PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andrij Degatriov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joshua Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Degatriov comes to the cage accompanied by Go Slow. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Degatriov
vs
Santiago

215 cm
25
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
23
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Andrij Degatriov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joshua Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Donatello Bradman and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Degatriov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Santiago's half guard.
Santiago is looking to escape.
Nice strikes from Degatriov there.
Santiago trying to control but Degatriov postures up.
Degatriov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Degatriov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Degatriov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Santiago has hold of Degatriov's hands but Degatriov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Degatriov working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santiago is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Degatriov trying to control the action but Santiago is working from the bottom.
Degatriov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago is trying to get back to full guard.
Santiago is trying to control but can't.
Santiago blocking the ground and pound attempt from Degatriov.
Degatriov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Santiago regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Degatriov.
Santiago can't keep his opponent in guard - Degatriov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Degatriov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Santiago on the ground.
Degatriov lands with a punch from half guard.
Santiago is looking for a sweep. Degatriov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Santiago slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Degatriov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Degatriov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Degatriov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Degatriov landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Degatriov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Santiago manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Degatriov is breathing heavily.

Degatriov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Degatriov working over Santiago with some ground and pound. Santiago looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Degatriov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Degatriov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Santiago is looking to control Degatriov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Santiago avoid being mounted?
Santiago tries to get to full guard but Degatriov has control of the leg.
Degatriov throws a strike but Santiago avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Degatriov stopping the sweep attempt from Santiago.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Santiago is on top in guard.
Degatriov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Degatriov tries to get out of the position.

Degatriov looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Santiago has picked Degatriov up and slammed him! Degatriov can't keep hold of the triangle and Santiago manages to pass to side control!
Santiago trying to control the position but Degatriov is working away.
Santiago laying and praying for a moment but Degatriov takes advantage and regains half 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 works his foot free and advances to mount.
Santiago can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Degatriov is looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santiago with a couple of short strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrij Degatriov dominated 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.

Degatriov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Santiago counters with a shoot takedown. Degatriov fights it but they end up in guard.
Santiago trying to control the position from guard on top but Degatriov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santiago postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Degatriov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Santiago wants to control from the top but Degatriov keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Santiago stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago scores with a one two! Degatriov had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Santiago with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Santiago throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Degatriov was covering up waiting for the punch and Santiago finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Santiago tries to stand but Degatriov is controlling from the bottom.

Degatriov is working an open guard so Santiago takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Santiago scores with a three punch combo!
Santiago dives in and grabs Degatriov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Degatriov pushes down on Santiago's head and hops out.
Degatriov stuffs the takedown attempt from Santiago. Santiago gets slowly back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Degatriov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Santiago connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Degatriov fails with the takedown
and Santiago counters with a nice leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrij Degatriov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Degatriov fails with the takedown

and Santiago counters by moving into the clinch.
Santiago tries for a takedown but Degatriov manages to get underhooks.
Santiago tries to stall but Degatriov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Santiago wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Degatriov tightens his grip and picks Santiago up, before dumping him to the ground. Santiago manages to land in guard.
Degatriov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Santiago trying to control the position.
Degatriov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Santiago preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Degatriov throws a big right hand that misses.
Santiago not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Degatriov wants to control from the top but Santiago keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Santiago shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Degatriov's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago scoring with punches to the head and body.
Santiago wants to stand but Degatriov is controlling his posture from full guard.
Santiago trying to control but Degatriov is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santiago trying to stand up but can't free himself from Degatriov's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Santiago showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Degatriov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Santiago's guard.
Degatriov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Andrij Degatriov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Degatriov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Degatriov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Santiago trying to keep a closed guard but Degatriov is proving a slippery customer.
Santiago tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Degatriov throws a strike but Santiago rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Santiago wants to control from the top but Degatriov keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Santiago.
Degatriov shoots and misses

so Santiago counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Degatriov has a closed guard, preventing Santiago from standing up.

Santiago stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Santiago has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago stops a takedown attempt from Degatriov.
Santiago stalling the fight.
Degatriov prevents the takedown attempt.
Santiago tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Andrij Degatriov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joshua Santiago.
Degatriov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Santiago drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Santiago tries to pull guard but Degatriov won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Degatriov looking for a takedown.
Santiago digs a right hand into Degatriov's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Degatriov's gas tank.
Santiago is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Santiago drags the fight down to the ground.
Degatriov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Degatriov throwing strikes from guard but Santiago blocks nicely.
Santiago with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Degatriov can't handle though.
Santiago working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Degatriov.
Santiago tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Santiago is trying to keep Degatriov in close.
Santiago is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Degatriov is controlling him.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Degatriov forces Santiago back against the cage and clinches.

Santiago manages to break the clinch.
Degatriov tries to clinch up but Santiago circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice body punch from Santiago.
Degatriov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Santiago counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Santiago tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Degatriov.
Santiago stalling away here and it's allowed Degatriov to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Degatriov is looking for a triangle but Santiago pushes his legs off easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joshua Santiago comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Santiago 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joshua Santiago!