PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yushin Tai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roman Santana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santana has chosen Killer in me as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Tai
vs
Santana

165 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

184 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yushin Tai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Roman Santana!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Sosuke Kotani and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santana feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tai's calf.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Santana stuffs the takedown.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Santana.

Santana tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Santana working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Santana is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tai knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Tai can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santana is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tai knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Santana working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Santana looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Santana working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two 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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tai manages to work his way to half guard, despite Santana's best efforts.

Santana is working for a kimura but Tai is defending it quite comfortably.

Tai looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Tai is doing well to control the position and prevent Santana from advancing to side control.

Santana is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Tai sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tai is looking to improve his position.

Santana seems to be working for a kimura but Tai defends the submission attempt.

Santana is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Tai actively working from the bottom here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Santana misses with a kick to the body.
Santana throws a head kick that misses.

That's four 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.
Tai tries for a takedown but Santana circles away easily

and Santana counters with a shoot takedown. Tai fights it but they end up in guard.

Santana avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Santana thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Santana is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Santana thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Santana dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Santana misses with a takedown

so Tai counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Santana has his foot on Tai's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tai works his way back into a safe position though.
Santana is looking to sweep but instead, Tai has passed into half guard.

Tai is looking for a kimura here.

Santana actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Santana with the active half guard here but Tai passes nicely into side control.

Tai is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Santana has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tai trying to control the position but Santana is working away.
Santana is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Tai off and has taken his back!

Santana is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Tai tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Tai manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Tai is defending against the submission attempts here by Santana.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santana is thwarting Tai's attempts to control the position.

Santana is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Tai sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tai manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Santana sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tai's guard.

Santana looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Tai might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tai manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tai wants to sweep but no luck.
Santana pushes down on Tai's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Santana is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Tai has managed to free his arm - good work.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The fighters are battling for position here. Tai manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Santana drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Santana jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Santana won't allow Tai to get back to his feet.
Tai looking for a sweep. Not yet Tai, not yet.
Santana must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Santana is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Tai is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Tai has escaped and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Santana has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tai can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Santana has his foot on Tai's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tai works his way back into a safe position though.
Santana keeping full guard, as Tai tries to pass.

Tai thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Roman Santana has got the better of the ground game so far.

Santana working for a triangle but Tai defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yushin Tai dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tai shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Santana decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tai's guard.
Tai looking to control.
Tai keeping full guard, as Santana tries to pass.
Santana is pushing down on Tai's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tai is fighting to maintain full guard but Santana has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tai gets full guard.

Santana drops back, looking for a kneebar! Tai looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Tai looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Tai!
Santana parries the strikes from Tai easily there. Tai is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Santana to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santana is looking for a sweep.
Santana is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tai works to advance to full mount. Santana defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Tai is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Tai extends the arm and Santana is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Yushin Tai!