PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Soprano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Soprano's choice of entrance music: Got yourself a Gun. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Santos
vs
Soprano

188 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
19
220 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

5th Round
Canadian Fighter Clothing

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anthony Soprano!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Jonathan Paton and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Santos throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Soprano's waist but Soprano gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Santos off to one side.
Soprano tries to close the distance and clinch up but Santos swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Soprano tries to close the distance and clinch but Santos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Soprano fails in his attempt to clinch.

Soprano lands a high kick to the side of Santos's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Soprano dives into guard, looking to finish.

It looks like John Santos has been cut.
Santos tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Soprano is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Soprano trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santos preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Soprano sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soprano trying to stand up but can't free himself from Santos's guard.
Santos tries to strike from the bottom.
Soprano 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.
Santos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Soprano is stalling in the full guard.

Santos throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Soprano escapes and throws Santos's legs to the side, diving into side control!

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.
Santos tries to buck Soprano off but Soprano is having none of it.
Soprano is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Santos will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Santos is looking to reverse the position.
Santos is working to avoid the ground and pound but Soprano connects with a decent elbow.
Soprano in side control lands a decent elbow.

Soprano decides to stand up, so the ref orders Santos to his feet.
Santos fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soprano wants to clinch.
Soprano misses with a body kick.
Soprano tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santos paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Santos looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Soprano is fending him off so far but Santos persists. Nope, Soprano circles away and we're back to standing.
Santos shoots in but Soprano avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Soprano tries to clinch there but Santos circles away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Santos.
I wouldn't like to be where Soprano is right now.
Soprano struggling a bit here.

Santos is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Soprano has escaped the position, nice work there.
Soprano is not content to let Santos control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Soprano dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Santos's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Soprano throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Santos thows a body shot but no joy.
Santos closes this distance looking for a takedown but Soprano circles away.
Soprano wants to clinch.
Santos throws and low kick but Soprano moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soprano is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Soprano is looking to clinch but Santos is avoiding it.
Soprano tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santos paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Santos keeps the fight on the outside.
Santos looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Soprano is fending him off so far but Santos persists. Nope, Soprano circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santos will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Soprano misses with a head kick.
Soprano pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Santos shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Soprano but Soprano pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Santos closes the distance and clinches up with Soprano, looking for a takedown. Santos pushes Soprano against the cage but Soprano circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Soprano tries to clinch up.
Soprano is looking to clinch but Santos is avoiding it.
Santos shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Soprano pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Soprano misses with an uppercut.
Soprano tries to clinch but Santos moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soprano throws a sloppy head kick and Santos moves out of range easily.
Soprano misses with a head kick.
Soprano tries to close the distance and clinch but Santos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Santos shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Soprano as he avoids it easily.
Soprano moves in looking to clinch but Santos pushes him off.
Soprano moves in looking to clinch but Santos pushes him off.
The crowd cheers as Santos lands an impressive looking overhand right. Soprano doesn't seem phased though.
Soprano wants to clinch.

Soprano closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Soprano misses with a knee to the head.
Santos is trying to drag Soprano to the mat but Soprano just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Soprano stalling the fight.
A short body shot lands from Soprano as the two fighters clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Soprano stops a takedown attempt from Santos.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Soprano landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
A knee to the head by Soprano.
Soprano with a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Soprano.
Soprano comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Soprano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on John Santos's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Soprano is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Soprano throws a body punch but Santos moves out of range.
Santos circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Soprano as Santos shoots in.
Soprano wants to clinch up but Santos keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Santos gets the takedown into side control.
Soprano wants to control but Santos postures up.
Soprano wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soprano wants to control but Santos postures up.
Soprano is trying to get back to half guard.

Santos is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Soprano knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
You can see the frustration on Soprano's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Soprano tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Soprano's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Soprano tries to lock up and control but Santos gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The referee warns Soprano that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
You get the feeling that Soprano really doesn't like being in this position too much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santos blocks Soprano's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Soprano is bucking up trying to escape but Santos cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Santos with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Soprano tries to lock up and control but Santos gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soprano is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Soprano is wriggling around trying to escape.

Santos working for a submission but Soprano is keeping him at bay.
Soprano tries to lock up and control but Santos gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Santos prevents Soprano from getting the reversal.
Soprano sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Soprano is trying to control but Santos passes into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Santos is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Soprano has escaped the position, nice work there.
Anthony Soprano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Soprano is trying to control Santos's posture but Santos avoids it.
I wouldn't like to be where Soprano is right now.
Soprano is trying to control Santos's posture but Santos avoids it.
John Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Santos working the ground and pound but Soprano is defending the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Santos showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Soprano has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Soprano!