PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Travis Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Efrain Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Taylor
vs
Santiago

170 cm
24
162 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

183 cm
24
160 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Travis Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Efrain Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Taylor was well out of range. Poor timing from Santiago.
Santiago paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Santiago with a jab.

Taylor throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Santiago was covering up waiting for the punch and Taylor finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Taylor content to stall in guard here.
Taylor trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Santiago managing to control the position.
Santiago wants to get back to his feet but Taylor is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Santiago's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Taylor accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Santiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santiago is looking to stand back up but Taylor counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Santiago.
Santiago is staying active underneath Taylor, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

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.
Santiago avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Taylor.
Taylor throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santiago wants to control but Taylor passes into side.
Taylor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santiago keeps working.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Santiago lands a jab to Taylor's midsection.
A nice inside leg kick there by Santiago. That's going to slow Taylor down.
Santiago lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Santiago throws a good cross that connects.

Taylor shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Taylor showed some decent athleticism there.
Taylor lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is trying to control. Santiago wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Taylor lands with a punch from half guard.
Santiago won't allow Taylor to pass to mount.
Santiago desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Taylor with the ground and pound but Santiago uses the opportunity to regain guard.

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.
Santiago seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Taylor might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Santiago trying to control the position.
Santiago preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Taylor works over Santiago with some ground and pound from guard.
Santiago preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Taylor dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Santiago jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Santiago thows a body shot but no joy.
Santiago lands with a right hand.
A jab from Santiago does it's job there.
Santiago swings for the body but Taylor moves out of range.
Santiago throws a body punch but Taylor moves out of range.
Santiago catches Taylor with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Taylor misses with a wild body shot.
Santiago misses with a series of wild punches.
Santiago connects with the punch.
Santiago misses with a body shot.
Taylor jabs at Santiago's body.
Santiago needs to keep his hands up - Taylor had a free shot at his head there.
Taylor uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Santiago.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago throws a body punch but Taylor moves out of range.
Efrain Santiago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santiago loads up on a big right hand but Taylor slips the punch.
Santiago thows a left - swing and a miss!
Santiago is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Taylor moves out of range of the strikes.
Taylor with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Santiago to score with a decent uppercut.
Taylor misses with an uppercut. Santiago saw that one coming.
Santiago misses with a straight right.
Santiago throws a body punch but Taylor moves out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - Santiago scores with a four punch combination!
Santiago goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Taylor shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Santiago napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Taylor trying to control the action but Santiago is working from the bottom.
Taylor sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Santiago is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago wants to control but Taylor postures up.
Santiago is trying to improve his position.
Santiago is not content to let Taylor control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santiago sneaks out the side door and pushes Taylor away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
The fighters circling - Santiago throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Taylor avoids the body shot from Santiago.
Taylor uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Santiago.
Taylor swings for the body but Santiago moves out of range.
Taylor looks to throw the jab but Santiago is out of range.
Santiago moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Nice shot by Santiago.
Santiago throws a body kick that misses.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Santiago sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Santiago. That snapped Taylor's head back.
Taylor misses with an uppercut.
Taylor takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Decent striking displayed by Santiago there.
Santiago ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Santiago uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Taylor.
Taylor slips under a jab.
Santiago cracks Taylor with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Santiago throws a lazy right hand but Taylor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Taylor missing with a left hand there. Santiago was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Santiago comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Taylor misses with an uppercut. Santiago saw that one coming.
Santiago misses with a shot to the body

and Taylor counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Santiago's guard now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Travis Taylor will probably get the nod.
That's time! Taylor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Santiago changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Taylor misses with a looping left.
Santiago scores with a one two! Taylor had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Jab by Santiago.

Taylor scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Santiago tries to control but Taylor manages to take his back.
Taylor struggling to land strikes to the head as Santiago covers up.
Santiago has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santiago has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Taylor.
Santiago wants to escape the position but for the time being he's just trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Taylor missing with punches from the back.
Taylor is throwing strikes by Santiago counters by rolling into a better position. After a scramble, Santiago regains half guard.
Taylor is looking to take a break and control but Santiago is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor passes into side control, despite Santiago's attempt to control the position.
Taylor throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Taylor throws an elbow but Santiago slips to the side and avoids it well.
Travis Taylor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Santiago is trying to improve his position.
Santiago tries to control but Taylor manages to take his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago trying to control the action but Taylor just sinks the hooks in.
Santiago covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Taylor tries to keep control of the position but Santiago is staying busy.
Santiago controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad spot.
Taylor looking to hold on to the position here but Santiago rolls and ends up regaining guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Taylor just misses with a punch to the body.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Santiago as he jumps to the side.

That's four 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.
Santiago misses with a looping right.
Santiago lands a head shot.
Taylor takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A jab from Santiago misses.
Santiago pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Santiago throws a hook but Taylor blocks it.
Taylor connects with a looping right hand.
Taylor lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Santiago at a distance.
Santiago throws a half hearted mid kick.
Santiago keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Santiago has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Taylor slips a jab from Santiago.
Efrain Santiago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Travis Taylor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taylor staying out of range there.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Travis Taylor.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Taylor, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Travis Taylor!