PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dayton Montana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raul Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raul Santiago will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Montana
vs
Santiago

175 cm
20
165 lbs
5 - 1 - 1

179 cm
20
171 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Knock Out Artistry
Knock Out Artistry

Knock Out Artistry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Dayton Montana!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Raul Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A jab from Montana misses.
Santiago stuns Montana with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Montana. That snapped Santiago's head back.
The fighters circling - Santiago throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Santiago looks to land a left hand but Montana moved out of range nicely.
Santiago looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Montana misses with a hook. Santiago ducked under it nicely.
Santiago avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Montana looks to land a left hand but Santiago moved out of range nicely.
Santiago throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice sprawl there from Santiago as Montana shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montana looks to score with a jab to the body but Santiago is just out of range.
Santiago connects with a jab.
Montana misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Santiago.
Montana tries to clinch up but Santiago circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice sprawl there from Santiago as Montana shoots in.
Raul Santiago is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A jab from Santiago finds it's way through Montana's defenses.
Santiago thows a body shot but no joy.
Santiago misses with a looping right.
Santiago throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Dayton Montana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Montana defending well as Santiago loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Montana.
Montana displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Santiago throws out the jab.
Montana misses the body punch
and Santiago cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Montana swings for the body but Santiago moves out of range.
Santiago misses with a body shot

and Montana counters by moving into the clinch.
Montana goes for a takedown attempt but Santiago pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dayton Montana. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santiago misses with a hook to the body
and Montana counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Santiago thinking.

Montana scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
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!
Santiago is trying to stand up here but Montana is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montana lands with a punch from half guard.
Santiago scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Montana manages to mount him!
Santiago is desperately trying to improve his position but Montana has a good base and remains in mount.
Montana landing strikes, looking to finish!
Montana takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
BOOM! Montana connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Montana cracks Santiago with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Montana lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The referee warns Santiago that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Montana has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Santiago tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Santiago looks gassed!
Montana in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Santiago'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.
Montana pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santiago in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Santiago is desperately trying to improve his position but Montana has a good base and remains in mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Montana is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Montana landing punches.
Santiago is looking to improve his position but Montana isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dayton Montana 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.

Santiago uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Montana.
Montana dives in and grabs Santiago's left leg, looking for a takedown. Santiago pushes down on Montana's head and hops out.
Montana misses with a takedown
and Santiago connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Santiago stuffs the takedown attempt from Montana. Montana gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dayton Montana. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Montana throws a good cross that connects.
Montana misses with the combination.
Montana slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Montana finds it's way round the side to connect with Santiago's head.
Montana shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Santiago as he avoids it easily.
Santiago takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Montana throws a shot to the body.
Santiago scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Montana doesn't seem bothered though.
Santiago swings for the body but Montana moves out of range.
Montana looks to land a left hand but Santiago moved out of range nicely.
Montana misses with a jab to the body
and Santiago counters with a left to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago throws a hook but Montana blocks it.
Montana blocks a jab.
Santiago misses with a looping left.
Montana swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Santiago throws a shot from downtown. Montana moves away and avoids it.
Santiago moves out of range as Montana strikes.
Santiago misses with a wild body shot.
Santiago uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Montana.
Montana throws a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montana throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Montana takes a swing at Santiago's ribcage but misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Montana.
The fighters circling - Santiago throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Santiago misses with a combination

and Montana counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Santiago is breathing heavily.
Montana scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Montana thows a huge punch but Santiago dodges it nicely.
Montana working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Montana connects with a nice short shot to Santiago's temple.
Santiago blocking the ground and pound attempt from Montana.
Santiago is trying to stand back up but Montana is controlling him
Montana seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Santiago taking some punishment here, with Montana in his half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Santiago can do anything to dispel that myth.
Santiago is trying to maintain the position but Montana is very close to passing his half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Montana connects with a nice short shot to Santiago's temple.
Montana looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Montana trying to control from half guard but Santiago is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dayton Montana dominated that second round.
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.

Santiago waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Montana.
Santiago has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Montana cracks Santiago with an open hand slap.
Montana thuds a left hand into Santiago's body.
Montana tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Santiago swivels and escapes.
Montana closes the distance and clinches up with Santiago, looking for a takedown. Montana pushes Santiago against the cage but Santiago circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Santiago throws a jab when Montana was well out of range.
Santiago slaps away a takedown attempt from Montana, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dayton Montana. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Montana connects with a good right hand that stumbles Santiago. Santiago circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Montana closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Montana trying to control the action but Santiago is working from the bottom.
Montana misses with the ground and pound.
Montana trying to control the action but Santiago is working from the bottom.
Montana tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Montana misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Montana working the head with strikes.
Santiago is looking to get back to his feet here but Montana is keeping cool and he's managed to take Santiago's back.
Santiago takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Santiago covers up after that shot from Montana.
Montana has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Santiago.
Montana lands strikes to the head.
Santiago is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Montana scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Santiago is looking for a way out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montana is working the ground and pound. Can Santiago escape?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Montana's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Montana connects with a big shot to the side of Santiago's head.
Montana wants to control but Santiago manages to buck him off and is now in Montana's guard! Nice work there by Santiago!
Montana tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Montana is pulling down on Santiago's head. It's preventing any offense from Santiago, at least for the moment.
Montana's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Montana is proving hard to escape from.
Montana has his hands on Santiago's head, controlling the position.
Montana bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Santiago's guard.
Montana is in close to Santiago's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dayton Montana clearly takes that round.
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.

Montana steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Santiago.
Santiago throws out a loose jab but Montana uses good head movement to avoid it.
Santiago lands a nice shot to the body.
Montana misses with a body shot.

Montana fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Santiago, pushing him back against the cage.
Montana is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Montana is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Santiago pulls him back up using the underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santiago is pressed up against the cage. Montana has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Santiago down to the mat. Santiago avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dayton Montana. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Montana throws a right hand that Santiago ducks under and follows up with a left that Santiago also avoids with ease.
Santiago swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Montana connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Montana showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Santiago.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montana throws the left hand but Santiago avoids the punch easily.
Montana misses with a body shot
and Santiago counters with a left to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Montana.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Montana changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Santiago misses with a body shot.
Montana waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Santiago.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Santiago throws a shot from downtown. Montana moves away and avoids it.
Montana keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Santiago throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Santiago swings away with a body shot that misses
and Montana counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Santiago thinking.

Montana looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Montana working Santiago over with strikes.
Santiago has hold of Montana's hands but Montana slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Montana wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santiago keeps working.
Santiago has hold of Montana's hands but Montana slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is looking to get back to full guard here but Montana has managed to pass to side control instead.
Montana tries to control but Santiago wriggling away.
Montana working Santiago over with strikes here.
Montana lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Santiago hang on?
Montana lands a nice shot to the head.
Montana lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Montana postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Santiago looks a forlorn figure.
Montana lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Santiago hang on?
Montana working Santiago over with strikes here.
Montana connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Santiago has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Montana's lack of action.
Montana lands with a punch from half guard.
Santiago is refusing to be controlled, as Montana sits in half guard.
Montana trying to control from Santiago's half guard. Santiago has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dayton Montana had his way with Raul Santiago in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Montana misses with a body shot.
Montana ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Santiago moves away.
Montana throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Montana with a lazy takedown attempt
and Santiago counters with a stiff right hand.
Montana lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Montana closes this distance looking for a takedown but Santiago circles away.
Montana is looking to wear down Santiago with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Montana takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Montana misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago looks to score with a jab to the body but Montana is just out of range.

Montana throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Santiago was covering up waiting for the punch and Montana finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Montana trying to control the position from guard on top but Santiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Montana is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Montana won't allow Santiago to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Montana is controlling him.
Montana trying to control but Santiago is working from the bottom.
Santiago wants to get back to his feet but Montana is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Montana connects with a couple of short punches.
Santiago has momentary wrist control but Montana slips an elbow through the middle.
Montana sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago keeping moving, preventing Montana from controlling successfully.
Montana throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Montana working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Montana stands and throws Santiago's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Montana working the body and head with strikes.
Montana scoring with punches from side control.
Dayton Montana is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago trying to control but Montana flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Montana controls the position.
Raul Santiago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Montana lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Santiago hold on?!
Montana is riding his opponent, not letting Santiago buck him off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dayton Montana showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Montana, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 50:45
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 50:45
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dayton Montana!
Dayton Montana retains his lightweight title!