PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Taleco Siqueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karol Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Siqueira
vs
Santiago

190 cm
18
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Taleco Siqueira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Karol Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A thudding body kick lands there by Siqueira!
Siqueira slaps away a takedown attempt from Santiago, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Siqueira moves into the clinch.
Santiago prevents a takedown attempt there.
Santiago drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Siqueira gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Siqueira throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Santiagos head.
A short uppercut from Siqueira.
Santiago tries for a takedown but Siqueira manages to get underhooks.
Taleco Siqueira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Karol Santiago.
Santiago changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Siqueira fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Siqueira throws a series of punches but Santiago avoids them all with ease.
Siqueira connects with a high kick.
Santiago fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Siqueira fails with an attempt to clinch.
Santiago throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Siqueira closes the distance and clinches.
Siqueira stalling in the clinch but Santiago improves position.
Siqueira gets underhooks to prevent Santiago's takedown attempt.
Santiago looks gassed!

Santiago pulls guard.
Siqueira wants to control from the top but Santiago keeps moving.
Siqueira has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Siqueira would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Siqueira throws a big right hand that misses.
Siqueira's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Santiago is trying to keep Siqueira in close.
Santiago being controlled here, momentarily.
Santiago looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Siqueira is looking to work some ground and pound but Santiago has wrist control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Santiago.

Siqueira takes the fight into the clinch.

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.
Siqueira connects with a knee to the head.
Siqueira with a knee to the head.
Siqueira lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Siqueira dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Siqueira with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Siqueira just leaning against Santiago, taking a breather.
Siqueira lands with a short shot to the head.
Santiago tries to pull guard but Siqueira holds him up against the cage and eventually Santiago drops back down to his feet.
Siqueira taking a breather.

Siqueira breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Siqueira shoots in and bounces Santiago off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Santiago 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.
Siqueira sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago looking to control.
Siqueira is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Santiago looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Santiago is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Santiago keeping moving, preventing Siqueira from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Siqueira is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Santiago looking for a sweep. Not yet Santiago, not yet.
Santiago pulls Siqueira in close to prevent any damage.
Siqueira showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Santiago throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Siqueira stopping the sweep attempt from Santiago.
Siqueira stays in close to Santiago's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taleco Siqueira dominated that round.
That's time! Siqueira's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Siqueira keeps Santiago at a distance using the push kick.
Santiago avoids the body shot from Siqueira.
Santiago swats away the attempt to clinch by Siqueira.
Santiago misses with a takedown
and Siqueira counters with a series of strikes. Santiago will be more careful next time no doubt.
Santiago misses with a takedown attempt

and Siqueira counters by clinching up.
Siqueira lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Siqueira gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Santiago.
Taleco Siqueira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Karol Santiago.

Siqueira manages to break the clinch.

Siqueira rushes Santiago and presses him up against the cage.
Siqueira softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Siqueira lands an elbow inside.
Siqueira gets through Santiago's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A hook to the body from Siqueira.

Siqueira jumps into guard, dragging Santiago to the mat.
Santiago trying to control but Siqueira is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Siqueira working for a triangle but Santiago defends it easily.

Santiago drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Siqueira dives on top into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Siqueira would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Siqueira knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Santiago on the ground.
Santiago avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two 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.
Siqueira trying to control but Santiago is working from the bottom.
Siqueira is really struggling to control Santiago but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Siqueira drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Siqueira jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Santiago wants to sweep here but Siqueira controlling him for the moment.
Siqueira trying to control but Santiago is working from the bottom.
Siqueira not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

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

Santiago scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Santiago sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Siqueira defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santiago wants to work for an arm triangle but Siqueira is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Siqueira tries to get to full guard but Santiago has control of the leg.

Santiago stands up from half guard.
Santiago keeps the fight on the outside.

Siqueira gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Santiago to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Santiago passes Siqueira's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Siqueira is trying to stand back up but Santiago is controlling him
Santiago is controlling the pace.
Santiago trying to control from half guard but Siqueira is working away.

Santiago decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karol Santiago showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Danga de danga de dang - Siqueira scores with a four punch combination!
Santiago shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Siqueira counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Siqueira.
Santiago jumps guard but Siqueira stands there with Santiago around his waist. Santiago gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Santiago tries for a takedown. No joy.
Taleco Siqueira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Karol Santiago.
Nice elbow from Siqueira.

Siqueira pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Santiago steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Siqueira. That one must have hurt.

Siqueira clinches with his opponent.
Siqueira lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Siqueira takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Siqueira breaks from the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santiago misses with a takedown

and Siqueira counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Santiago wants to control but Siqueira is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Siqueira keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santiago makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Siqueira tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Santiago shoots and misses
and Siqueira counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Santiago misses with a takedown

and Siqueira moves into the clinch.
Santiago can't get the takedown.

Santiago has picked Siqueira up - he's going for a ride! Santiago dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Siqueira wants to get back to full guard.
Karol Santiago has got the better of the ground game so far.
Santiago wants to lay and pray for a moment but Siqueira keeps working.
Santiago is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Santiago might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Siqueira kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santiago is trying to work for a kimura but Siqueira is defending well.
Santiago trying to pass the guard but Siqueira defending well.
Santiago trying to control the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Santiago shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Siqueira counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Santiago is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Santiago circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Siqueira pinned against the cage. Siqueira gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Santiago tries for a takedown but Siqueira circles away easily

and Siqueira counters with a takedown into side control.
Santiago is being controlled here.
Siqueira wants to control but Santiago is keeping him busy.
Who's going to make the next move?
Santiago tries to bench press Siqueira off him but Siqueira keeps the position.
Siqueira is looking to take a break and control but Santiago is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Santiago is trying to buck Siqueira off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Siqueira has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Santiago with a poor takedown
and Siqueira counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Santiago finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Siqueira has managed to clinch.
Santiago is trying to drag Siqueira to the mat but Siqueira just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Siqueira prevents the takedown attempt.

Santiago manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Santiago manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Siqueira is in all sorts of trouble here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taleco Siqueira showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Siqueira has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taleco Siqueira!