PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yuu Saga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miguel Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Saga
vs
Santiago

174 cm
22
158 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
155 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Advantage XXX nutrition
Team S.W.A.T.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yuu Saga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Miguel Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago closes the distance and clinches up with Saga, looking for a takedown. Santiago pushes Saga against the cage but Saga circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Santiago misses with a leg kick.
Santiago shoots in for a double leg but Saga sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Santiago misses with a few strikes there.
Santiago misses with a double jab.

Saga scores a takedown into full mount!
Saga controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saga looking for a guillotine from mount but Santiago is having none of it.
Saga won't let Santiago get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Saga looking to control and managing it successfully.
Santiago is trying desperately to improve position.
Saga takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Yuu Saga just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Santiago throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's two 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.
Saga dodges the punch combination from Santiago.
Saga misses with a takedown attempt - Santiago sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Saga looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Santiago!

Saga with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Saga is breathing heavily.
Saga wants to control the pace but Santiago is squirming around nicely.
Saga looking to control and managing it successfully.
Santiago is trying to escape the mount.
Saga can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Santiago is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is in all sorts of trouble here.
Saga looking to control and managing it successfully.
Santiago is looking to get to half guard.
Saga controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Yuu Saga just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Santiago slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Santiago misses with a jab, cross combination.
Santiago tests Saga's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Santiago tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Saga closes the distance and clinches up with Santiago, looking for a takedown. Saga pushes Santiago against the cage but Santiago circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Saga shoots for a takedown but Santiago saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuu Saga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santiago misses with a jab, cross combination.
Santiago throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Santiago stuffs the takedown attempt from Saga. Saga gets slowly back to his feet.
Santiago swinging wilding here.
Saga keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuu Saga dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Saga slips a jab and a cross from Santiago.
No luck for Santiago with that takedown attempt.
Saga keeps the fight on the outside.
Santiago lands a jab-cross combination.
Santiago throws a series of strikes that have Saga backpedaling.

Saga changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Santiago looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Saga staying calm.
Saga has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Saga trying to control the position but Santiago is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santiago prevents Saga from improving position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saga wants to control but Santiago is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago seems a little lost for a moment, as Saga dominates the positioning.
Santiago can't do much from the bottom here.
Santiago defending against the ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Santiago throws a combination. Saga tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Santiago tries for a takedown but Saga circles away easily

and Saga counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Saga.
Saga controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santiago lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Saga!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago throwing strikes but Saga uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Santiago is looking for a kimura but Saga is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Santiago to get the leverage.
Saga has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Santiago is working away from the top position though.
Saga is doing well to control the position and prevent Santiago from advancing to side control.
Santiago wants to get back to his feet.

Santiago 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.
Saga is holding on to half guard well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saga gets full guard.
Saga has his hands on Santiago's head, controlling the position.
Saga lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Santiago!
Saga sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Saga looking for a guillotine from mount but Santiago is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Saga goes for an armbar but Santiago turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Santiago.
Santiago would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Santiago stands up from Saga's guard - Santiago perhaps looking for a knockout.
Santiago doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Saga counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Santiago's guard now.
Yuu Saga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miguel Santiago.
Saga forces his way into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saga passes to side control.
Saga wants to control but Santiago is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuu Saga dominated that second round.
That's time! Saga's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Santiago tries to clinch but Saga is having none of it.
Santiago scores with a three punch combo!

Saga closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Santiago sneaks back into half guard.
Santiago wants to control but Saga is keeping busy.
Saga is controlling the pace.

Santiago actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santiago works his way to full guard. Good work.
Saga stops Santiago from standing up.
Saga is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago keeping full guard, as Saga tries to pass.

Saga drops back looking for a leg! Santiago is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Santiago manages to kick Saga off! Saga jumps back into Santiago's guard.
Santiago is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Saga is controlling him.
Santiago can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Saga controls the pace.

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.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Yuu Saga just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Saga looks for a takedown but Santiago sprawls well.
Santiago looks to land a combination. Saga sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Saga gets a takedown into half guard.
Saga controlling the action here.
Saga moves nicely into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saga is looking to take a break and control but Santiago is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Santiago is being controlled here.

Saga wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Santiago, who protects the arm well.
Santiago gets back to half guard.

Santiago looking for submissions off his back.
Santiago is looking to improve his position.

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.
Saga wants to take a breather but Santiago is having none of it.
Saga trying to control the pace.
Santiago is looking to improve his position.

Santiago looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Saga is taking a breather. Santiago 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.

Saga is looking for a kimura but Santiago is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Saga to get the leverage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Santiago throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Saga drives through with a takedown into guard.
Miguel Santiago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Saga is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Santiago trying to strike off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuu Saga showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Saga, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuu Saga!