunders throws a shot to the body.
Lisser shoots in looking for a takedown. Saunders tries to sprawl out of it but Lisser keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Saunders manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Richard Saunders has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Lisser.
Saunders displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lisser.
Lisser fails with a takedown attempt.
Lisser fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Lisser drives through and clinches with Saunders against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders prevents the takedown attempt.
Lisser drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Saunders gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Saunders prevents the takedown attempt.
Lisser is breathing heavily.
Lisser goes for a takedown in the clinch but Saunders prevents it.
Lisser wants a takedown.
Saunders wants to break the clinch but can't.
Saunders tries to circle away but Lisser has him pinned against the cage.
Lisser is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Saunders gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Saunders can't break the clinch.
Saunders wants to break the clinch but can't.
Saunders is trying to force a seperation but Lisser has the dominant position.
A frustrated look appears on Saunders's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Saunders looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Saunders has a couple of punches blocked by Lisser.
Saunders wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lisser.

Lisser is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Saunders can't fight it off and eventually Lisser manages to take the fight to the floor. Saunders looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Saunders utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lisser wants to control from the top but Saunders keeps moving.
Lisser thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lisser lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Matt Lisser has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lisser is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lisser throws and elbow that misses. Saunders uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lisser's guard. Nice move by Saunders!
Lisser seems keen to control Saunders's posture.
Saunders will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders preventing the sweep.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Matt Lisser.
Lisser closes the distance and clinches up with Saunders, looking for a takedown. Lisser pushes Saunders against the cage but Saunders circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lisser wants to clinch.
Saunders stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Saunders wants it to stay on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saunders slaps away a takedown attempt from Lisser, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lisser shoots in and drives through. Saunders sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Lisser showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Lisser fails with the takedown.
Lisser looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Saunders gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lisser to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Saunders preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lisser pushes down on Saunders's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Saunders taking some punishment here, with Lisser in his half guard.
Ground and pound from Lisser.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lisser missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lisser working the head and body with strikes.
Lisser looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Saunders with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Lisser throwing shots but Saunders is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lisser is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Lisser looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Saunders with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lisser working over Saunders with some ground and pound. Saunders looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Lisser missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lisser has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lisser throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lisser looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Lisser uses his free foot to push down on Saunders's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Saunders.
Saunders wants to control but Lisser is having none of it.
Lisser pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

It looks like Richard Saunders has been cut.
Lisser working the ground and pound effectively.

Richard Saunders's cut is getting worse.
Lisser unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Saunders wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Lisser celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Matt Lisser!