PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raul Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Woleman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Santiago
vs
Woleman

179 cm
25
169 lbs
11 - 3 - 1

205 cm
29
161 lbs
14 - 7 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Raul Santiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Mark Woleman!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Elvis Blanc and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Woleman displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Santiago throws out the jab.
Woleman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Santiago.
Woleman swings for the body but Santiago moves out of range.
Woleman misses with a wild body shot.
Santiago throws a shot from downtown. Woleman moves away and avoids it.
Woleman takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Woleman thuds his right hand into Santiago's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Woleman misses with a hook
and Santiago counters with a straight right hand.
Santiago lands with a straight right. Woleman didn't see that one coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Woleman lands a body shot.
A swing and a miss from Woleman.
Woleman cracks Santiago with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A shot to the liver by Santiago. Beautiful body shot.

Santiago throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Woleman was covering up waiting for the punch and Santiago finishes the takedown easily into guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Santiago drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Santiago jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago trying to control the position from guard on top but Woleman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santiago postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Woleman will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Woleman is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Santiago is looking to work some ground and pound but Woleman has wrist control.
Woleman pulls Santiago in close to prevent any damage.
Woleman 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 two minutes gone in the round.
Woleman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Santiago's guard.
Santiago trying to control the position.
Woleman trying to control the position from guard on top but Santiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Woleman's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Woleman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Santiago works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Santiago bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Woleman's guard.
Woleman wants to sweep here but Santiago controlling him for the moment.
Woleman wants to stand but Santiago is controlling the position.
Santiago stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Woleman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Santiago might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woleman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Santiago seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Santiago wants to control from the top but Woleman keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Woleman is looking to score with low kicks.
Woleman misses with a double jab.
Santiago slips a jab from Woleman.
Santiago tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Woleman was well out of range. Poor timing from Santiago.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Woleman!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Woleman misses with the combination.
Woleman throws a predictable looking body shot
and Santiago counters with a lovely shot to the body.
No luck for Santiago with that takedown attempt.
Santiago shoots in but Woleman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Santiago misses with a right hand
and Woleman counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Santiago thinking.
Woleman slips a straight right by Santiago.
Santiago scores with a jab to the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santiago shoots for a double leg takedown but Woleman sprawls well. He's pushed Santiago's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raul Santiago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santiago is breathing heavily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Woleman jabs Santiago right on the nose. Santiago blinks but takes it well.
Santiago throws a hook but Woleman blocks it.
Woleman paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Santiago dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Woleman misses with a hook to the body
and Santiago counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Santiago avoids the body shot from Woleman.
Raul Santiago is winning the standup battle so far.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Woleman, as that shot connected.
Santiago avoids the body shot from Woleman.
Woleman misses with a wild combination.
Woleman scores with a one two! Santiago had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Woleman walks into a jab.
Woleman misses with a body shot.
Santiago throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Woleman!
Santiago avoids the body shot from Woleman.
Santiago looks to score with a jab to the body but Woleman is just out of range.
Woleman has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago misses with a straight right.
Woleman scores with a body shot.
Woleman misses with a double jab.
Nice sprawl there from Woleman as Santiago shoots in.
Some wild striking there from Woleman.
Santiago avoids the body shot from Woleman.
Santiago takes a swing at Woleman's ribcage but misses.
Santiago misses with a right hand

and Woleman counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Santiago!
Santiago is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Woleman with good strikes from the mount here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Woleman punishing his opponent with strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Woleman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Mark Woleman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Santiago's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Woleman controlling the pace for now.
Santiago tries to lock up and control but Woleman gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Woleman lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
BOOM! Woleman connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woleman tries to control but Santiago wriggling away.
Woleman raining down shots from the mount!
Woleman postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Santiago looks a forlorn figure.
Woleman can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Santiago is looking to escape.
A nice elbow there by Woleman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Woleman with shots to the head and body - Santiago looks very uncomfortable down there.
Woleman working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Woleman scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Santiago is wriggling around trying to escape.
Santiago wants to control but Woleman is having none of it.
Woleman wants to control the pace but Santiago is squirming around nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Santiago tries to hold on but Woleman pushes him away.
Woleman tries to control but Santiago wriggling away.
Santiago tries to hold on but Woleman postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Woleman lands a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Woleman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Woleman closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Santiago to the mat! Santiago manages to get full guard.
Woleman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Woleman wants to control from the top but Santiago keeps moving.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Woleman's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Woleman advances to half guard.
Woleman scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ground and pound from Woleman.
Woleman works his way into side control.
Santiago trying to remain calm as Woleman controls from the top position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Woleman looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Santiago is avoiding damage well.
Woleman creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago manages to get back to half guard.
Woleman working over Santiago with some ground and pound. Santiago looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Woleman looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Santiago is refusing to be controlled, as Woleman sits in half guard.
Santiago wants to improve his position but Woleman is controlling well.
Woleman slows the pace down in half guard.
Woleman is nestled in close to Santiago, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Woleman takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Woleman lands a nice short elbow.
Woleman is trying to control the action in half guard but Santiago is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Santiago trying to hold on to Woleman's head to control him but Woleman postures up.
Woleman trying to control from half guard but Santiago is working away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Woleman looks to land a strike but Santiago avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Woleman wants to pass the guard but Santiago is keeping the position.
Woleman wants to control from the top but Santiago keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woleman pushing down on Santiago's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Santiago tries to get to full guard but Woleman has control of the leg.
Woleman is looking to stall here but Santiago recovers full guard.
Santiago looking to control.
Woleman throws and elbow that misses. Santiago uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Woleman's guard. Nice move by Santiago!
Santiago wants to control from the top but Woleman keeps moving.
Woleman has momentary wrist control but Santiago slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Woleman is looking to stand up but Santiago isn't so interested in that idea.
Woleman pulls Santiago in to control the position.
Santiago stands and throws Woleman's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Santiago is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Woleman has escaped the position, nice work there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Woleman tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Santiago wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Woleman is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Woleman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Woleman 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Woleman!