PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raoul Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raoul Santiago had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Santiago
vs
Thompson

195 cm
18
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
200 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Raoul Santiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Thompson!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Eddie Farnsworth and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago fails to land with a series of punches.
Thompson moves out of range of the body kick.
Thompson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thompson tries a low kick but Santiago avoids it.
Thompson throws a low kick, looking for Santiago's leg but Santiago calmly moves out of range.
Santiago shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thompson but Thompson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Santiago shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thompson but Thompson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Santiago is looking to clinch.

Santiago closes the distance and clinches.
A short right from Santiago.
Thompson tries to land knees in the clinch but Santiago avoids the damage to the body.
Santiago drops down looking for an ankle pick but Thompson pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raoul Santiago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thompson connects with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson lands with a slapping head kick.
Santiago misses with a few strikes there.
Thompson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Santiago shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Thompson counters with a nice leg kick.
Santiago tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thompson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thompson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Santiago's sensitive parts.
Santiago is breathing heavily.
Thompson pushes Santiago away with a front kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santiago takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

Thompson has closed the distance and engaged Santiago in a clinch.
Knees to the body from Thompson.
Thompson lands a damaging elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Thompson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Santiago letting Thompson take a breather here.

Thompson manages to break the clinch.
Mike Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thompson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Santiago chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Thompson can pounce on him.
Thompson scores with a decent looking hook.
Thompson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Santiago's calf.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Santiago. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Thompson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Santiago.
Thompson thows a body shot but no joy.
Mike Thompson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A nice leg kick lands there from Thompson.
Santiago takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thompson moves into the clinch.
Santiago takes a knee to the side of the body.
Santiago takes a knee to the side of the body.
Thompson unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Thompson leaning his opponent against the cage.
Thompson utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thompson connects with a knee to the head.
Thompson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Santiago is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson crunches a lovely knee into Santiago's ribcage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Knees to the body from Thompson.
Thompson unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Thompson taking a breather.
Thompson is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
The referee calls for Thompson to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Santiago tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Thompson avoids it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Thompson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Thompson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Thompson connects with a body shot.
Thompson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A chopping leg kick lands by Thompson.
Thompson misses with a wild body shot.
Santiago takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Thompson lets loose with a powerful body kick. Santiago will feel that in the morning.
That kick from Thompson tenderised Santiago's leg. Santiago is trying to keep his angry face on.
Mike Thompson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Santiago sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thompson feints and then cracks Santiago's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Santiago down.
Thompson fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Santiago has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Thompson throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Thompson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Santiago.

Thompson moves into range and clinches up with Santiago.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson stalling.
A knee to the head by Thompson.
Santiago wants to take the fight to the mat but Thompson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Thompson working Santiago over with knees to the body.

Thompson manages to break the clinch.
Thompson is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Santiago rather than just go for the knockout.
Thompson lands a leg kick that knocks Santiago off balance momentarily.
Santiago walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Thompson lands a big head kick that sends Santiago to the canvas! Thompson follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mike Thompson!
Mike Thompson thanked the fans post fight for their support.