PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pretorian Saunders (ranked 6760 p4p, 24873 weight class) and Sickle Cell (ranked 202 p4p, 231 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Saunders
vs
Cell

195 cm
18
265
1 - 1 - 0

193 cm
20
266
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pretorian Saunders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sickle Cell!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cell misses with a head kick.
Saunders throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cell! But no joy.
Cell tries to score a power double leg takedown but Saunders sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cell somewhat.
Nice takedown defense from Saunders. No joy for Cell on that attempt.
Saunders is looking to land body kicks.
Cell connects with the punch.
Saunders throws a nice looking combination but Cell bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sloppy strikes from Saunders. Those never looked like landing.
Saunders tries to clinch but Cell moves out of range.
Cell throws a counter combo.
Saunders misses with an attempted mid kick.
As Saunders backs off Cell throws a huge counter combo but Saunders manages to avoid it all.
Saunders definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Cell shoots in looking for a takedown but Saunders manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cell's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Pretorian Saunders has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sickle Cell.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cell forces Saunders back against the cage and clinches.
Cell tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cell tries to break free but Saunders pushes him back against the cage.
Cell blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cell blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cell on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cell avoiding damage as Saunders throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders gets underhooks to prevent Cell's takedown attempt.
Saunders misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cell.
Saunders misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cell.
Saunders is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cell is defending well for now.
Cell on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Cell ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Cell no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Cell looking for a sweep. Not yet Cell, not yet.

Cell has an active guard here but Saunders has managed to pass into half guard.
Saunders wants to stand but Cell has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cell wants to improve his position but Saunders is controlling well.
Cell is trying to maintain the position but Saunders is very close to passing his half guard.
Saunders is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Cell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cell is looking to control Saunders's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cell avoid being mounted?

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cell works over Saunders's head and body with a nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cell tries to clinch there but Saunders circles away.
Cell keeps the fight on the outside.
Saunders looks to throw a body kick
and Cell counters with a three punch combo that has Saunders backing up. Saunders nods at Cell to acknowledge the strikes.
Nice takedown defense from Saunders. No joy for Cell on that attempt.
Pretorian Saunders seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saunders throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Saunders throws a right and a left that Cell avoids nicely.
Saunders sets himself, and Cell steps forward looking for the clinch! Saunders avoids it this time.
Cell 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.

Saunders drives through and clinches with Cell against the cage.
Saunders missing with knees to the body.
Cell has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Saunders is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Cell tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Saunders is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cell is defending well for now.
Saunders is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cell is defending well for now.
Cell managing to block the knees to the body from Saunders.
Cell blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Saunders is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Cell putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Saunders in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cell manages to break the clinch.

Cell rushes Saunders and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cell tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Saunders smiles and moves away.
Cell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Saunders goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Cell looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Saunders!
Cell trying to control the position but Saunders is working away.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cell fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Cell tries to move to mount but Saunders blocks the move with his legs.
Saunders is not content to let Cell control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Pretorian Saunders will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cell has closed the distance and engaged Saunders in a clinch.

Cell breaks from the clinch.
Cell darts in looking for a takedown but Saunders gets double underhooks and turns Cell into the cage.
Saunders looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cell looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Saunders is fending him off so far but Cell persists. Nope, Saunders circles away and we're back to standing.
Saunders misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Saunders stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Saunders wants it to stay on the feet.
Pretorian Saunders has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sickle Cell.
Saunders tries to clinch but Cell moves away
and Cell counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Cell moves into the clinch.
Saunders has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Cell on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunders missing with knees to the body.
Saunders is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cell is defending well for now.
Saunders misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cell.
Saunders misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cell.
Cell jumps guard but Saunders turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Saunders tries to land knees in the clinch but Cell avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cell on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Saunders is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Cell has Saunders pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Cell pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Saunders tumbling to the mat - Cell dives into Saunders's guard.
Cell won't allow Saunders to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cell would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Cell throws a big elbow that misses.
Cell won't allow Saunders to get back to his feet.
Cell looking to sit in guard and control but Saunders gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders wants to get up but he can't break Cell's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Cell lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Cell wants to control from the top but Saunders keeps moving.
Cell 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 decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cell tries to score a power double leg takedown but Saunders sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cell somewhat.
Saunders looks to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Saunders wants to clinch.

Cell forces Saunders back against the cage and clinches.
Cell blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Saunders gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cell.
Saunders is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Saunders tries to land knees in the clinch but Cell avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cell is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Saunders tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cell avoids it.
Pretorian Saunders has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Saunders is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Saunders stops a takedown attempt from Cell.
Cell avoiding damage as Saunders throws knees to the body.
Saunders trying to land knees to the body.
Saunders gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cell.
Cell avoiding damage as Saunders throws knees to the body.
Saunders missing with knees to the body.
Saunders misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cell.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cell breaks from the clinch.

Saunders closes the distance and clinches.

Cell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saunders looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pretorian Saunders dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cell keeps the fight on the outside.
Cell swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Cell has Saunders up against the cage in a clinch.
Saunders tries to land knees in the clinch but Cell avoids the damage to the body.
Saunders tries to land knees in the clinch but Cell avoids the damage to the body.
Cell blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Saunders tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cell avoids it.
Saunders misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cell.
Saunders is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cell is defending well for now.
Cell blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cell dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cell lands a nice leg kick that just misses Saunders's sensitive parts.
Saunders looks for the body kick but Cell saw that one coming.
Saunders displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cell.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders avoids the head kick by Cell.
Cell will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cell tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Saunders swivels and escapes.
Pretorian Saunders has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sickle Cell.
Cell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Saunders tries to clinch but Cell is having none of it.
Cell unleashes a big counter combination but Saunders bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Saunders moves into the clinch successfully.
Saunders is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Saunders is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cell is defending well for now.
Cell looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cell is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Saunders pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Saunders trying to land knees to the body.

Cell breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Saunders throws a wild body kick that Cell sees coming a mile off.

Saunders instigates a clinch.
Cell managing to block the knees to the body from Saunders.
Saunders trying to land knees to the body.
Saunders missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cell on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cell managing to block the knees to the body from Saunders.

Cell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pretorian Saunders is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Cell tries to keep at a distance but Saunders has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cell avoiding damage as Saunders throws knees to the body.
Saunders tries to land knees in the clinch but Cell avoids the damage to the body.
Cell is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
Cell is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Saunders pulls him back up using the underhooks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saunders misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cell.
Cell fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Saunders tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cell avoids it.
Saunders is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cell can do to turn this around?

Cell turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Cell manages to end up in side control.
Cell prevents Saunders from escaping the position.
A lull in the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders is trying to buck Cell off.
Cell is looking to take a break and control but Saunders is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saunders regains half guard there - taking advantage of Cell's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Saunders is trying to stand.

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.
Cell is just content to waste time from the top position. Saunders takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Cell looking to pass the guard.
Saunders is looking to stand up but Cell isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cell shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Saunders defends it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pretorian Saunders showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Saunders, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Pretorian Saunders!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Pretorian Saunders!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Pretorian Saunders!

Pretorian Saunders wins by unanimous decision!