PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gustavo Safra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pedro Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Safra
vs
Santos

190 cm
22
276 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

225 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gustavo Safra!
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, Pedro Santos!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos closes the distance and clinches up with Safra, looking for a takedown. Santos pushes Safra against the cage but Safra circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Santos fails to land the takedown.

Santos changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Safra looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Santos working away.

Santos has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
A thudding body kick lands there by Safra!
Pedro Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santos throws a right and a left that both miss.
Safra uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Santos.
Santos looks gassed!
Santos shoots for a takedown but Safra saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gustavo Safra has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Santos.

Safra darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Santos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Safra seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Santos does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Safra missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Safra is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Safra seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Santos does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Safra takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Safra throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Santos is trying to stand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santos is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Santos is looking to improve his position.
Safra looks to land a strike but Santos avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Safra might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Santos throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Safra moves out of range of the strikes.
Santos connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Safra is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Santos looks to land a combination but Safra avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos with a poor takedown

and Safra counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Santos's guard now.
Santos keeping moving, preventing Safra from controlling successfully.
Safra won't allow Santos to get back to his feet.
Safra with a flurry of punches that miss.
Safra content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Safra sitting in guard here, content to control.
Safra working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Santos's head.
Safra won't allow Santos to sweep him here.
Santos wants to stand and escape but Safra is having none of it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Santos scores with a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Santos.
Safra is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Safra's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Safra is not content to let Santos control the position.
Safra is trying to control Santos's posture but Santos avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santos trying to control the action but Safra is working from the bottom.
Safra throws a few strikes from the bottom but Santos takes advantage and mounts!
Santos prevents Safra from getting the reversal.
Santos content just to control the position here.
Santos can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Safra is looking to escape.
Safra tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Safra tries to hold on but Santos postures up.
Safra slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Safra is defending against the submission attempts here by Santos.
Safra tries to roll over but Santos keeps him under control.
Safra controlling the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Safra moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Safra is trying to control the position but Santos postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Pedro Santos will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Santos tries for a takedown but Safra circles away easily

and Safra counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Safra tries to pass the half guard into mount. Santos knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Safra is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Safra landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Safra drops an elbow to the side of Santos's head.
Safra lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Santos manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Safra throwing strikes but missing.
Santos pulls Safra in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Safra is looking to work some ground and pound but Santos has wrist control.
Santos lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Safra!
Santos takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Safra working to try and regain half guard.
Santos controlling from mount.
Santos prevents Safra from getting the reversal.
Gustavo Safra overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Safra tries to lock up and control but Santos gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

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 tries to control but Safra wriggling away.
Santos controlling his opponent.
Safra is squirming around, avoiding Santos's attempts to control the action.
Safra wants to hold on but Santos pushes him away.
Santos looking to control and managing it successfully.
Safra could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Santos trying to control but Safra is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Pedro Santos just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Safra shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Santos is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Safra wants to control the pace but Santos is squirming around nicely.
Safra 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 tries to hold on but Safra pushes him away.
Safra with a couple of short strikes.
Santos is looking to get to half guard.
Safra breaks from Santos's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Santos is looking to get to half guard.
Santos wants to control but Safra is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Safra putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Safra postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Santos looks a forlorn figure.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Safra content just to control the position here.
Safra tries to control but Santos wriggling away.
Safra unloading with bombs!
A nice elbow there by Safra.
Safra lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Santos hang on?
Santos bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Safra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Safra is working an open guard so Santos takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustavo Safra dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Safra dodges the punch combination from Santos.
Santos wants to clinch

and Safra counters with a shoot takedown. Santos fights it but they end up in guard.
Santos is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Santos looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Safra moves into full guard.
Safra looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Santos stands up from Safra's guard - Santos perhaps looking for a knockout.
Santos shoots and misses

and Safra counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santos is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Safra's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Safra's back!
Safra is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Santos is riding his opponent, not letting Safra buck him off.
Safra rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Santos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Safra is pressing down on Santos's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Safra is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Safra punching to the body, from the bottom.
Santos postures up.
Santos won't allow Safra to sweep him here.
Safra controls Santos momentarily but Santos frees himself.
Safra manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Santos tries to lock up and control but Safra gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Safra won't let Santos get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Santos blocking the ground and pound.
Santos is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Safra unloading with bombs!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Safra landing strikes, looking to finish!
Safra punishing his opponent with strikes.

It looks like Pedro Santos has been cut.

Safra working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Santos tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Safra lands a big shot there that rocks Santos but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Safra is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Santos is surviving well by controlling Safra's body position as best he can.
Santos is in all sorts of trouble here.
Safra looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Safra avoids the attempt from Santos to control.
Safra won't let Santos get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Santos is in all sorts of trouble here.
Santos tries to buck Safra off but he can't manage it.
Safra controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos wants to hold on but Safra pushes him away.
Safra misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Safra avoids the attempt from Santos to control.
Santos is trying to stand.
Safra raining down shots from the mount!
Santos is trying to escape the mount.

Safra goes for an armbar but Santos turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Santos.
Santos postures up.

Safra working for a triangle but Santos defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Santos gets to his feet - Safra follows without any prompting.

Safra drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Santos is looking to stand up but Safra isn't so interested in that idea.
Safra preventing the sweep.

Santos uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Santos with a poor takedown

and Safra counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Safra has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Safra dominating with strikes here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Safra looking for a guillotine from mount but Santos is having none of it.
Santos wants to try and get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gustavo Safra showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Safra 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gustavo Safra!