PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Grady Saunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Underhill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Saunders
vs
Underhill

222 cm
18
214 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

150 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Decent knees
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Grady Saunders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stephen Underhill!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Dmitry Maklakov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saunders tries to clinch but Underhill is having none of it.
Saunders throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Underhill.
Underhill throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Underhill scores with a takedown into Saunders's guard.
Underhill is looking to stand up but Saunders won't let him.
Underhill showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Underhill must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Saunders pulls Underhill in close to prevent any damage.
Underhill looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stephen Underhill has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Underhill throws a leg kick but Saunders sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Saunders connects with a single shot there.
Underhill throws a quick inside leg kick.
Underhill swats away the attempt to clinch by Saunders.
Underhill fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saunders manages to avoid it.
Saunders uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Underhill.
Saunders tries to clinch up

and Underhill counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Underhill.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Underhill has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Saunders is trying to keep an underhook but Underhill manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Saunders works his way to full guard. Good work.
Underhill postures up in Saunders's guard and throws a big left but Saunders blocks it.
Underhill content to stall in guard here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saunders controls Underhill momentarily but Underhill frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Underhill pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saunders is keeping the position for now.
Underhill is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Stephen Underhill hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Saunders scores with a sloppy right hand. Underhill should have avoided that one.
Saunders doesn't manage to clinch there - Underhill circles away.
Underhill slaps away a takedown attempt from Saunders, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Saunders fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Underhill shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Underhill showed some decent athleticism there.
Saunders is staying active underneath Underhill, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Underhill really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Saunders. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Saunders on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Underhill is working for a submission of some sort.
Saunders trying to control from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Underhill slows the pace down in half guard.
Saunders really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Underhill is trying to control. Saunders wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Underhill dominated that round.
That's time! Saunders's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Saunders tries for a takedown but Underhill circles away easily

and Underhill counters by moving into the clinch.

Underhill pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Saunders tries for a takedown but Underhill circles away easily

and Underhill counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Underhill remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Underhill has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Underhill with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Underhill can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Saunders is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Underhill avoids the attempt from Saunders to control.
Underhill lands a heavy elbow.

Underhill goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Saunders is on top in guard.

Underhill isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Saunders stacks Underhill on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Saunders!
Underhill is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders is looking to take a break and control but Underhill is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Saunders scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Underhill to see if he's OK.
Saunders trying to control the position but Underhill is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders controls the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Saunders.
Underhill tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Underhill is looking to improve his position but Saunders isn't that keen on the idea.
Underhill tries to lock up and control but Saunders gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Underhill manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Underhill blocking the ground and pound attempt from Saunders.
Underhill is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Underhill is refusing to be controlled, as Saunders sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Underhill 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!

Underhill is looking to land body kicks.

Underhill fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Saunders, pushing him back against the cage.
Saunders misses with a knee to the head.

Underhill has clasped his hands together around Saunders's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Underhill trying to control the action but Saunders is working from the bottom.

Underhill goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Saunders has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Underhill but great work by Saunders.
Saunders trying to control the action but Underhill is working from the bottom.
Saunders working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Saunders working away.
Saunders creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Underhill wants to control but Saunders postures up.
Saunders controls the position from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Underhill takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Underhill is trying to control Saunders's posture but Saunders avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Stephen Underhill wasn't active enough on the ground.
Saunders shoots in but Underhill avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Underhill clinches up with Saunders and pushes him back against the cage.
Underhill misses with a punch to the body.

Underhill has picked Saunders up - he's going for a ride! Underhill dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Underhill wants to lay and pray for a moment but Saunders keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Saunders manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Underhill trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Saunders manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Saunders trying to control the position from guard on top but Underhill is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Underhill is trying to hold Saunders in close to prevent damage but Saunders has managed to pass into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Underhill is staying active underneath Saunders, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Stephen Underhill has got the better of the ground game so far.
Underhill wants to control but Saunders is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Well, if Saunders is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Saunders moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Underhill.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Underhill comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Underhill 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Underhill!