PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Maria Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Saturday (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jeff Saturday has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Maria Freeman's chin.

Freeman
vs
Saturday

150 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Maria Freeman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jeff Saturday!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Steve Smith and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saturday dives in and scores a takedown into Freeman's guard.
Freeman trying to control the position here.
Saturday throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Freeman keeping moving, preventing Saturday from controlling successfully.
Freeman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Saturday is one step ahead there.
Freeman is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Freeman has his feet on Saturday's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Saturday circles away from the clinch attempt.
Saturday drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Freeman defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freeman blocks a head kick by Saturday.
Freeman thinks about countering with a head kick.
Saturday closes this distance looking for a takedown but Freeman circles away.
Freeman is looking to counter punch.
Saturday shoots in looking for a takedown. Freeman tries to sprawl out of it but Saturday keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Freeman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Freeman.
Freeman misses with a straight left.
Saturday shoots in looking for a takedown but Freeman manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Saturday's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Maria Freeman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Saturday.
Freeman misses with a wild combination.
Saturday tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Freeman defends well and Saturday ends up having to push Freeman into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Freeman tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Saturday manages to circle out of the way.
Freeman wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saturday darts in and clinches Freeman up against the cage.
Freeman looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Saturday tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Freeman just stands there and leans against the cage.
Saturday fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Saturday pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Saturday slips a jab and a cross from Freeman.
Saturday tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Freeman defends well and Saturday ends up having to push Freeman into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Freeman jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Jeff Saturday seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saturday looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saturday shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Freeman but Freeman pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Saturday rushes Freeman and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Saturday digs a right hand into Freeman's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Freeman's gas tank.
Freeman could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Freeman throws an elbow that misses.
Freeman prevents a takedown attempt there.
Saturday wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saturday tries to pull guard but Freeman won't allow it.
Saturday tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Saturday misses with a hook from the clinch.
Freeman misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Saturday.
Come on Freeman - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Freeman goes for a takedown attempt but Saturday pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Freeman slips a jab and a cross from Saturday.
Saturday looks for a takedown but Freeman sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maria Freeman dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Saturday fails to land the takedown.
Freeman swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Saturday misses with a wild combination.
Freeman looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.

Freeman dives in and scores a takedown into Saturday's guard.
Saturday preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Freeman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saturday can do to turn this around?
Freeman postures up and lands a big shot to Saturday's brow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freeman tries to stand but Saturday is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saturday avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Freeman lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Freeman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Freeman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Saturday is breathing heavily.

Freeman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Freeman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Freeman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Freeman postures up in Saturday's guard and throws a big left but Saturday blocks it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Freeman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Freeman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Freeman might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Freeman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Freeman with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Freeman working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Saturday's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman throws a strike but Saturday rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Saturday wants to control from the top but Freeman keeps moving.
Freeman working a defensive guard but Saturday manages to pass into side control anyway.

Freeman explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Saturday pushes Freeman away with a front kick.
Saturday shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Freeman defends it nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Freeman throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Freeman looks to land a combination but Saturday avoids it well.
Maria Freeman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Saturday.
Freeman misses with a kick to the body.
Saturday misses with a body kick.
A solid body kick from Saturday.
Saturday fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Maria Freeman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Saturday.
Freeman throws a leg kick

and Saturday counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Freeman is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Freeman has his foot on Saturday's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Saturday works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saturday scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Freeman looking to control.
Freeman wants to sweep but no luck.
Saturday is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Freeman wants to sweep but no luck.
Saturday controls from within his opponent's guard.
Saturday with a nice head shot there.
Saturday keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Freeman's head.
Saturday controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Maria Freeman will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Saturday tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Saturday throws a body shot but no joy.
Freeman throws a quick counter head kick but Saturday was just out of range.
Saturday shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Freeman but Freeman pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Saturday fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freeman tries a head kick but it misses.
Saturday takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Saturday tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Freeman just stands there and leans against the cage.
Maria Freeman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Saturday.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saturday is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Freeman looking to throw knees to the head but Saturday is blocking nicely.

Saturday pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Saturday has managed to clinch.

Saturday pulls Freeman into guard.
Freeman throwing strikes from guard but Saturday blocks nicely.
Freeman scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Freeman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Saturday wants to sweep here but Freeman controlling him for the moment.
Saturday has his hands on Freeman's head, controlling the position.
Freeman lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Freeman keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Saturday's head.
Freeman postures up.
Saturday wants to stand but Freeman is controlling the position.
Freeman working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Freeman postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Maria Freeman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman throwing strikes but missing.
Freeman is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Freeman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saturday works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Freeman works over Saturday with some ground and pound from guard.
Freeman chips away with some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Freeman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Saturday striking from the bottom.
Saturday is controlling Freeman's posture.
Freeman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Saturday not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Freeman postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Saturday bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Freeman's guard.

Freeman is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Saturday is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saturday landing some decent shots from guard.

Freeman pushes Saturday off and scrambles back to his feet.
Saturday fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Freeman throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Saturday sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Saturday dives in for a single leg takedown but Freeman sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Maria Freeman is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Saturday moves into range and clinches up with Freeman.
Jeff Saturday has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maria Freeman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Freeman blocks a body shot from Saturday.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maria Freeman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Freeman, 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maria Freeman!