PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gancho Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fred Garrido (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.

Santos
vs
Garrido

184 cm
25
191 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gancho Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fred Garrido!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Garrido decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Garrido 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.
Santos moves into full guard.
Garrido preventing the sweep.

Santos scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Garrido tries to score a power double leg takedown but Santos sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Garrido somewhat.
No luck for Garrido with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos throws a head kick but Garrido moves out of range.
Garrido shoots for a double leg takedown but Santos sprawls well. He's pushed Garrido's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gancho Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fred Garrido.

Garrido changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Santos looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Garrido thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Garrido goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Santos rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Garrido's guard! Nice work there by Santos!
Santos throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Garrido works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Garrido is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santos has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Santos sitting in guard, not really doing much.

We're going to have a standup here because Gancho Santos wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Santos misses with a takedown

and Garrido counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Santos's guard now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Garrido is looking to advance position but Santos has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Garrido tries to hold on but Santos postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos looking to control but Garrido is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Santos is really struggling to control Garrido but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Santos jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Garrido is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Garrido and Santos has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Garrido regains half guard there - taking advantage of Santos's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Santos prevents Garrido from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Santos missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Santos tries to pass to full mount but Garrido defends it.
Garrido tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Santos manages to move to mount!
Garrido is working to get back to half guard.
Garrido wants to control but Santos is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Garrido dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Garrido fails with the takedown

and Santos counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Santos.
Santos presses Garrido against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Garrido goes for a takedown in the clinch but Santos prevents it.

Santos jumps guard.
Garrido looking to pass the guard.
Santos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Garrido!
Garrido wants to hold on but Santos pushes him away.

Santos is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
A slow jab from Santos misses its intended target.
Garrido fails with the takedown

and Santos counters with a nice double leg into side control. Garrido won't be happy with that.
Gancho Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fred Garrido.
Garrido is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Santos tries to advance to mount but Garrido instead regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garrido tries to roll over but Santos keeps him under control.
Santos sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Santos is just content to waste time from the top position. Garrido takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Santos preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garrido is trying to keep Santos in close.
Santos is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Garrido tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Santos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Santos lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Santos preventing the sweep.

Santos has gone for a leg lock! Garrido slips out almost immediately though and dives into Santos's guard.
Garrido stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santos swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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.
Garrido slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Santos.

Garrido is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Garrido is trying to work for a kimura but Santos is defending well.
Garrido wants to pass to mount but Santos is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gancho Santos dominated that second round.
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!

Garrido doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Santos counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Garrido!
Santos avoids the attempt from Garrido to control.

Santos stands up from mount. Strange move.
Santos fails with the takedown

and Garrido counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Garrido is pressing down on Santos's thigh, looking to free his foot. Santos is holding on for now.
Garrido is thwarting Santos's attempts to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Garrido is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Santos is just riding it out for now. Garrido eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santos is trying to get back to full guard.
Garrido wants to pass the guard but Santos is defending well.

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.
Garrido passes into side control, despite Santos's attempt to control the position.
Santos looks to move to half guard but instead Garrido has passed into mount! Damn!

Garrido moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Santos has worked his arm free - good work by Santos!

Garrido is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Santos knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Santos tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Garrido wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos can't do much from the bottom here.

Garrido tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Garrido goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Santos rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Garrido's guard! Nice work there by Santos!
Santos is stalling in the full guard.

That's four 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.
Santos wants to pass the guard but Garrido is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Garrido is on top in guard.
Santos trying to control the position.
Garrido stands and throws Santos's legs to the side, diving into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Fred Garrido.
I think Garrido 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fred Garrido!