PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Leslie Saunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Park Ji Sung (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Saunders
vs
Ji Sung

185 cm
18
161 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
23
158 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Leslie Saunders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Park Ji Sung!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Sam Margolis and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ji Sung closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ji Sung throwing shots but Saunders is blocking nicely.

Ji Sung is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Saunders as he works his way to full guard.

Ji Sung drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Saunders manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ji Sung has Saunders in his guard.

Saunders has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ji Sung is proving hard to escape from.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunders showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ji Sung has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Saunders can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Saunders is standing up over Ji Sung. Ji Sung looks to escape but Saunders dives into side control.

Saunders has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Ji Sung feints and as Saunders raises his hands in defense, Ji Sung changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ji Sung trying to control but Saunders is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ji Sung in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Saunders has control of Ji Sung's left arm, preventing Ji Sung from doing any damage.
Ji Sung trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ji Sung is looking to work some ground and pound but Saunders has wrist control.

Ji Sung is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Saunders is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Saunders has escaped and now he's on top!

Saunders slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ji Sung is wriggling around but Saunders manages to pass to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Saunders is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Saunders controlling the pace.
Ji Sung trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saunders controlling the action here.
Saunders not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ji Sung manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Saunders on his heels. He'll look to pass Saunders's guard now, I'm sure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Park Ji Sung will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A combination from Ji Sung does no damage.

Ji Sung forces Saunders back against the cage and clinches.
Saunders changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ji Sung fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Ji Sung feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Ji Sung looking to sit in guard and control but Saunders gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Saunders slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ji Sung working a defensive guard here.
Saunders tries to stand but Ji Sung is controlling from the bottom.
Saunders is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Saunders wants to get up but he can't break Ji Sung's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

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.
Saunders won't allow Ji Sung to get back to his feet.
Saunders sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ji Sung tries to clinch but Saunders is having none of it.
Saunders throws a quick counter head kick but Ji Sung was just out of range.
Ji Sung tries to clinch but Saunders is having none of it.

Ji Sung fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Saunders sprawls well initially but Ji Sung persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Saunders gets back to full guard.
Saunders pulls Ji Sung in close to his closed guard and prevents Ji Sung from doing any damage or advancing position.
Park Ji Sung has got the better of the ground game so far.

Ji Sung drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Saunders manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ji Sung has Saunders in his guard.

Ji Sung is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders prevents Ji Sung from getting back to his feet.
Ji Sung can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Saunders controls the pace.
Saunders trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ji Sung's guard.
Saunders is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Saunders postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Saunders tries to stand but Ji Sung is controlling from the bottom.
Saunders seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saunders is looking to stand up but Ji Sung won't let him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Park Ji Sung showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Ji Sung shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Saunders manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Saunders controlling the position.
Saunders has momentary wrist control but Ji Sung slips an elbow through the middle.
Ji Sung is looking to stand up but Saunders won't let him.
Saunders wants to sweep here but Ji Sung controlling him for the moment.
Saunders controlling Ji Sung's posture.
Ji Sung must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Saunders controls Ji Sung momentarily but Ji Sung frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ji Sung wants to control from the top but Saunders keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A right-left combo lands from Ji Sung.
Leslie Saunders is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ji Sung shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ji Sung trying to mount his opponent but Saunders defends it.
Ji Sung seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Saunders does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are battling for position here. Saunders manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ji Sung wants to control from the top but Saunders keeps moving.
Ji Sung takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Saunders wants to sweep here but Ji Sung controlling him for the moment.

Ji Sung has gone for a leg lock! Saunders slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ji Sung's guard.

Ji Sung working a defensive guard but Saunders passes into half guard.
Saunders is taking a breather. Ji Sung says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Saunders thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ji Sung wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Saunders tries to stand and escape but Ji Sung is controlling the position.
Saunders sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Ji Sung has closed the distance and engaged Saunders in a clinch.
Ji Sung has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Saunders displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ji Sung up against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Saunders.
Leslie Saunders has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Park Ji Sung is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Saunders pulls guard successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Park Ji Sung comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ji Sung 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Park Ji Sung!
An out of breath Park Ji Sung thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.