PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jonny Knoxville (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alejandro Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jonny Knoxville has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Knoxville
vs
Santiago

200 cm
21
140 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

163 cm
26
144 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jonny Knoxville!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alejandro Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Knoxville scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Santiago prevents Knoxville from moving into mount.
Knoxville working away.

Knoxville thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Santiago sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Santiago keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Santiago kicks Knoxville off and gets back to his feet.

Santiago closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Knoxville really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Santiago prevents Knoxville from improving his position.
Knoxville wants to control but Santiago is keeping busy.

Knoxville is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Santiago pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Knoxville looking for submissions off his back.
Knoxville on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Santiago scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Santiago is keen to just control but Knoxville is a slippery customer.

Knoxville looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Knoxville looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Knoxville is breathing heavily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Knoxville manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Knoxville looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Santiago stands up over Knoxville, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Knoxville has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Santiago can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Santiago drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Santiago jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Santiago makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Santiago gets to his feet - Knoxville follows without any prompting.

Knoxville drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Santiago 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.
Santiago controlling the position.
Knoxville looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is adopting a defensive guard.
Knoxville stays in close to Santiago's body and controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jonny Knoxville just wasn't active enough.

Knoxville looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Santiago is controlling Knoxville's posture.
Let's hope that Santiago 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.
Santiago is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Knoxville not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Alejandro Santiago hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Santiago tries for a takedown but Knoxville circles away easily

and Knoxville counters with a nice double leg into side control. Santiago won't be happy with that.
Santiago can't do much from the bottom here.
Knoxville wants to control but Santiago is keeping him busy.
Santiago is trying to get back to half guard.
Knoxville wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santiago keeps working.
Santiago manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knoxville wants to take a breather but Santiago is having none of it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Santiago tries to kick Knoxville off but Knoxville keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Knoxville content to control rather than advance.

Knoxville is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jonny Knoxville will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Santiago shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Knoxville has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Santiago can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Santiago avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Santiago postures up and lands a big shot to Knoxville's brow.
Santiago content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Knoxville is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Jonny Knoxville overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Knoxville keeping moving, preventing Santiago from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Knoxville looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Knoxville is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Santiago is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Santiago lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Santiago drops back looking for a leg! Knoxville is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Knoxville manages to kick Santiago off! Santiago jumps back into Knoxville's guard.

Knoxville working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Santiago doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Santiago manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

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.

Knoxville is working an open guard so Santiago takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Santiago throws a head kick that misses
and Knoxville counters with a good low kick that Santiago was not able to check.
Santiago rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Knoxville moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Santiago misses with a takedown attempt

and Knoxville counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Santiago controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Knoxville throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Santiago is controlling Knoxville's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Knoxville escapes and gets back to his feet.

Knoxville shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Santiago is trying to defend but Knoxville finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago wants to improve his position but Knoxville is controlling well.
Knoxville is just content to waste time from the top position. Santiago takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Santiago has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Knoxville avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Knoxville trying to control but Santiago is working from the bottom.

Santiago looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

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.

Santiago working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Knoxville doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Knoxville manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Knoxville thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Santiago working for submissions but it's allowed Knoxville to get to half guard.
Santiago is staying active underneath Knoxville, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nice strikes from Knoxville there.
Knoxville thows a huge punch but Santiago dodges it nicely.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Knoxville in particular looking to stall.
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 Jonny Knoxville will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Santiago lands a head kick!

Santiago looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Knoxville is trying to get back to full guard.
Knoxville trying to hold on to Santiago's head to control him but Santiago postures up.
Santiago winds up and cracks Knoxville with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Knoxville is trying to get back to full guard.
Santiago is looking to take a break and control but Knoxville is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knoxville wants to improve his position but Santiago is controlling well.

Knoxville looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Santiago is working for a submission of some sort.

Santiago is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Knoxville is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Santiago scores with a couple of nice shots.
Knoxville is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Knoxville looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Santiago controlling the action here.
Knoxville is looking to improve his position.

Knoxville is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Santiago pulls his head out easily.

Knoxville looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Santiago looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Santiago is nestled in close to Knoxville, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knoxville looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Knoxville has hold of Santiago's hands but Santiago slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Santiago seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Knoxville is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Alejandro Santiago!