PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sammy Southland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gunther Cunther (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Southland
vs
Cunther

180 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Sammy Southland!
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, Gunther Cunther!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, David Schapiro and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cunther misses the jab.
Cunther has his takedown stuffed

and Southland counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Southland is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Cunther is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Southland controls from within his opponent's guard.
Cunther looking to control.
Cunther looking to hit a scissor sweep but Southland is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Southland loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cunther wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cunther looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cunther had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Southland defends it easily.

Cunther working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Southland doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Southland manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Southland wants to control from the top but Cunther keeps moving.
Southland engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Southland trying to control the position from guard on top but Cunther is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cunther trying to control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cunther can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cunther keeping moving, preventing Southland from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sammy Southland wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Cunther scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Southland is looking to reverse the position.
Cunther tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Southland is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cunther working away.
Cunther should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunther advances to full mount.

Cunther goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Southland turns into him and now he's in Cunther's guard.
Cunther is pulling down on Southland's head. It's preventing any offense from Southland, at least for the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Southland accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Southland trying to move into half guard but instead Cunther has managed to sweep!
Cunther preventing the sweep.
Cunther tries to free his leg and advance position but Southland is retaining full guard.
Southland is pulling down on Cunther's head. It's preventing any offense from Cunther, at least for the moment.
Cunther wants to control from the top but Southland keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Southland looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Southland keeping moving, preventing Cunther from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Cunther passes Southland's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Southland preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Southland is looking to improve his position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Southland trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gunther Cunther will probably get the nod.
That's time! Southland's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cunther shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Southland as he jumps to the side.
A jab from Cunther misses.
Cunther steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Southland.
Southland shoots in looking for a takedown. Cunther tries to sprawl out of it but Southland keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cunther manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Southland slips under a jab from Cunther.

Southland closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Southland working the head and body with strikes.
Cunther is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Southland's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Southland's back!

Southland is in a bad position with Cunther working for a choke. Southland manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.
Southland's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cunther seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cunther throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Southland escapes and throws Cunther's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Southland just content to control the position.
Southland wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cunther keeps working.
Cunther is looking to reverse the position.
Southland working the head with strikes.
Cunther is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Southland scores with a couple of short elbows.
Southland wants to control but Cunther is keeping him busy.
Cunther is trying to control Southland's posture but Southland avoids it.
Southland working the ground and pound from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cunther tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Southland wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Cunther is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Cunther wants to control but Southland postures up.
Cunther gets back to half guard.
Southland scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Southland connects with a nice short shot to Cunther's temple.
Southland is looking to take a break and control but Cunther is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Southland thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cunther's head.
Cunther is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cunther is trying to control but Southland manages to pass to mount!
Southland tries to control but Cunther wriggling away.
Sammy Southland overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Southland lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Cunther is trying desperately to improve position.
Southland looking to control but Cunther is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Southland lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Southland tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Cunther can't escape the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Southland scoring with strikes but Cunther is staying in there.
Southland with good strikes from the mount here!
Southland avoids the attempt from Cunther to control.
Cunther bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Southland bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cunther's guard.
Southland landing with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sammy Southland dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A jab from Cunther misses.
Southland moves out of range of the strikes.

Cunther feints and as Southland raises his hands in defense, Cunther changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Southland looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Cunther is looking to advance position but Southland has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Southland putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Cunther takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Southland postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Cunther looks a forlorn figure.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Southland working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Cunther working to try and regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Southland landing punches.

Cunther is rocked!
Southland lands a big shot there that rocks Cunther but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Cunther is still in real trouble! Can Southland finish him?
Southland drops a big elbow. That's hurt Cunther! More shots from Southland and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sammy Southland!
Our winner, Sammy Southland, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.