PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Francis Santana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Trent Mitchells (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Francis Santana has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Santana
vs
Mitchells

200 cm
26
260 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

196 cm
18
254 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Francis Santana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Trent Mitchells!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Winston Howard and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mitchells tries to close the distance and clinch but Santana swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Santana with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mitchells counters with a nice body shot.
Mitchells throws a nice looking combination but Santana bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Santana fails with the takedown

and Mitchells counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Santana!
Mitchells controlling the pace for now.
Santana tries to reverse the position but Mitchells maintains control.
Mitchells working Santana over with strikes here.
Mitchells sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Santana gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santana trying to control but Mitchells postures up.
Mitchells controlling the pace.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Trent Mitchells wasn't active enough on the ground.

Mitchells scores a takedown into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mitchells can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Santana is looking to escape.
Mitchells with shots to the head and body - Santana looks very uncomfortable down there.
Mitchells controlling the position easily from mount.
A nice elbow there by Mitchells.
Mitchells takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Mitchells trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana wants to get back to his feet.
Santana blocking the ground and pound.
Santana tries to hold on but Mitchells pushes him away.
Mitchells controlling from mount.

That's four 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.
Mitchells looking to control but Santana is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Mitchells tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Trent Mitchells.
Santana has his takedown stuffed
and Mitchells counters with a thumping low kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francis Santana. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santana is breathing heavily.
Santana keeps the fight on the outside.
Santana has his takedown stuffed

and Mitchells moves into the clinch.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Mitchells is trying to force a seperation but Santana has the dominant position.

Santana turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Santana manages to end up in side control.
Santana prevents Mitchells from escaping the position.
Mitchells is trying to get back to half guard.
Mitchells is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santana working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Mitchells sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Mitchells is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Mitchells tries to roll over but Santana keeps him under control.
Santana is looking to take a break and control but Mitchells is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mitchells wants to get back to his feet.
Santana is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Santana working the head and body with strikes.
Nice strikes from Santana there.
Mitchells is looking to improve his position.
Santana throwing shots but Mitchells is blocking nicely.
Mitchells keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Mitchells pushes Santana off and gets back to his feet.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Santana gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Mitchells's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Mitchells preventing the sweep.
Mitchells is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Mitchells wants to control from the top but Santana keeps moving.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Trent Mitchells wasn't active enough on the ground.
Mitchells looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Santana throws a solid leg kick but Mitchells takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Santana.
Santana has his takedown stuffed

and Mitchells counters by clinching up.

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

Mitchells moves into the clinch successfully.
Mitchells has had enough of the clinch but Santana keeps him there for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trent Mitchells dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Santana shoots and misses
letting Mitchells counter with a right hand.
Mitchells shoots in but no luck this time.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mitchells.
Santana is looking to regain half guard here but Mitchells keeps moving and retains side control.
Mitchells moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Let's hope that Mitchells has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mitchells working the ground and pound.
Mitchells is looking to take a break and control but Santana is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.
Santana manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Mitchells keeping control of the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Trent Mitchells was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Mitchells avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Santana circles away from the clinch attempt.

Santana tries to keep at a distance but Mitchells has taken the fight into the clinch.
Santana is pressed up against the cage. Mitchells has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Santana down to the mat. Santana avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mitchells tests Santana's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Mitchells clinches with his opponent.
Santana is trying to drag Mitchells to the mat but Mitchells just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Santana jumps guard and drags Mitchells to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Santana working for a triangle but Mitchells defends it easily.
Mitchells controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mitchells is in close to Santana's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mitchells advances to half guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Mitchells is looking to advance position but Santana won't allow it.
Mitchells keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Santana kicks Mitchells off and gets back to his feet.
Santana falls off balance throwing a combination

and Mitchells counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mitchells in particular looking to stall.
Santana wants to improve his position but Mitchells is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mitchells controlling the action here.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Mitchells is keen to just control but Santana is a slippery customer.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Mitchells is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Trent Mitchells.
Mitchells scores with a three punch combo!
Mitchells tries to clinch but Santana is having none of it.
Mitchells tries a head kick but it misses.
Mitchells circles away from the clinch attempt

and Mitchells counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mitchells.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Santana is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Santana prevents Mitchells from breaking the clinch.
Mitchells is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Santana pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Francis Santana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Trent Mitchells.

Mitchells lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Mitchells passes to full mount!
Mitchells controlling from the full mount.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Mitchells connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Mitchells controlling the position easily from mount.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Mitchells's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Santana sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Santana connecting with a few gentle strikes.
Mitchells trying to pass the guard but Santana defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trent Mitchells showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Santana misses with a body shot

and Mitchells counters with a shoot takedown. Santana fights it but they end up in guard.
Santana keeping moving, preventing Mitchells from controlling successfully.
Santana is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mitchells postures up in Santana's guard and throws a big left but Santana blocks it.
Santana wants to improve his position but instead Mitchells has moved into half guard.
Santana trying to control here.
Mitchells takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Santana misses with a takedown attempt

and Mitchells counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mitchells has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mitchells controlling from the top position.
Santana trying to keep a closed guard but Mitchells is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mitchells trying to control but Santana is working from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Mitchells stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Francis Santana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mitchells tries to close the distance and clinch up but Santana swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mitchells clobbers Santana with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Mitchells scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Mitchells stalks Santana and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Santana's face. Santana staggers backwards, shaken.
Santana tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Mitchells counters with a stiff right hand.

Mitchells drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Santana being controlled for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mitchells throws a strike aimed at the side of Santana's head but Santana avoids it well.
Santana is letting Mitchells control him for a moment.

Trent Mitchells has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Mitchells wants to clinch.
Mitchells wants to clinch up but Santana keeps it at a distance.

Mitchells has managed to clinch.
Mitchells is working for takedown but Santana is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Mitchells wants to get back to striking at distance but Santana won't allow it.
Mitchells tries to circle away but Santana has him pinned against the cage.
Mitchells has Santana pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Santana manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mitchells drops down looking for an ankle pick but Santana pulls his leg out and moves away.
Francis Santana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Trent Mitchells.
Santana tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Santana has his takedown stuffed

so Mitchells counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mitchells engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

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

Santana working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Mitchells has passed into half guard!
Santana wants to control but Mitchells is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mitchells is taking a breather. Santana says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Trent Mitchells wasn't active enough on the ground.
Santana slips a jab and a cross from Mitchells.
Santana is looking to clinch.
Mitchells misses with a series of wild punches.
Mitchells tries to land a front kick but Santana steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Santana tries to close the distance and clinch but Mitchells swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mitchells tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Santana manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mitchells fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's eight 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.
Mitchells works the jab nicely.
Santana with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mitchells counters with a stiff right hand.
Trent Mitchells is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Mitchells shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Mitchells controlling the action here.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Santana wants to get back to full guard.
Mitchells moves into full mount! Santana won't be happy about that!
Mitchells controlling the position easily from mount.
Francis Santana has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Trent Mitchells comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mitchells has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 26:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 26:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Trent Mitchells!