PBP Commentary

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

Saunders
vs
Landero

222 cm
18
214 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

183 cm
25
209 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 - 6 - 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, Ricardo Landero!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saunders fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Landero manages to avoid it.

Landero shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Saunders manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Saunders trying to control the position.
Landero throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saunders works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Landero content to stall in guard here.
Saunders looking to hit a scissor sweep but Landero is one step ahead there.
Landero is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Saunders striking off his back but it's not causing Landero any problems.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Landero looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ricardo Landero was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Landero fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Landero shoots in and bounces Saunders off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Landero would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Landero trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Saunders manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Landero wants to sweep but no luck.
Landero is looking to stand up but Saunders isn't so interested in that idea.
Landero trying to strike off his back.
Landero is pulling down on Saunders's head. It's preventing any offense from Saunders, at least for the moment.
Landero is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Landero looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Landero is pulling down on Saunders's head. It's preventing any offense from Saunders, at least for the moment.
Landero trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Landero is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ricardo Landero was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Landero fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Saunders sprawls well initially but Landero persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saunders gets full guard.
Landero stands and throws Saunders's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Saunders striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saunders can't do much from the bottom here.
Saunders is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Landero dominated that round.
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.

Landero drives through with a takedown into guard.
Saunders keeping moving, preventing Landero from controlling successfully.
Landero controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saunders working a defensive guard here.
Saunders has momentary wrist control but Landero slips an elbow through the middle.
Saunders will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saunders is working an open guard so Landero takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Saunders looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Landero is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Saunders can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Landero is looking to escape.
Landero swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Landero is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Ricardo Landero has got the better of the ground game so far.
Landero tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Saunders lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Saunders looking to finish Landero with some ground and pound. This is bad for Landero!
Landero is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Landero tries to lock up and control but Saunders gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Saunders trying to control but Landero is having none of it.
Landero is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Landero tries to reverse the position but Saunders maintains control.
Saunders working Landero over with strikes here.
Landero throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Landero is working to get back to half guard.
Saunders connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Landero is looking to improve his position but Saunders isn't that keen on the idea.
Saunders tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Landero wants to control but Saunders is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Landero is desperately trying to improve his position but Saunders has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ricardo Landero will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Landero feints and as Saunders raises his hands in defense, Landero changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Landero throws an elbow that misses. Saunders uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Landero's guard. Nice move by Saunders!
Saunders won't allow Landero to sweep him here.

Landero has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Saunders is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Landero.
Landero manages to get back to half guard.
Landero makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Landero.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Landero throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Saunders preventing the sweep.
Landero doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Landero working for submissions but it's allowed Saunders to get to half guard.
Saunders is looking to take a break and control but Landero is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Landero tries to kick Saunders off in order to stand up. Saunders Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Landero tries to buck Saunders off but Saunders is having none of it.
Landero is trying to work for a sweep but Saunders has mounted him!
Landero tries to hold on but Saunders postures up.
Saunders tries to control but Landero wriggling away.
Landero wants to control but Saunders is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Landero doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?
Landero is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Poor strikes thrown by Saunders there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Landero really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Landero tries to hold on but Saunders postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders controlling his opponent.
Landero is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ricardo Landero was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Saunders avoids the head kick by Landero.
Grady Saunders has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ricardo Landero is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Landero closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Saunders quickly recovers to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Landero comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Landero 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Landero!