PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Adaru Kitano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Santi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kitano comes to the ring accompanied by Arch Enemy - We Will Rise . 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.

Kitano
vs
Santi

177 cm
25
182 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

177 cm
19
178 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

ENDLESS 152

ENDLESS 152
ENDLESS 152

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Adaru Kitano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Chris Santi!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Ren Mimura and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kitano throws a series of punches but Santi avoids them all with ease.
Santi throws a series of punches but Kitano avoids them all with ease.
Santi scores with a shot to the body.
Santi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kitano blocks a head kick by Santi.
Nice shot lands for Santi.
Santi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kitano slips a jab and a cross from Santi.
Santi throws a shot from downtown. Kitano moves away and avoids it.
Santi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kitano moves out of range of the strikes.
Kitano throws a series of punches but Santi avoids them all with ease.

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

Kitano is rocked!

It looks like Adaru Kitano has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Santi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Oh Kitano is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kitano looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kitano seems to have got his legs back now.
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.
Kitano keeping moving, preventing Santi from controlling successfully.

Kitano is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Santi defends well.

Kitano working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Santi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Santi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santi is looking to stand up but Kitano won't let him.
Santi wants to control from the top but Kitano keeps moving.
Santi looking to pass the guard.
Kitano controlling Santi's posture.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Santi advances to half guard.
Santi content to control rather than advance.
Santi trying to control from half guard but Kitano is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Santi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kitano sees it coming and defends easily.
Santi uses his free foot to push down on Kitano's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Kitano.
Santi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kitano is looking to escape.
Kitano is looking to get to half guard.
Santi throwing strikes here but Kitano is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Kitano really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kitano tries to hold on but Santi pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santi gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Kitano connects with a crisp jab.
Kitano cracks Santi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Santi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Santi slips under a jab.
Nice uppercut lands for Santi. That snapped Kitano's head back.
A punch combination from Kitano misses.
Good exchange - Santi coming out on top.
Santi throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kitano throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kitano swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kitano is breathing heavily.
Kitano attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Santi throws a leg kick which misses Kitano's front leg but catches the back leg as Kitano tries to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Santi misses with a body kick.
Santi misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kitano ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Santi scores with a jab to the head.
Santi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Santi connects with a crisp jab.
Santi throws a front kick aimed at Kitano's knee but Kitano avoids it well.
Kitano paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Santi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Santi throws a head kick that half lands.
Santi misses the body punch
and Kitano counters with a nice uppercut.
Santi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Santi misses with a hook. Kitano ducked under it nicely.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santi misses with a head kick.
Kitano misses with a hook.
A combination from Santi does no damage.
Decent striking displayed by Kitano there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Santi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Adaru Kitano's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kitano lands a jab to the nose.
Kitano ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Adaru Kitano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kitano will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kitano rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Santi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kitano lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kitano scores with a one two! Santi had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Kitano swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Santi misses with a double jab
and Kitano counters with a left to the body.
Kitano throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Santi.
Kitano throws out a loose jab but Santi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Santi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Santi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kitano.
Kitano lands with a nice combination. Santi backs away looking to recover.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Santi.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Santi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kitano thows a body shot but no joy.
Santi throws a series of strikes that have Kitano backpedaling.
Kitano throws a hook but Santi avoids it easily.
Kitano throws a leg kick
and Santi counters with a nice uppercut.
Santi looks to land a combination but Kitano avoids it well.
Kitano keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Santi.
Kitano throws a series of punches but Santi moves out of range.
Kitano changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Santi tries to avoid it but Kitano manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Santi to the ground. Santi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Santi ducks under a wild hook from Kitano.
Santi throws a right and a left that Kitano avoids nicely.
Santi with a nice cross.
Santi with a nice cross.
Kitano throws a combination that misses
and Santi counters with a nice uppercut.
Kitano dodges the punch combination from Santi.
A combination from Kitano does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santi scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Chris Santi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kitano throws a big shot that misses.
Santi misses with a series of wild punches.

Santi drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kitano looking for a sweep. Not yet Kitano, not yet.
Santi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Santi trying to control but Kitano is working from the bottom.
Santi pushing down on Kitano's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kitano wants to improve his position but Santi is controlling well.
Kitano has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Santi is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santi trying to control the action but Kitano is working from the bottom.
Santi prevents Kitano from improving his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kitano misses with an uppercut.
Santi ducks under a wild hook from Kitano.
Kitano throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Santi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kitano has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kitano there as he acknowledges the shot.
Santi thuds a left hand into Kitano's body.

Santi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kitano does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Santi is pressing down on Kitano's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kitano is holding on for now.
Santi prevents Kitano from improving his position.

Kitano looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Santi controlling the action here.
Santi is trying to control. Kitano wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kitano wants to get back to full guard.
Santi wants to stand up but Kitano is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Santi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Adaru Kitano's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Santi misses with a series of wild punches.
Santi throws the left hand but Kitano avoids the punch easily.
Santi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Santi ducks right into an uppercut from Kitano.
Santi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kitano displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Santi throws out the jab.
Santi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Santi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kitano throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Santi to counter with a crisp jab.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kitano.
Kitano throws a right and a left that both miss.
Santi goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kitano looks to land a combination. Santi sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Kitano has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santi throws out a loose jab but Kitano uses good head movement to avoid it.
Santi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Santi misses with a combination
and Kitano counters with a series of strikes. Santi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Santi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Santi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Santi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Santi avoids the body shot from Kitano.

Santi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kitano is looking for a sweep.
Kitano gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Kitano is working to get back to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Chris Santi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Adaru Kitano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Santi lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kitano hang on?
Kitano tries to hold on but Santi postures up.
Santi looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kitano working to try and regain half guard.
Santi trying to control but Kitano is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Santi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kitano is looking to escape.
Kitano really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Santi wants to control the pace but Kitano is squirming around nicely.
Santi prevents Kitano from getting the reversal.
Santi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kitano is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Santi is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Despite being in the dominant position, Chris Santi just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Santi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Santi misses with a double jab.
Santi throws a lazy right hand but Kitano sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kitano ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A punch combination from Santi misses.
Kitano misses with a looping right.
Jab by Kitano.
Kitano connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Santi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kitano.
Santi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Santi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Chris Santi.
Well Santi has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Santi!