PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ronaldo Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Santiago
vs
Machida

185 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ronaldo Santiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lyoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Santiago tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Machida manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Santiago misses with a lunging right hand
and Machida counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Santiago thinking.
Santiago throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Machida counters with a straight right hand.
Santiago avoids the body shot from Machida.
Good standup being displayed there by Machida as he connects with a hook.

Santiago gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Machida wants to break the clinch but can't.
Machida wants to get back to striking at distance but Santiago won't allow it.
Nice body punch from Santiago.

Santiago's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Santiago misses with a right hand
and Machida counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Santiago showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Machida.
Santiago misses with a hook
letting Machida counter with a right hand.
Santiago misses with a combination
and Machida counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Santiago slips a jab and a cross from Machida.
Santiago misses with a lunging right hand
and Santiago takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Santiago is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Santiago misses with a combination
and Machida counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ronaldo Santiago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machida scores with a decent looking hook.
Santiago throws a poor cross that misses
and Machida counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Santiago throws a leg kick but Machida checks it.
Santiago swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Machida counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Santiago throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Machida counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Machida throws a head kick that misses.
Machida misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A looping hook to the body misses from Machida. Santiago does a little dance to reset his feet.
Santiago misses with a right hand
and Machida counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Machida throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Santiago pushes Machida up against the cage in a clinch.
A short right from Santiago.

Santiago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Santiago throws a right hand that misses
and Machida counters with a two punch combo.
Santiago throws an off balance right hand
and Machida counters with a left to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Santiago moves in looking to clinch but Machida pushes him off.
Machida is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Santiago had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Santiago falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Machida to counter with a crisp jab.
Machida throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida scores with a body shot.

Santiago has closed the distance and engaged Machida in a clinch.

Santiago pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A combination from Machida does no damage.
Machida lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Santiago circles away quickly and effectively.
Machida keeps the fight on the outside.
Santiago throws a combination that misses
and Machida counters with a right hand to the body.
Santiago throws a right hand that misses
letting Machida counter with a right hand.
Santiago misses with a lunging right hand
and Machida counters with a straight right hand.
Santiago wants to clinch but Machida slips to the side
and Machida counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Santiago throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Machida counters with a nice uppercut.
Santiago throws an off balance right hand
and Machida counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago swings widly with a right hand
and Machida counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Santiago falls off balance throwing a combination
and Machida cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Santiago is breathing heavily.
Santiago misses with a right hand
and Machida counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Machida fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Santiago on the side of the head.
Machida throws a head kick that misses.

Santiago has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short left from Santiago.
Machida can't break the clinch.
Machida wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Santiago looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Machida wants to break the clinch but can't.

Santiago escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Santiago falls off balance throwing a combination
and Machida counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida dominated that round.
That's time! Santiago's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Machida lands a nice shot to the body.
Santiago falls off balance throwing a combination
and Machida counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Machida scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Santiago fails in his attempt to clinch.
Machida misses with a looping right.
Machida avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Machida circles away from the clinch attempt.
Machida dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machida connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Santiago momentarily.
Santiago misses with a right hand
and Machida connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Santiago throws a low kick but Machida avoids it.
Santiago tries to clinch there but Machida circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago misses with a hook
enabling Machida to counter with a crisp jab.
Santiago needs to keep his hands up - Machida had a free shot at his head there.
Santiago moves in looking to clinch but Machida pushes him off.
Some wild striking there from Machida.
Machida lands with a shot to the body.
Machida shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Santiago eats them both and turns towards Machida to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Santiago throws a right hand that misses
and Santiago takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Machida lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Machida.
Lyoto Machida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Santiago throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Machida counters with a left and a right that stings Santiago.

Santiago rushes Machida and presses him up against the cage.
Santiago lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santiago manages to break the clinch.
Santiago fails with an attempt to clinch.
Machida scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Santiago misses with a right hand
and Machida cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A jab from Machida finds it's way through Santiago's defenses.
Machida dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Santiago swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Machida counters with a straight right hand.
Santiago fails in his attempt to clinch.
Machida tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Santiago is able to avoid easily.
A slow jab from Machida misses its intended target.
Santiago tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Machida manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice shot lands for Machida.
Santiago walks into a stiff left hand from Machida.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida scores with a sloppy right hand. Santiago should have avoided that one.
Santiago throws a combination. Machida tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Lyoto Machida has been cut.
Santiago ducks under a wild hook from Machida.
Machida lands with a shot to the body.
Santiago ducks under a wild hook from Machida.
Santiago tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Machida manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Santiago connects with a single shot there.
Santiago misses with a right hand
and Machida counters with a stiff right hand.
Machida swings for the body but Santiago moves out of range.
Santiago is looking to chop away at Machida's legs.
Santiago throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Santiago takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Santiago throws a poor cross that misses
and Machida counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago tries to clinch but Machida is having none of it.
Machida paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Machida connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A shot to the liver by Santiago. Beautiful body shot.
Machida is breathing heavily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Machida ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Santiago misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Santiago drives through and clinches with Machida against the cage.

Santiago breaks from the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santiago misses with a hook to the body
and Machida counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Machida misses with a looping left.
Lyoto Machida seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Santiago moves into range and connects with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronaldo Santiago dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Lyoto Machida's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Machida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Santiago.
Santiago throws a right hand that misses
and Machida counters with a nice uppercut.
Santiago throws a lazy uppercut
and Machida counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Santiago steps into range and cracks Machida with a monster punch that buckles his knees! Machida flops backwards and Santiago dives into his guard looking to finish!

Machida is rocked!
Santiago missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Santiago thows a big elbow that misses.
Santiago throws a big right hand that misses.
Santiago is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Machida working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Santiago.
Machida takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Machida wants to get back to his feet but Santiago is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Santiago throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Santiago in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Santiago throws and elbow that misses. Machida uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Santiago's guard. Nice move by Machida!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Santiago is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Machida is controlling him.

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.

Ronaldo Santiago has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Santiago looks to land a combination but Machida avoids it well.
Santiago throws a poor cross that misses
and Machida counters with a nice uppercut.
Santiago tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Machida paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Santiago tries to clinch there but Machida circles away.
Santiago is looking to clinch but Machida is avoiding it.
Santiago wants to land a leg kick but Machida is out of range.
Santiago tries to clinch up but Machida circles away and keeps his distance.
Santiago tries to close the distance and clinch but Machida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Santiago misses with an uppercut
and Machida counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Machida misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago misses with a hook
and Machida counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Machida misses with a jab, cross combination.

Santiago pushes Machida up against the cage in a clinch.

Santiago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Santiago walks into a jab.
Machida pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Santiago gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Santiago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A looping hook to the body misses from Machida. Santiago does a little dance to reset his feet.
Santiago tries to close the distance and clinch but Machida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Machida feints a jab promting Santiago to slip. Machida then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Santiago slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Santiago has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Machida finds it's way round the side to connect with Santiago's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Santiago.
Machida connects with a crisp jab.
Santiago moves in looking to clinch but Machida pushes him off.

Santiago clinches up against the cage.

Santiago breaks from the clinch.
Santiago misses with a combination
and Santiago takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Santiago tries to clinch but Machida moves out of range.
Machida connects with a jab.
Santiago swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Machida counters with a nice body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Santiago. Machida does a little dance to reset his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ronaldo Santiago showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Santiago has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronaldo Santiago!