PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mateus Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jacques Carlo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Santiago
vs
Carlo

188 cm
24
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mateus Santiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jacques Carlo!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Sergei Dronov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Santiago closes the distance and clinches.
Carlo has Santiago pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Santiago manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Santiago stops a takedown attempt from Carlo.
Carlo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Santiago is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mateus Santiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacques Carlo.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Carlo takes a shot to the head.
Santiago scores with a shot to the side of Carlo's head.

Carlo gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Carlo gets to his feet - Santiago follows without any prompting.
Santiago wants to clinch up but Carlo keeps it at a distance.
Santiago leaves Carlo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Carlo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Santiago pinned against the cage. Santiago gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Carlo is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Santiago.

It looks like Jacques Carlo has been cut.
Santiago tries to clinch there but Carlo circles away.
Carlo has a takedown stuffed.
Carlo looks gassed!
Santiago wants to clinch.
Santiago tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago is looking to clinch but Carlo is avoiding it.

Santiago closes the distance and clinches.
Carlo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Santiago pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Santiago gets underhooks to prevent Carlo's takedown attempt.
Santiago pushes Carlo back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Santiago.
Santiago is looking to control Carlo's arms but Carlo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Santiago has his back to the cage.
Santiago working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Santiago slowing the pace effectively.
Santiago seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Santiago cracks Carlo with a nice body shot.
Carlo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Santiago lands with a light punch inside.
Santiago pressing his opponent against the cage.
Santiago lands with a left to the head.
Santiago lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Carlo or not.
Santiago throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Santiago will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Carlo up against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Santiago.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carlo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Santiago's efforts to push away.
Santiago lands a shoulder strike.
Santiago digs a right hand into Carlo's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Carlo's gas tank.
Santiago is trying to stall.
Santiago throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Carlos head.
Carlo tries to pull guard but Santiago won't allow it.
Carlo prevents Santiago from breaking the clinch.

Carlo gets control of Santiago's arms and successfully pulls guard. Carlo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Carlo can do anything to dispel that myth.
Santiago controls from within his opponent's guard.
Carlo wants to stand up but Santiago is controlling him.

Carlo working for a triangle but Santiago defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santiago stands up from Carlo's guard - Santiago perhaps looking for a knockout.
Santiago throws a shot to the body.
Santiago doesn't manage to clinch there - Carlo circles away.
Santiago misses with a two punch combination.

Santiago gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Carlo tries to pull guard but Santiago holds him up against the cage and eventually Carlo drops back down to his feet.
A short uppercut from Santiago.
Carlo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Santiago pulls his leg out and moves away.
Carlo keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santiago clinches.

Carlo manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Santiago wants to pass the guard but Carlo is keeping the position.

Santiago avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Santiago decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Nice straight punches there by Santiago. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Santiago.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Carlo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Carlo keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mateus Santiago dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jacques Carlo's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Carlo tries a head kick but it misses.
Santiago tries to close the distance and clinch up but Carlo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Carlo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Santiago is fending him off so far but Carlo persists. Nope, Santiago circles away and we're back to standing.
Santiago fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Santiago throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Carlo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Santiago looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Carlo looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Santiago is avoiding damage well.
Santiago is looking for a sweep.
Santiago is working hard here to advance position.
Check out the look on Carlo's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Santiago struggling a bit here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlo working the ground and pound from side control.
Santiago knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Carlo on the ground.
You can see the frustration on Santiago's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

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

Carlo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santiago is looking to improve his position.

Carlo decides to return to a standing position.
Santiago doesn't manage to clinch there - Carlo circles away.
No luck for Carlo with that takedown attempt.
Carlo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Santiago as he avoids it easily.
Mateus Santiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacques Carlo.
Santiago lands with a nice combination. Carlo backs away looking to recover.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Carlo has Santiago up against the cage in a clinch.
Santiago wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Santiago gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Carlo.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Carlo.
Carlo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Santiago smiles and moves away.
Mateus Santiago is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A right-left combo lands from Santiago.

Carlo clinches up against the cage.

Carlo jumps into guard, dragging Santiago to the mat.

Carlo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Santiago can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Santiago stands up and waves to Carlo to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carlo circles away from the clinch attempt

and Carlo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Santiago's guard.
Santiago keeping full guard, as Carlo tries to pass.
Carlo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Carlo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santiago swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Santiago wants to sweep here but Carlo controlling him for the moment.
Carlo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Carlo cracks Santiago with a big right hand but Santiago just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Carlo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santiago defending against the ground and pound.

Carlo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Santiago knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Santiago tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Carlo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacques Carlo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jacques Carlo's cut.
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!

Carlo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Santiago as he jumps to the side.
Santiago tries to clinch but Carlo moves away

and Carlo counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Carlo is working Santiago over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Santiago looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Carlo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Jacques Carlo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Carlo throwing strikes but missing.
Carlo preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Carlo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Santiago's guard.
Santiago keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Carlo darts in trying to clinch
and Santiago counters with a left and a right that stings Carlo.
Santiago wants to clinch but Carlo slips to the side

and Carlo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Santiago prevents a takedown attempt there.
Santiago lands with a short shot to the head.
Santiago lands a left hand.
Carlo goes for a takedown attempt but Santiago pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mateus Santiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacques Carlo.
Jab, jab by Santiago - just one landing.
Carlo circles away from the clinch attempt

so Carlo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carlo with a flurry of punches that miss.

Carlo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Carlo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
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.
Santiago looking to control.
Carlo is pushing down on Santiago's leg trying to pass to half guard. Santiago is fighting to maintain full guard but Carlo has managed to sneak the leg through.
Santiago is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Carlo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Carlo's back!
Carlo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Carlo avoids the strikes from Santiago.
Carlo turns into Santiago and is now in his guard.
Santiago working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Carlo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carlo is looking to stand up but Santiago won't let him.
Santiago looking for a sweep. Not yet Santiago, not yet.
Santiago trying to keep a closed guard but Carlo is proving a slippery customer.
Santiago utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Carlo wants to pass the guard but Santiago is keeping the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Santiago closes the distance but Carlo moves to the side

and Carlo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Carlo preventing the sweep.
Carlo postures up.
Santiago keeping full guard, as Carlo tries to pass.
Carlo wants to stand but Santiago is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carlo passes Santiago's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Santiago is looking for a sweep. Carlo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Santiago looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Carlo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Santiago with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Carlo throwing shots but Santiago is blocking nicely.
Carlo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters are battling for position here. Santiago manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Carlo lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Santiago not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Santiago working for a triangle but Carlo defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jacques Carlo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Carlo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jacques Carlo!