PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pusha T (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Correa Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pusha T could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Correa Santiago's chin.

T
vs
Santiago

195 cm
21
275 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

190 cm
27
235 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pusha T!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Correa Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Eddie Farnsworth and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago closes this distance looking for a takedown but T circles away.
Santiago lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but T circles away quickly and effectively.
Santiago lands with a straight right. T didn't see that one coming.
A combination from T does no damage.
T moves out of range of the leg kick from Santiago.
A head kick misses from T.
T throws a series of punches but Santiago moves out of range.

Santiago moves into range and clinches up with T.

Santiago drags the fight down to the ground.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as T accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
T knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Santiago on the ground.
T works over Santiago with some ground and pound from guard.
Santiago looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
T trying to control the position from guard on top but Santiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Santiago has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but T can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
T with a nice head shot there.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
T lands a couple of digs.

T decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Santiago, up you get!
T tries to close the distance and clinch but Santiago swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
T misses with a few strikes there.
T finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
T throws a series of punches but Santiago moves out of range.
T looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Santiago tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but T swivels and escapes.
Santiago wants to clinch.
Santiago fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Pusha T has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Correa Santiago.
T slips a jab and a cross from Santiago.
No joy there for T, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
T circles away from the clinch attempt.
Left hook, right uppercut from T.
Some wild striking there from T.
T fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Santiago closes this distance looking for a takedown but T circles away.
Santiago looks gassed!
T will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Santiago misses with a takedown attempt - T sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Santiago changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. T tries to avoid it but Santiago manages to keep hold of a leg and drag T to the ground. T escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
T throws a right and a left that Santiago avoids nicely.
Santiago shoots in but no luck this time.
No joy there for T, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Santiago uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by T.
T swinging wildly here.
Santiago shoots in for a double leg but T sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Santiago tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
T misses with a combination
and Santiago counters with a two punch combo.
The fight stays on the outside here - T looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
T displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Correa Santiago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

T clinches up against the cage.

T manages to break the clinch.
Santiago avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Santiago tries to keep at a distance but T has taken the fight into the clinch.

T breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

T gets in close and instigates a clinch.

T breaks from the clinch.
T misses with a two punch combination.
T throws and low kick but Santiago moves out of range easily.
T scores with a one two! Santiago had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
T throws a head kick but Santiago moves out of range.
T throws a right hand that Santiago ducks under and follows up with a left that Santiago also avoids with ease.
T throws a series of punches but Santiago moves out of range.
Santiago stalks T and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into T's face. T staggers backwards, shaken.
T misses with a double jab.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
T lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Santiago circles away quickly and effectively.
T is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Santiago.
Santiago checks a low kick from T.
Pusha T is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

T gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
T on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if T tries to get out of the position.
T looking for a sweep. Not yet T, not yet.

T throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
T wants to get back to his feet but Santiago passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
T is not content to let Santiago control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
T wants to get back to his feet.

Santiago is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
T is trying to stand up here but Santiago is controlling him well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
T lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Santiago circles away quickly and effectively.
A nice combination there by T.
T misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Santiago cracks the inside of T's front leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pusha T dominated that round.
That's time! T's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

T throws a right hand that Santiago ducks under and follows up with a left that Santiago also avoids with ease.
Santiago shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says T as he avoids it easily.

T drops Santiago with a beautiful combination! Santiago stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - T is looking for the KO!

Santiago is rocked!

It looks like Correa Santiago has been cut.
T fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
T throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Santiago.
Santiago dodges the punch combination from T.

Santiago rushes T and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Santiago tries to pull guard but T holds him up against the cage and eventually Santiago drops back down to his feet.
A frustrated look appears on T's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Still in the clinch, T scores with a nice short uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

T breaks the clinch.
T fails to land with a series of punches.
T swinging wildly here.
Santiago moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Santiago avoids a punch combination nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
T misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
T misses with a wild combination.
Santiago tries to clinch but T moves out of range.
T throws a head kick that misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Santiago is defended easily by T.
Pusha T has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Correa Santiago.
T misses with a double jab.

T moves into the clinch successfully.

T breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A combination from Santiago does no damage.

T clinches up against the cage.

T breaks from the clinch.
T swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
T tries to bum rush Santiago with a series of wild strikes but Santiago uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
T throws a head kick but Santiago moves out of range.
Santiago tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but T paws at him with a jab and circles away.
T tries to bum rush Santiago with a series of wild strikes but Santiago uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Santiago closes this distance looking for a takedown but T circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

T forces Santiago back against the cage and clinches.
T lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Santiago backwards.

T breaks the clinch.
T scores with a nice body kick.
T swinging wildly here.
Pusha T is winning the standup battle so far.
A punch combination from T misses.
T throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
T throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Santiago fails with a takedown attempt.
A punch combination from T misses.

Santiago fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. T sprawls well initially but Santiago persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

T looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santiago is looking to advance position but T won't allow it.
T misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
T trying to hold on to Santiago's head to control him but Santiago postures up.

T kicks Santiago off and gets back to his feet.
Santiago has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
T tries to bum rush Santiago with a series of wild strikes but Santiago uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
T defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Santiago.
Santiago misses with a few strikes there.
T lands a nice shot that snaps Santiago's head back.
Santiago avoids the head kick by T.
Santiago tries to clinch up

and T counters by clinching up.
T wants to break free but Santiago has control.
Santiago takes a shot to the head.
Santiago keeps the fight in the clinch, despite T's efforts to push away.

T breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

T instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on T's face as he tries to break the clinch.

T breaks the clinch.
T scores with a hook.
Santiago looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? T is fending him off so far but Santiago persists. Nope, T circles away and we're back to standing.
T lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by T.
Santiago tries to close the distance and clinch but T swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Santiago showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from T.
T throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Santiago.
T tries to bum rush Santiago with a series of wild strikes but Santiago uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Santiago fails with the takedown
and T counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
T tries to land a front kick but Santiago steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Santiago throws a shot from downtown. T moves away and avoids it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

T gets a clinch.
T stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
T is trying to break the clinch but Santiago has him pressed against the cage.
Santiago tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. T smiles and moves away.
Santiago moves out of range as T strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pusha T dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Correa Santiago's cut.
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. This is the final round!

T throws a series of punches but Santiago moves out of range.

Santiago pushes T up against the cage in a clinch.

T breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Santiago avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
T lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
T tries to close the distance and clinch up but Santiago swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Santiago is defended easily by T.
T scores with a punch to the head.
T lands a nice shot that snaps Santiago's head back.

Santiago shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. T manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
T throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

T manages to escape and get back to his feet.

T lands a big head kick that sends Santiago tumbling to the mat! T takes a step backwards and waves Santiago back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Santiago is still on wobbly legs! Can T finish him?
T throws a shot from downtown. Santiago moves away and avoids it.
Santiago seems to have recovered his senses.
T throws a head kick that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
T throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and T counters with a series of strikes. Santiago will be more careful next time no doubt.

Santiago clinches with his opponent.

T breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
T just misses with a punch to the body.
T slaps away a takedown attempt from Santiago, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Pusha T has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Correa Santiago.
Santiago slips a jab and a cross from T.
T is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Santiago can do to turn this around?

Santiago clinches up against the cage.
Santiago fails to pull the fight into his guard.

T escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
T connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Santiago shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as T sprawls well. T wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Santiago gets slowly back to his feet.
Santiago bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
T misses with a jab, cross combination.
Santiago tries to clinch up but T circles away and keeps his distance.

T pushes Santiago up against the cage in a clinch.

T breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. T darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
T throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
T stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and T wants it to stay on the feet.
T tries to close the distance and clinch up but Santiago swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Santiago uses good head movement to avoid the hook from T.
Santiago tries to clinch but T moves away
and T counters with a three punch combo that has Santiago backing up. Santiago nods at T to acknowledge the strikes.

T closes the distance and pushes Santiago back into the cage.
T lands an uppercut.

T breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
T lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
T throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Santiago.
Santiago misses with a jab, cross combination.
Santiago with a poor takedown
and T counters with a stiff right hand.
T stalks Santiago and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Santiago's face. Santiago staggers backwards, shaken.
T connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Santiago's hands.
Santiago tries to clinch up

and T counters by moving into the clinch.
Santiago tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

T's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

T moves into range and clinches up with Santiago.
Santiago tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. T just stands there and leans against the cage.

T breaks the clinch.
Some wild striking there from T.
T throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
T pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Santiago shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Santiago showed some decent athleticism there.

Santiago is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and T defends it well.
T pushes Santiago off looking to stand but Santiago dives back in and keeps control.

Santiago is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
T wants to get back to his feet.
Correa Santiago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santiago is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Santiago looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Santiago is working for a kimura but T is defending it quite comfortably.
Pusha T is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

T has one foot on Santiago's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pusha T showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for T, 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pusha T!