PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Erico Plaza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maro Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Plaza
vs
Santos

170 cm
28
183 lbs
14 - 10 - 1

182 cm
32
173 lbs
16 - 15 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
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 14 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Erico Plaza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Maro Santos!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos cracks the inside of Plaza's front leg.

Santos darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Plaza looking for submissions off his back.
Santos thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Plaza's head.
Santos sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Plaza might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Santos is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Plaza tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Santos manages to move to mount!

Santos working for a submission but Plaza is keeping him at bay.
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.
Plaza tries to reverse the position but Santos maintains control.
A nice elbow there by Santos.

It looks like Erico Plaza has been cut.
Santos dominating with strikes here.
Santos throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Plaza because Santos loaded up on that one.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santos trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Plaza is in a horrible position here. Santos smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Plaza is squirming around, avoiding Santos's attempts to control the action.
Plaza is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Santos swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Plaza is now in Santos's guard. A big mistake from Santos there, giving up the dominant position!
Santos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Santos looking for subs off his back but Plaza has passed one foot through into 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. Plaza connects with a nice short shot to Santos's temple.

Santos actively working from the bottom here.
Plaza thows a huge punch but Santos dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Plaza lands a nice short elbow.

Santos looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Plaza is looking for a kimura here.

Santos actively working from the bottom here.
Santos wants to get back to his feet.
Santos avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Plaza.
Santos is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Plaza jumps into side control!
Santos tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Plaza trying to control the action but Santos is working from the bottom.
Santos is trying to get back to half guard.
Plaza misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Santos tries to buck Plaza off but Plaza is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santos takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Santos is trying to work for a sweep but Plaza has mounted him!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Santos really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maro Santos dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Erico Plaza's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Santos with a lazy takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Santos misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Santos shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Plaza but Plaza pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Santos tries a head kick but it misses.

Plaza feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Santos controlling the position.
Plaza tries to free his leg and advance position but Santos is retaining full guard.
Plaza lands a couple of elbows.
Plaza trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Plaza is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Santos is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Santos is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santos is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Plaza postures up in Santos's guard and throws a big left but Santos blocks it.
Plaza has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Santos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Plaza cracks Santos with a solid left hand.
Santos tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Santos keeping moving, preventing Plaza from controlling successfully.
Plaza forces his way into half guard.

Plaza is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Santos has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santos looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Santos wants to control but Plaza is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Santos is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Plaza is staying active.
Santos might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Plaza kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Plaza is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Santos is just riding it out for now. Plaza eventually gives up the hold.
Plaza thows a huge punch but Santos dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos is trying to control but Plaza manages to pass to mount!
Maro Santos has got the better of the ground game so far.
Plaza fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Santos throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Santos sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Santos wants to control but Plaza is keeping busy.
Plaza looks to land a strike but Santos avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santos looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Plaza has picked Santos up and slammed him! Santos can't keep hold of the triangle and Plaza manages to pass to side control!
Santos is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Plaza's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Santos is not content to let Plaza control the position.
Plaza not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Santos is defending against the submission attempts here by Plaza.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santos trying to control but Plaza postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Plaza with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erico Plaza dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Erico Plaza's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Santos misses with a takedown attempt
and Plaza counters with a thumping low kick.
Plaza throws a hook but Santos avoids it easily.
Plaza fails to land with a series of punches.
Santos uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Plaza.
Santos changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Plaza tries to avoid it but Santos manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Plaza to the ground. Plaza escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Santos fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Plaza sprawls well initially but Santos persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Plaza is looking to improve his position.
Santos lands with a punch from half guard.
Plaza controlling the position well.

Santos is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Plaza sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plaza works his way to full guard. Good work.
Plaza is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Plaza stops Santos from getting back to his feet.
Plaza is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Plaza dominating with strikes here.
Santos is wriggling around trying to escape.
Santos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Plaza looking to secure an arm triangle but Santos defends it well.
Santos gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Plaza trying to control the action but Santos is working from the bottom.

Plaza 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 Plaza.
Plaza thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Santos actively working from the bottom here.
Santos is trying to get back to full guard.
Plaza throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Santos.

Santos has his foot on Plaza's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Plaza works his way back into a safe position though.
Plaza working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Santos wants to get back to his feet but Plaza passes into half guard.
Plaza not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Santos regains full guard. Nicely done.
Santos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Plaza.
Plaza postures up and lands a big shot to Santos's brow.

Santos is looking for a triangle but Plaza pushes his legs off easily.
Santos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Plaza is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santos is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Plaza defends well.
Plaza distracts Santos with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Plaza scoring with some ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Plaza throws a big elbow that misses.
Plaza throwing strikes but missing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Erico Plaza showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Plaza has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erico Plaza!
An out of breath Erico Plaza thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.