PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Karol Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rickson Gracie Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Rickson Gracie Jr was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Santiago
vs
Gracie Jr

185 cm
19
182 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

184 cm
19
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Karol Santiago!
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, Rickson Gracie Jr!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Felipe Paraventi and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gracie Jr looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Santiago throws a right and a left that Gracie Jr avoids nicely.

Gracie Jr changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Santiago looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Santiago wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Gracie Jr is trying to get an arm triangle but Santiago is defending well.
Santiago is trying to get back to his feet.
Gracie Jr slows the pace down.
Gracie Jr prevents Santiago from escaping the position.

Gracie Jr decides to stand up, so the ref orders Santiago to his feet.
Santiago doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Gracie Jr counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gracie Jr.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santiago manages to break the clinch.
Gracie Jr on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Santiago will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gracie Jr closes the distance and clinches up with Santiago, looking for a takedown. Gracie Jr pushes Santiago against the cage but Santiago circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Gracie Jr shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Santiago is trying to defend but Gracie Jr finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Nice strikes from Gracie Jr there.

Santiago kicks off Gracie Jr and gets to his feet.
Santiago is breathing heavily.
Gracie Jr shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Santiago pinned against the cage. Santiago gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Santiago doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie Jr circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago misses with a takedown attempt

and Gracie Jr counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie Jr with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Gracie Jr landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Gracie Jr has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gracie Jr landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie Jr trying to control the pace.
Santiago is trying to stand back up but Gracie Jr is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Gracie Jr there.
Gracie Jr keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Gracie Jr frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gracie Jr controlling from the full mount.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Santiago wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Gracie Jr controlling his opponent.
Santiago taking shots to the head.
Santiago tries to buck Gracie Jr off but he can't manage it.
Santiago in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Gracie Jr working the ground and pound effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rickson Gracie Jr dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gracie Jr closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Santiago wants to get back to his feet.
Gracie Jr not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gracie Jr throwing shots but Santiago is blocking nicely.
Gracie Jr prevents Santiago from standing back up.

Gracie Jr gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gracie Jr closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Santiago to the mat! Santiago manages to get full guard.
Gracie Jr sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie Jr stops Santiago from standing up.

Santiago has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Gracie Jr off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Gracie Jr shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Gracie Jr seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie Jr seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Santiago pushes Gracie Jr off looking to stand but Gracie Jr dives back in and keeps control.
Santiago avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracie Jr.
Santiago looks like he's trying to stand up.
Gracie Jr trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago wants to get back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Gracie Jr shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Santiago napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Santiago is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Gracie Jr trying to control the action but Santiago is working from the bottom.
Gracie Jr passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Santiago!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie Jr controlling his opponent.
Gracie Jr tries to control but Santiago wriggling away.
Santiago is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rickson Gracie Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Gracie Jr changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Santiago looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Santiago is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Gracie Jr is staying tight to Santiago's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Santiago wants to get back to his feet but Gracie Jr drags him back down.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie Jr is working to tighten is grip on Santiago's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Santiago has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Gracie Jr is really squeezing tight and eventually Santiago passes out! Gracie Jr breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Rickson Gracie Jr!