PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ronald McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Efrain Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McDonald comes to the cage accompanied by I got a feeling - Black Eyed Peas. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

McDonald
vs
Santiago

179 cm
20
165 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

183 cm
23
160 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ronald McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Efrain Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

McDonald shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Santiago's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McDonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Santiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDonald is looking to work some ground and pound but Santiago has wrist control.
McDonald with a flurry of punches that miss.
McDonald trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Santiago working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McDonald.
McDonald throws a big right hand that misses.
McDonald working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McDonald thows a big elbow that misses.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
McDonald takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A jab from Santiago misses.

McDonald gets in close and instigates a clinch.
McDonald manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McDonald escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Santiago swats away the attempt to clinch by McDonald.

McDonald rushes Santiago and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
McDonald misses with a knee to the head.
McDonald tries to score a body lock takedown but Santiago shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Santiago's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

McDonald closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McDonald lands in his opponent's guard.
Santiago working a defensive guard here.
Santiago is pulling down on McDonald's head. It's preventing any offense from McDonald, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McDonald accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McDonald postures up in Santiago's guard and throws a big left but Santiago blocks it.
Santiago avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Santiago is trying to control the position from the bottom.
McDonald throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
McDonald bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McDonald tries to clinch there but Santiago circles away.
Santiago sizes up McDonald with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago misses with a jab, cross combination.
Santiago stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Santiago avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Santiago fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Santiago throws a combination. McDonald tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Santiago looks to land a left hand but McDonald moved out of range nicely.
McDonald looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Santiago lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Ronald McDonald has been cut.
Santiago ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McDonald moves away.
McDonald is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Santiago.
Santiago throws a series of punches but McDonald moves out of range.
Santiago throws a hook but McDonald blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Donk. Santiago catches McDonald right on the button with a cross.
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!
McDonald moves away from the strike by Santiago.
McDonald pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Santiago lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
McDonald tries to clinch up but Santiago circles away and keeps his distance.
Good standup being displayed there by Santiago as he connects with a hook.
McDonald looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Santiago throws a one two combo.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santiago throws a combination. McDonald tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
McDonald pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McDonald slips a straight right by Santiago.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Efrain Santiago dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ronald McDonald's cut.
That's time! McDonald's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

McDonald keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Santiago.
McDonald tries to close the distance and clinch but Santiago swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Santiago swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Santiago lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McDonald circles away quickly and effectively.
A punch combination from Santiago misses.
McDonald tries to clinch but Santiago is having none of it.
McDonald tries to close the distance and clinch up but Santiago swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Efrain Santiago seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McDonald moves out of range as Santiago strikes.

McDonald looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Santiago!

McDonald goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Santiago turns into him and now he's in McDonald's guard.
McDonald wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald is trying to control the position but Santiago postures up.
Santiago trying to control but McDonald is working from the bottom.
Santiago preventing the sweep.
Santiago wanted to stand there but McDonald had control of the position.
McDonald is looking to sweep but instead, Santiago has passed into half guard.
Santiago is looking to take a break and control but McDonald is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McDonald gets back to full guard.
Santiago won't allow McDonald to sweep him here.
Santiago wants to control from the top but McDonald keeps moving.
McDonald is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Santiago trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDonald throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
McDonald doesn't manage to clinch there - Santiago circles away.
McDonald keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Santiago might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
McDonald tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santiago paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Santiago looks to land a combination but McDonald avoids it well.
Santiago throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McDonald sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Santiago with a body punch. A glancing blow.
McDonald takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Santiago looks to land a combination. McDonald sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Santiago throws the left hand but McDonald avoids the punch easily.
Santiago throws a big shot that misses.
Santiago throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McDonald sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald slips a jab and a cross from Santiago.
McDonald takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Santiago throws a hook to the side of McDonald's head but McDonald sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nice defenses there by McDonald.
Santiago throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McDonald showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Santiago.
Efrain Santiago is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McDonald bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McDonald is looking to clinch but Santiago is avoiding it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McDonald takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
McDonald staying out of range there.
Nice defenses there by McDonald.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Efrain Santiago showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ronald McDonald's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

McDonald ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice sprawl there from Santiago as McDonald shoots in.
Santiago throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
McDonald ducks under a wild hook from Santiago.
McDonald takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Santiago!
McDonald defending well as Santiago loads up on a big left hand.
Santiago swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McDonald fails with an attempt to clinch.
Santiago lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
The crowd cheers as Santiago lands an impressive looking overhand right. McDonald doesn't seem phased though.
Santiago moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago misses with the combination.
McDonald ducks right into an uppercut from Santiago.

McDonald moves into the clinch.
McDonald tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

McDonald manages to break the clinch.
A slow jab from Santiago misses its intended target.
Santiago ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McDonald moves away.
Santiago pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Santiago cracks McDonald with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Santiago fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
McDonald slips a straight right by Santiago.
McDonald moves out of range of the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McDonald takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Santiago fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santiago misses with a straight left.
Santiago throws a hook but McDonald blocks it.
Santiago looks to throw the jab but McDonald is out of range.
McDonald swings away with a body shot that misses
and Santiago counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Santiago throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
McDonald closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McDonald takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Santiago scores with a jab to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago lands with an uppercut that bounces McDonald off the cage and back into rage.
McDonald fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Santiago with a hook.
McDonald looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
McDonald steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Santiago.
Good shot there by Santiago.
Good shot there by Santiago.
McDonald tries to close the distance and clinch up but Santiago swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McDonald tries to clinch up
and Santiago counters with a left and a right that stings McDonald.
Santiago works McDonald's body with a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A jab from Santiago misses.
Nice combo by Santiago! Oh, that's hurt him - McDonald falls to the canvas and Santiago follows him into side control.

McDonald is rocked!

Ronald McDonald's cut is getting worse.

Santiago stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Oh McDonald is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Santiago lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Ronald McDonald has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McDonald seems to have got his legs back now.
McDonald looks to clinch
and Santiago counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Santiago has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McDonald clinches but Santiago breaks the clinch
and Santiago connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santiago looks to land a combination but McDonald avoids it well.
Efrain Santiago is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Santiago lands a slapping body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Efrain Santiago comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Santiago winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Efrain Santiago!