PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jos Santana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nagorian Zeraka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zeraka comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Bundy kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! On his way into the cage it seems that Jos Santana has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Jos Santana seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Santana
vs
Zeraka

190 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jos Santana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nagorian Zeraka!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Stewart Dunkirk and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zeraka shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Zeraka missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Zeraka blocks the strikes from Santana.
Santana has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zeraka is working away from the top position though.
Santana moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Zeraka throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Santana works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zeraka must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zeraka stands up over Santana, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santana looking to control.
Zeraka postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Zeraka with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zeraka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Santana preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zeraka working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Santana's head.
Santana keeping full guard, as Zeraka tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santana utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Santana looking to control.
Zeraka throws a strike but Santana rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Zeraka keeping moving, preventing Santana from controlling successfully.
Zeraka 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.
Zeraka avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Zeraka looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Santana passes into side control.
Santana trying to control the position but Zeraka is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Zeraka holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Zeraka is trying to improve his position.
Santana is looking to take a break and control but Zeraka is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Santana gets to mount! Zeraka was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Zeraka manages to control the position for a moment.
Zeraka tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Santana trying to control but Zeraka is having none of it.
Zeraka tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeraka sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Zeraka flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Zeraka is controlling Santana's position as best he can from this difficult position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zeraka can do anything to dispel that myth.
Santana trying to control from half guard but Zeraka is working away.
Zeraka is pressing down on Santana's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Zeraka keeping moving, preventing Santana from controlling successfully.
Zeraka is trying to control the position but Santana postures up.
Zeraka looks gassed!
Zeraka might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Santana kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santana passes Zeraka's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Santana stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Santana misses with a takedown attempt

and Zeraka decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Santana's guard.
Zeraka throws a big right hand that misses.
Zeraka throwing strikes but missing.
Zeraka throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Santana works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zeraka postures up in Santana's guard and throws a big left but Santana blocks it.
Zeraka content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Santana looking for a sweep. Not yet Santana, not yet.
Zeraka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Santana is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nagorian Zeraka dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jos Santana'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.

Zeraka looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Zeraka throwing strikes but missing.
Zeraka missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nagorian Zeraka has got the better of the ground game so far.
Santana wants to sweep but no luck.
Zeraka is working Santana over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Zeraka thows a big elbow that misses.
Zeraka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santana swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zeraka is breathing heavily.
Zeraka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zeraka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santana is keeping the position for now.
Santana manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeraka is squirming around, avoiding Santana's attempts to control the action.
Zeraka is trying desperately to improve position.
Santana looking to control but Zeraka is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zeraka tries to hold on but Santana postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Zeraka is squirming around, avoiding Santana's attempts to control the action.
Zeraka is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Zeraka really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Santana throws some wild stikes that Zeraka manages to avoid easily.
Zeraka is working to get back to half guard.

Santana working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Zeraka is looking to get to half guard.
Zeraka really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Santana. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Zeraka tries to control Santana's body but Santana pushes him off. Zeraka squirms to his side and now Santana has his back!
Santana trying to control.
I really don't envy Zeraka right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Santana misses with punches from the back.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Santana's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
You can see the frustration on Zeraka's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Zeraka is taking damage to the body and head.
Will Santana go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Santana is really struggling to control Zeraka but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Santana throws a series of strikes and Zeraka wriggles onto his back, so he's now mounted. He's in real trouble here.
Santana trying to control but Zeraka is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jos Santana dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jos Santana's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Santana throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Zeraka.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Santana enables Zeraka to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Santana manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Zeraka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zeraka throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Santana works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zeraka prevents Santana from getting back to his feet.

Zeraka stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Santana has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Zeraka manages to get his head free but now Santana has transitioned to an armbar! Zeraka grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Santana! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jos Santana!