PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Damingo Santino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Zullo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zullo has chosen Assistant To The Regional Manager - The Devil Wears Prada as his entrance music. Damingo Santino had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 172.9lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Damingo Santino had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Santino
vs
Zullo

182 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
21
170 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Damingo Santino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Zullo!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Skip Squint and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santino shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zullo sprawls well. Zullo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Santino gets slowly back to his feet.
Zullo looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Santino moves into the clinch.
Santino is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Santino is trying to break the clinch but Zullo is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santino fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Santino jumps guard.
Santino wants to stand up but Zullo is controlling him.
Santino keeping full guard, as Zullo tries to pass.
Zullo is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zullo won't allow Santino to sweep him here.
Santino keeping moving, preventing Zullo from controlling successfully.
Santino is trying to control the position but Zullo postures up.
Santino trying to control the position here.
Santino'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 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.
Zullo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santino is keeping the position for now.
Santino might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Zullo with a poor takedown

and Santino counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Santino gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Santino tried to score with a low kick but Zullo checks it.
Santino misses with a takedown attempt

and Zullo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Santino's guard.
Zullo throwing strikes from guard but Santino blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zullo wants to control from the top but Santino keeps moving.
Santino wants to sweep but no luck.
Santino controls Zullo momentarily but Zullo frees himself.
Zullo trying to control but Santino is working from the bottom.
Zullo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santino is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zullo wants to control from the top but Santino keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Santino with a lazy takedown attempt

and Zullo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Santino!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damingo Santino. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zullo blocks Santino's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Santino wants to control but Zullo is having none of it.

Zullo has hold of Santino's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Santino manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Santino keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michael Zullo will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zullo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Santino wants to control but Zullo is having none of it.
Zullo trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Zullo is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Santino to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Santino shrugs it off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zullo tries to push Santino's head away but Santino is holding on tight.
Santino is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santino is looking to get to half guard.
Zullo trying to control but Santino is having none of it.
Zullo prevents Santino from getting the reversal.
Santino looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zullo trying to control but Santino is having none of it.
Santino tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You get the feeling that Santino really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Santino regains half guard.
Zullo wants to control but Santino is keeping him busy.
Santino works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santino tries to strike from the bottom.
Santino is trying to keep Zullo in close.
Zullo wants to control from the top but Santino keeps moving.
Zullo won't allow Santino to sweep him here.
Zullo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santino is keeping the position for now.

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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zullo has his takedown stuffed

and Santino counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Zullo!
Santino unloads with some shots from mount but Zullo bucks and avoids them well.

Santino is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Zullo is surviving well by controlling Santino's body position as best he can.
Santino content just to control the position here.
Damingo Santino overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Santino sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damingo Santino dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Santino gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Zullo to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Zullo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Zullo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Zullo has gone for a leg lock! Santino slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zullo's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santino throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zullo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santino trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Santino postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Santino wants to control from the top but Zullo keeps moving.

Zullo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Zullo isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Santino stacks Zullo on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Santino!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Zullo is trying to get back to half guard.

Santino stands up and beckons Zullo to his feet.
Santino throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Zullo scores a takedown into full mount!
Santino is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santino slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Santino manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Santino is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zullo looking to sit in guard and control but Santino gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Santino trying to stand up but can't free himself from Zullo's guard.
Santino works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Zullo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Santino.
Zullo regains full guard. Nicely done.
Santino is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Zullo keeping moving, preventing Santino from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damingo Santino showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Santino 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damingo Santino!