PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nate Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes into a darkened arena with his song building. I am ironman kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Nate Santos has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Santos
vs
Gracie

171 cm
20
156 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

181 cm
22
153 lbs
6 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Powerful

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nate Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Dillan Fox and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Gracie makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed

and Santos counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
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.
Gracie punching from the bottom.

Santos is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Gracie is defending against the submission attempts here by Santos.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Santos wants to pass to mount but Gracie is defending the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santos wants to work for an arm triangle but Gracie is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.

Santos is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Santos is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Santos is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gracie is just riding it out for now. Santos eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santos is breathing heavily.

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.
Santos working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Gracie's thigh. Gracie counters though and makes it back to full guard.

Santos drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Gracie manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Santos has Gracie in his guard.
Gracie looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Gracie wants to get up but he can't break Santos's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Santos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gracie trying to stand up but can't free himself from Santos's guard.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie wanted to stand there but Santos had control of the position.

Santos is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.

Santos escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gracie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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.
Gracie wants to stand but Santos is controlling his posture from full guard.
Gracie trying to control but Santos is working from the bottom.
Gracie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gracie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Santos is looking for a triangle but Gracie pushes his legs off easily.

Santos is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gracie controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gracie is looking to stand up but Santos won't let him.
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 Nate Santos will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Santos counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gracie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Santos postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Gracie is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Santos, into his guard.
Gracie is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Santos working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gracie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gracie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gracie slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Santos keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santos is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.
Santos keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Santos had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gracie defends it easily.
Santos has momentary wrist control but Gracie slips an elbow through the middle.
Santos keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

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.

Santos had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gracie defends it easily.
Gracie postures up in Santos's guard and throws a big left but Santos blocks it.

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

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Santos has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Santos's legs - danger averted.
Gracie is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Santos thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Gracie scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gracie wants to get up but he can't break Santos's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Santos is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gracie would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Gracie decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Gracie gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Santos counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Santos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gracie slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to stand up but can't free himself from Santos's guard.

Santos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gracie lands a couple of digs.
Gracie is stalling in the full guard.
Gracie's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Santos working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gracie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gracie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Santos keeps moving.
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 Nate Santos will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Gracie misses with a series of wild punches.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Santos counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Santos is trying to work for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.

Santos seems to be working for a kimura but Gracie defends the submission attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Santos is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Santos is pressing down on Gracie's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gracie is holding on for now.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Gracie is defending against the submission attempts here by Santos.

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.
Gracie is looking to escape.

Santos is working for a kimura here but Gracie manages to reverse the position and he's now in Santos's guard.
Gracie trying to control but Santos is working from the bottom.

Santos has his foot on Gracie's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gracie works his way back into a safe position though.
Gracie is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gracie's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Santos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gracie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Santos being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santos working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.
Gracie not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Matt Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracie wants to control from the top but Santos keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Matt Gracie.

Gracie scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Santos is trying to get back to half guard.
Gracie is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Santos's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos is not content to let Gracie control the position.
Gracie is working Santos over with some ground and pound from side control.
Gracie trying to control the position but Santos is working away.
Gracie lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Santos down.
Gracie working the ground and pound.
Santos throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Santos manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Matt Gracie.
I think Santos 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nate Santos!