PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mattheus Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Brooks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Santos
vs
Brooks

182 cm
26
183 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

190 cm
25
175 lbs
6 - 4 - 1

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mattheus Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Phil Brooks!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Eddie Farnsworth and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Santos, right into the meat.
Brooks checks a leg kick.
Brooks thows a body shot but no joy.
Brooks throws a series of punches but Santos avoids them all with ease.

Brooks 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.
Brooks missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Brooks throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Brooks throwing shots but Santos is blocking nicely.
Brooks missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Brooks winds up and cracks Santos with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Brooks is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Santos defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brooks thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Santos's head.
Santos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Brooks 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.
Brooks throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Brooks slows the pace down in half guard.
Brooks throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Brooks throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Brooks is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Santos doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Brooks.
Brooks wants to take a breather but Santos is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Brooks in particular looking to stall.
Brooks is trying to control the action in half guard but Santos is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Brooks throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Brooks lands with a punch from half guard.
Santos blocking the ground and pound attempt from Brooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Brooks stops Santos from getting back to his feet.
Brooks throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Santos is refusing to be controlled, as Brooks sits in half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Brooks connects with a nice short shot to Santos's temple.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Brooks missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Santos blocking the ground and pound attempt from Brooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Brooks dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Brooks fails with the takedown.

Brooks shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Santos's guard.
Brooks postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Brooks tries to free his leg and advance position but Santos is retaining full guard.
Brooks postures up in Santos's guard and throws a big left but Santos blocks it.
Brooks makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Brooks postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Santos has momentary wrist control but Brooks slips an elbow through the middle.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Brooks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Santos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brooks trying to control but Santos is working from the bottom.
Brooks loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Brooks drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Santos dives on top into guard.
Santos trying to control but Brooks is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brooks looking to hit a scissor sweep but Santos is one step ahead there.
Brooks manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Santos manages to get himself to full guard.

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.
Brooks lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Santos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Santos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Brooks has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Brooks looking to pass the guard.
Brooks postures up in Santos's guard and throws a big left but Santos blocks it.
Brooks thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brooks trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Santos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Brooks.
Brooks loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Brooks trying to control but Santos is working from the bottom.

Brooks drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Santos dives on top into guard.
Santos has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Brooks is proving hard to escape from.
Brooks 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.

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.
Santos trying to control but Brooks is working from the bottom.
Santos is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Santos stopping the sweep attempt from Brooks.

Mattheus Santos has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Brooks fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mattheus Santos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A solid body kick from Santos.
Santos plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mattheus Santos will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Brooks tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Santos manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

It looks like Phil Brooks has been cut.

Brooks scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Brooks is looking to take a break and control but Santos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Brooks in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Brooks throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Santos managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Brooks.
Santos defending against the ground and pound.
The ground and pound from Brooks seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brooks working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Brooks trying to control the position but Santos is working away.
Santos defending against the ground and pound.
Brooks with the ground and pound but Santos regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

That's two 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.
Brooks trying to control from Santos's half guard. Santos has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Brooks wants to pass the guard but Santos is keeping the position.
Santos wants to sweep but no luck.
Brooks throws a big right hand that misses.
Brooks in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Brooks throwing strikes from guard but Santos blocks nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brooks with a flurry of punches that miss.
Santos on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Santos tries to get out of the position.
Santos keeping moving, preventing Brooks from controlling successfully.
Brooks throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Brooks trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Brooks is looking to work some ground and pound but Santos has wrist control.
Santos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Brooks throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Brooks missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Santos preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Brooks drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Brooks jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Brooks is looking to work some ground and pound but Santos has wrist control.

Brooks is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Brooks trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phil Brooks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Brooks 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phil Brooks!