PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and bj Penncil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santiago kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Clouds of War. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Santiago
vs
Penncil

184 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Santiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, bj Penncil!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Thiago Cunha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago shoots in for a double leg but Penncil sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A right-left combo lands from Santiago.
Penncil throws a poor cross that misses

and Santiago counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Santiago.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Santiago accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Penncil wants to stand up but Santiago is controlling him.
Santiago is looking to stand up but Penncil won't let him.
Santiago postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Penncil is looking to stand up but Santiago isn't so interested in that idea.
Penncil has a closed guard, preventing Santiago from standing up.
Santiago throws a strike but Penncil rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penncil is looking to stand up but Santiago won't let him.
Penncil postures up.
Santiago on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Santiago tries to get out of the position.
Penncil wants to stand but Santiago has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Santiago throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Penncil is looking to stand up but Santiago won't let him.
Santiago trying to strike off his back.
Santiago has a closed guard, preventing Penncil from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Penncil stands up from Santiago's guard - Penncil perhaps looking for a knockout.
Penncil slips a jab and a cross from Santiago.
Santiago looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jab from Penncil.
Penncil throws a right hand that misses

and Santiago counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Penncil's guard now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santiago looking to sit in guard and control but Penncil gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Penncil looks gassed!
Santiago working a defensive guard here.

Penncil gets to his feet - Santiago follows without any prompting.
bj Penncil seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penncil misses with a hook

and Santiago counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Penncil won't allow Santiago to pass to mount.
Santiago seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Penncil does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Santiago thows a huge punch but Penncil dodges it nicely.
Santiago wants to control but Penncil is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Santiago is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Penncil is just riding it out for now. Santiago eventually gives up the hold.
Santiago missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago trying to control the pace.
Santiago thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Penncil's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Penncil is refusing to be controlled, as Santiago sits in half guard.

Santiago decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Santiago dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Santiago shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Penncil napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Santiago landing a few strikes.
Penncil is trying to buck Santiago off.
Penncil is not content to let Santiago control the position.
Santiago throwing strikes but Penncil manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Penncil decides to stand back up. Penncil steps back and let's Santiago get back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Santiago.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago digs a good hook to Penncil's body.
Penncil misses with an uppercut
and Santiago counters with a straight right hand.
Penncil misses with a hook. Santiago ducked under it nicely.
bj Penncil is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Penncil throws an off balance right hand

so Santiago counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Santiago trying to control the position from guard on top but Penncil is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santiago throws a strike but Penncil rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Penncil is breathing heavily.
Santiago controls Penncil momentarily but Penncil frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Santiago throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Penncil postures up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Santiago wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Santiago shoots in for a double leg but Penncil sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Penncil throws a lazy uppercut

and Santiago counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Penncil pushes Santiago off looking to stand but Santiago dives back in and keeps control.
Penncil is refusing to be controlled, as Santiago sits in half guard.

Santiago is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Penncil makes his way to full guard, as Santiago worked for a kimura.
Penncil wants to stand but Santiago is controlling the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Santiago accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago trying to control the position from guard on top but Penncil is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Santiago wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Santiago tries to score a power double leg takedown but Penncil sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Santiago somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Santiago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santiago shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Penncil sprawls well. Penncil wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Santiago gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Santiago shoots in looking for a takedown. Penncil tries to sprawl out of it but Santiago keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Penncil manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Santiago steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Penncil.
Horrible takedown by Santiago or perhaps it was just good defense by Penncil which made him look bad.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Santiago.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Santiago. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Santiago 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.
Santiago throws a strike but Penncil rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
John Santiago overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Santiago not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Penncil decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Penncil throws a hook but Santiago avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penncil throws a good cross that connects.

It looks like John Santiago has been cut.
Penncil throws an off balance right hand

and Santiago counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Santiago looking to sit in guard and control but Penncil gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Penncil stands up from Santiago's guard - Penncil perhaps looking for a knockout.
Santiago fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Penncil avoids it really well and circles away.
Santiago avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Penncil misses with a straight right.
Santiago moves out of range as Penncil strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penncil misses the jab.
A swing and a miss from Penncil.
Santiago misses with a takedown attempt - Penncil sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
bj Penncil seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Penncil throws out a loose jab but Santiago uses good head movement to avoid it.
Penncil scores with the left hand. Santiago knows he should have avoided that one.
Penncil stuffs the takedown attempt from Santiago. Santiago gets slowly back to his feet.
A big right from Penncil misses.
Penncil rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Santiago counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Santiago trying to control but Penncil is working from the bottom.
Santiago throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago wants to control from the top but Penncil keeps moving.
Santiago looking to sit in guard and control but Penncil gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
John Santiago is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Santiago wants to sweep but no luck.
Santiago is pulling down on Penncil's head. It's preventing any offense from Penncil, at least for the moment.
Penncil wanted to stand there but Santiago had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago trying to keep a closed guard but Penncil is proving a slippery customer.

Penncil decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Santiago, up you get!
Santiago fails with a takedown attempt.
Penncil throws a looping overhand right but Santiago ducks down to avoid it.
Santiago moves out of range as Penncil strikes.
Santiago slips under a jab.
Penncil waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Santiago.
Penncil might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

Santiago shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Santiago looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to John Santiago.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Santiago, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Santiago!
John Santiago decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.