PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Witsanunat Thaksin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Santana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Santana's choice of entrance music: manly euro techno. The key to victory for Witsanunat Thaksin has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Thaksin
vs
Santana

183 cm
19
187 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

190 cm
24
195 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers standup

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Witsanunat Thaksin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Carlos Santana!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Albert Achterberg and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thaksin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Santana was covering up waiting for the punch and Thaksin finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Thaksin trying to control but Santana is working from the bottom.
Thaksin being controlled here momentarily.
Santana working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santana controlling Thaksin's posture.
Thaksin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Thaksin wants to pass the guard but Santana is keeping the position.
Santana looking for a sweep. Not yet Santana, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thaksin is looking to clinch.
Santana fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Thaksin looks to score with a jab to the body but Santana is just out of range.
Thaksin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Santana tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thaksin throws a nice outside leg kick.
Thaksin throws a wild body kick that Santana sees coming a mile off.
A big left from Thaksin misses.
Santana avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Thaksin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Santana manages to avoid it.
Thaksin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Thaksin doesn't manage to clinch there - Santana circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thaksin avoids a kick to the body.
A slapping body kick lands there for Thaksin.
Santana moves out of range of the body kick.
A jab from Thaksin misses.
Thaksin throws a leg kick but Santana sees it coming and moves out of range.
Santana blocks a leg kick.
Witsanunat Thaksin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A head kick misses from Thaksin.
Santana fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Santana keeps the fight on the outside.
Thaksin stuffs the takedown.
Witsanunat Thaksin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Santana.

Santana darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Thaksin on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Thaksin tries to get out of the position.
Santana looks gassed!

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thaksin trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Santana is working for a submission of some sort.
Thaksin gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Witsanunat Thaksin dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Thaksin moves into the clinch.
Thaksin keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Santana's efforts to push away.
Thaksin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Thaksin throws a head punch that misses.
Santana tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Thaksin just stands there and leans against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Thaksin.
Santana fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Thaksin lands a knee to the body.
Thaksin tries to work over Santana's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santana takes a knee right on the jaw!
Thaksin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thaksin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Santana misses with a punch on the inside.
Santana drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Thaksin gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Witsanunat Thaksin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Santana.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thaksin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Thaksin missing with knees to the body.
Santana fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Santana wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Santana tries to pull guard but Thaksin won't allow it.
Thaksin lands a knee to the head.
Thaksin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Santana.
Santana creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Thaksin tries to land knees in the clinch but Santana avoids the damage to the body.
Santana is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Thaksin is defending well for now.
A right handed body shot lands from Thaksin.
Santana is looking to control Thaksin's arms but Thaksin gets an underhook and turns him. Now Santana has his back to the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Thaksin fails to land.
Santana fails to pull the fight into his guard.

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.

Santana has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Thaksin is trying to keep an underhook but Santana manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Santana is breathing heavily.
Santana prevents Thaksin from improving his position.
Thaksin looks like he's trying to stand up.
Thaksin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Santana is looking to take a break and control but Thaksin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Santana stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Thaksin to get to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thaksin looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Santana checks a leg kick.

Santana closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Thaksin to the mat! Thaksin manages to get full guard.
Santana pushing down on Thaksin's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Santana works his foot free and advances to mount.

Santana with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thaksin tries to hold on but Santana pushes him away.
Thaksin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Santana is trying to take his opponent's back.
Thaksin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Thaksin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Santana showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Santana blocks a head kick by Thaksin.
Santana moves out of range of the leg kick from Thaksin.
Santana looks to land a combination but Thaksin avoids it well.
Thaksin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thaksin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Santana looks for a takedown but Thaksin sprawls well.
Thaksin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thaksin lands a nice looking body shot.
Santana takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thaksin misses with an uppercut. Santana saw that one coming.
Thaksin turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Thaksin swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santana shoots for a takedown but Thaksin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Thaksin clinches up against the cage.
Thaksin scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Santana is looking to break free of the clinch but Thaksin has double underhooks.
Thaksin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Santana has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Thaksin obliges.
Thaksin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Thaksin scores a nice knee to the body.

Thaksin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thaksin misses with a head kick.
A head kick by Thaksin misses

and Santana counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Thaksin has control of Santana's left arm, preventing Santana from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santana won't allow Thaksin to get back to his feet.
Santana trying to control but Thaksin is working from the bottom.
Thaksin wants to get back to his feet but Santana is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Thaksin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Santana on the ground.
Santana stopping the sweep attempt from Thaksin.
Santana stands and throws Thaksin's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana tries to advance to mount but can't.
Santana wants to control but Thaksin is keeping him busy.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Santana has managed to clinch.
Thaksin has Santana pressed against the cage, preventing Santana from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Santana tries to pull guard but Thaksin won't allow it.
Witsanunat Thaksin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Santana.
Santana takes a knee to the side of the body.
Santana tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thaksin smiles and moves away.
Thaksin misses with a head kick.
A good leg kick by Thaksin.

Thaksin closes the distance and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Witsanunat Thaksin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thaksin has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Witsanunat Thaksin!