PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gene Saunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Bastedo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Saunders
vs
Bastedo

223 cm
21
177 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gene Saunders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Justin Bastedo!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bastedo gets a takedown into half guard.
Bastedo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Bastedo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Saunders is trying to maintain the position but Bastedo is very close to passing his half guard.
Bastedo works his foot free and advances to mount.
Saunders is squirming around, avoiding Bastedo's attempts to control the action.
Saunders tries to lock up and control but Bastedo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

Bastedo goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Saunders turns into him and now he's in Bastedo's guard.
Bastedo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders preventing the sweep.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bastedo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Saunders fails with the takedown

and Bastedo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Saunders won't be happy with that.
Saunders struggling a bit here.
An elbow from Bastedo crashes against the mat.
Saunders knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bastedo on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Saunders is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Bastedo asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Bastedo is looking to take a break and control but Saunders is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Saunders is trying to escape the position but Bastedo is controlling the position.
Saunders is trying to improve his position.
Saunders wants to control but Bastedo postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Bastedo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Saunders keeps working.
Saunders throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Bastedo takes a little break here. Saunders wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Justin Bastedo.
Saunders with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bastedo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Bastedo shoots in looking for a takedown but Saunders manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bastedo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Bastedo dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bastedo 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.
Saunders keeping full guard, as Bastedo tries to pass.
Bastedo controlling from the top position.
Saunders trying to control the position.
Bastedo engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Saunders working for a triangle but Bastedo defends it easily.
Justin Bastedo has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bastedo is pushing down on Saunders's leg trying to pass to half guard. Saunders is fighting to maintain full guard but Bastedo has managed to sneak the leg through.
Bastedo stops Saunders from getting back to his feet.

Bastedo has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Saunders defend it? Bastedo steps over the head and cranks it - Saunders is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Bastedo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Justin Bastedo!