PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jorge Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mohamed al Hadj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). al Hadj has chosen Lebanon as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Santiago
vs
al Hadj

195 cm
27
195 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

191 cm
24
200 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Fight Club Clothing est. 09™

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 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jorge Santiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mohamed al Hadj!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago moves out of range as al Hadj throws a body kick.
al Hadj keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
al Hadj lands a head kick. Santiago smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
al Hadj scores with a leg kick.

Santiago rushes al Hadj and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Santiago avoiding damage as al Hadj throws knees to the body.
al Hadj misses with an elbow over the top.
al Hadj landing knees to the body.
Santiago trying to land knees to the body.
al Hadj lands an elbow that stopped Santiago in his tracks for a moment.
al Hadj missing with knees to the body.

al Hadj pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Santiago throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Santiago blocks a head kick by al Hadj.
Santiago tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santiago misses with a hook.
Santiago misses with a wild body shot.
Jorge Santiago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al Hadj works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Santiago lands a jab to the nose.
Santiago throws a right and a left that both miss.
al Hadj on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A good leg kick by al Hadj.
al Hadj misses with a series of wild punches.
Santiago doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
al Hadj stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
al Hadj throws a leg kick that misses.
al Hadj fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Santiago is out of range.
al Hadj swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Santiago circles away from the clinch attempt.
Santiago feints a jab promting al Hadj to slip. Santiago then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. al Hadj slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Mohamed al Hadj has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santiago throws a head kick but al Hadj moves out of range.
al Hadj tries a low kick but Santiago avoids it.
al Hadj takes a swing at Santiago's ribcage but misses.
Santiago blocks a head kick by al Hadj.

al Hadj instigates a clinch.
Santiago tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Santiago throws a knee to the head but misses.
Santiago avoiding damage as al Hadj throws knees to the body.
al Hadj throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Santiago landing knees to the head.
Santiago misses with a punch to the body.

Santiago escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Santiago loads up on a big right hand but al Hadj slips the punch.
Santiago swats away the attempt to clinch by al Hadj.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Santiago misses its intended target.
Santiago throws a shot from downtown. al Hadj moves away and avoids it.

Santiago pushes al Hadj up against the cage in a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Santiago's face as he tries to break the clinch.
al Hadj tries to stall but Santiago uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
al Hadj seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
al Hadj trying to land knees to the body.
al Hadj blocking some punches.
al Hadj with an attempt at a knee that misses.
al Hadj managing to block the knees to the body from Santiago.
al Hadj tries to land knees in the clinch but Santiago avoids the damage to the body.
Santiago tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and al Hadj avoids it.
Santiago managing to block the knees to the body from al Hadj.
A knee to the head by Santiago.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

al Hadj's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
al Hadj tries to close the distance and clinch up but Santiago swats him away and circles back towards the center.
al Hadj scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Santiago scores with a leg kick.
Santiago throws a jab but it's blocked by al Hadj.
Santiago throws a looping overhand right but al Hadj ducks down to avoid it.

Santiago closes the distance and clinches.
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!
A body shot lands from Santiago.
al Hadj throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Santiago blocks it with crossed arms.

Santiago escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Santiago swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nice cross by al Hadj.
al Hadj takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jorge Santiago will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mohamed al Hadj's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

al Hadj slips a jab from Santiago.
al Hadj takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
al Hadj takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Good exchange - Santiago coming out on top.
al Hadj gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Santiago.
Jorge Santiago is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd cheers as Santiago lands an impressive looking overhand right. al Hadj doesn't seem phased though.
Santiago swings away with a body shot that misses
and al Hadj counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
al Hadj scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santiago thows a left - swing and a miss!
al Hadj misses with a head kick.
Santiago misses with a head kick.
al Hadj thows a body shot but no joy.

Santiago closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al Hadj tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Santiago avoids it.
al Hadj blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
al Hadj tries to land knees in the clinch but Santiago avoids the damage to the body.
Santiago tries to break the clinch but al Hadj is controlling the position.
al Hadj lands a knee to the body.
al Hadj misses with an elbow strike.

Santiago breaks from the clinch.
Santiago falls off balance throwing a combination
and al Hadj makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

al Hadj closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
al Hadj misses with an elbow over the top.

Santiago breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Santiago misses with a head kick.
al Hadj misses with a head kick.
Santiago throws a right hand that al Hadj ducks under and follows up with a left that al Hadj also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago throws a left and a right that both miss
and al Hadj counters with a head kick.
al Hadj misses with a kick to the body.
al Hadj turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Santiago connects with a solid leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santiago throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
al Hadj lands a nice hook to Santiago's body. Santiago takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Santiago has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
al Hadj is looking to clinch.
A left lands for Santiago.
al Hadj pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Santiago has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from al Hadj.
al Hadj misses the shot to the body.
al Hadj takes a swing at Santiago's ribcage but misses.
al Hadj throws a head kick but Santiago moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. al Hadj doesn't seem bothered though.
al Hadj throws a nice inside leg kick.
al Hadj missing with a left hand there. Santiago was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
al Hadj does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
al Hadj is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Santiago rather than just go for the knockout.
Santiago misses with a straight left.
Santiago throws an uppercut from half a mile away. al Hadj sees it coming and avoids it easily.
al Hadj moves into range and connects with a jab.
Santiago jabs al Hadj right on the nose. al Hadj blinks but takes it well.
al Hadj ducks under a wild hook from Santiago.
al Hadj blocks a head kick by Santiago.

Santiago has managed to clinch.

Santiago breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches al Hadj on the side of the head.
Santiago scores with a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
al Hadj does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A big left from Santiago misses.
al Hadj connects with the punch.
Santiago throws a hook but al Hadj avoids it easily.
al Hadj jabs at Santiago's body.
al Hadj's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and al Hadj duly obliges.
Santiago tries to bum rush al Hadj with a series of wild strikes but al Hadj uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
al Hadj throws a hook but Santiago avoids it easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
al Hadj wants to slow Santiago down by chopping away at his legs.
al Hadj misses with a double jab.

Santiago pushes al Hadj up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jorge Santiago dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mohamed al Hadj's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Santiago moves into the clinch.
al Hadj is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Santiago is defending well for now.
al Hadj dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Santiago misses with a hook to the ribs.
al Hadj blocks the elbow strike.
Santiago misses with a hook to the ribs.

Santiago escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jorge Santiago is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Santiago connects with a body shot that sends al Hadj's belly button to the back.
A left and a right from Santiago both land. Nice combination.
Santiago scores with a jab. al Hadj acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Santiago lands the left hand.

al Hadj moves into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Santiago working aggressively here.
al Hadj lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
al Hadj is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santiago breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
al Hadj connects with a single shot there.
al Hadj lands a leg kick that knocks Santiago off balance momentarily.
Santiago digs a good hook to al Hadj's body.
al Hadj is looking to clinch but Santiago is avoiding it.

Santiago moves into the clinch.
Santiago scores with a shoulder strike.
Santiago avoiding damage as al Hadj throws knees to the body.
Jorge Santiago has scored more points in the clinch so far.
al Hadj lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Santiago using the Thai plumb to throw knees but al Hadj has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Santiago throws a head punch that misses.
al Hadj misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Santiago.

al Hadj pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Santiago is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That has opened up Mohamed al Hadj's cut even more.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
al Hadj throws a sloppy head kick and Santiago moves out of range easily.
al Hadj misses with a body kick.
al Hadj tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Santiago was well out of range. Poor timing from al Hadj.
al Hadj lands with a right hand.

Santiago instigates a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
al Hadj creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Santiago's defenses.
al Hadj tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Santiago avoids it.
al Hadj misses with some punches.
Santiago doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Santiago blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Santiago is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
al Hadj tries a knee to the head but Santiago blocks it.
Santiago is trying to break free.

Santiago pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mohamed al Hadj has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
al Hadj throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
al Hadj ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Santiago moves into the clinch.
Santiago takes an elbow to the temple.
Santiago avoids the elbow strike from al Hadj, against the cage.
Santiago blocks the elbow strike.
A head punch on the inside from al Hadj fails to land.
al Hadj trying to stall but Santiago improves his position.
Santiago wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Santiago takes an elbow to the forehead.
Santiago wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
al Hadj is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Santiago blocks the elbow strike.
al Hadj keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Santiago's efforts to push away.
al Hadj misses with the head strike.

Santiago breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago fails to land with a series of punches.
al Hadj is looking to slow Santiago down with leg kicks.
Jorge Santiago is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
al Hadj throws a push kick but Santiago slaps the foot to one side.
al Hadj misses the shot to the body.

al Hadj moves into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
al Hadj misses with the head strike.
al Hadj blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Santiago looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

al Hadj breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
al Hadj is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Santiago.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Santiago rushes al Hadj and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Santiago on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
al Hadj connects with a knee to the head.
al Hadj tries to land knees in the clinch but Santiago avoids the damage to the body.

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 Jorge 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mohamed al Hadj!
A less than humble Mohamed al Hadj misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.