PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jack Woods (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Woods
vs
Santiago

155 cm
29
130 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

176 cm
33
135 lbs
23 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jack Woods!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Woods shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Woods looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Woods trying to control the position from guard on top but Santiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Woods throws a big right hand that misses.
Woods advances to half guard.

Santiago looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Woods is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Santiago is just riding it out for now. Woods eventually gives up the hold.
Woods trying to control from half guard but Santiago is working away.
Santiago trying to control from the bottom.

Woods is trying to work for a kimura but Santiago is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woods moves into full mount! Santiago won't be happy about that!

Woods is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Santiago is surviving well by controlling Woods's body position as best he can.
Woods with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

Woods has hold of Santiago's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Santiago manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Woods is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Santiago has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Santiago!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Woods keeping moving, preventing Santiago from controlling successfully.
Santiago is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago pushing down on Woods's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Woods is staying active underneath Santiago, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Woods wants to get back to full guard.
Santiago is looking to take a break and control but Woods is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Woods regains full guard. Nicely done.
Santiago trying to control but Woods is working from the bottom.
Woods might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Woods trying to keep a closed guard but Santiago is proving a slippery customer.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Woods is on top in guard.
Woods stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santiago swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Woods wants to control from the top but Santiago keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is trying to control the position but Woods postures up.
Santiago keeping moving, preventing Woods from controlling successfully.
Woods scoring with some ground and pound.
Woods trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Woods trying to control but Santiago is working from the bottom.
Woods throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Santiago works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Woods trying to control but Santiago is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jack Woods just wasn't active enough.
Woods shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Woods uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Santiago.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago thows a left - swing and a miss!
Santiago throws a right and a left that both miss.
Woods shoots for a double leg takedown but Santiago sprawls well. He's pushed Woods's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Woods. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Woods doesn't manage to clinch there - Santiago circles away.
Woods ducks under a wild hook from Santiago.
Woods slips under a jab from Santiago.

Santiago moves into the clinch.
Woods fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Santiago is looking to control Woods's arms but Woods gets an underhook and turns him. Now Santiago has his back to the cage.
Woods creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Santiago is trying to stall.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Woods jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Santiago walks away with a smile on his face. Woods gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Santiago misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Woods dominated that round.
That's time! Woods's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Woods tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santiago paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Woods doesn't manage to clinch there - Santiago circles away.
Joe Santiago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Santiago clinches up against the cage.
Woods misses with an elbow strike.
Woods has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Santiago avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Santiago is trying to stall.
Santiago lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Santiago lands a nice knee to the body.
Santiago lands a left hand.
Santiago displaying some good clinch control by pressing Woods up against the cage.
Santiago works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Santiago tries to throw a body punch but Woods avoids it by throwing Santiago back against the cage.
Woods looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Jack Woods has been cut.
With the fighters up against the cage, Woods throws an elbow but misses.
Woods looking to slow down the pace here.
Santiago missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Woods tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Woods is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Santiago to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Woods. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santiago tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Woods avoids it.
Santiago tries a body shot but Woods blocks it.
Woods pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Santiago just leaning against Woods, taking a breather.
Santiago scores with a nice hook to the head.
Woods throws an elbow but it misses.
A short uppercut from Santiago.
Woods letting Santiago take a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Santiago on the inside.
Santiago pressing his opponent against the cage.
Santiago looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Santiago avoids the elbow strike from Woods, against the cage.

Woods is trying to trip Santiago. He has hold of a leg but Santiago is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Woods persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
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!

Woods thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Santiago keeping full guard, as Woods tries to pass.

Santiago kicks Woods off and gets to his feet.
Woods takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Jack Woods is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Woods looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Woods tries to keep at a distance but Santiago has taken the fight into the clinch.
Joe Santiago seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Santiago lands with a short shot to the head.
Santiago lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Santiago dodges an elbow strike from Woods.
Santiago landing knees to the body.
Santiago lands a left hand that snaps the head of Woods backwards.
Woods lands a nice elbow.
Woods misses with an elbow over the top.
A short right from Santiago.
Woods looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Santiago missing with knees to the body.
Woods avoiding damage as Santiago throws knees to the body.
Woods is working for takedown but Santiago is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago scores with a shot to the side of Woods's head.
Woods tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Santiago smiles and moves away.
Woods tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Santiago manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Woods closes this distance looking for a takedown but Santiago circles away.
Santiago just misses with a punch to the body.
Santiago keeps the fight on the outside.
Santiago rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Woods moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Santiago closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A left hand lands to the body for Santiago.
Santiago tries to land knees in the clinch but Woods avoids the damage to the body.
Santiago leaning his opponent against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Santiago showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jack Woods's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Woods is trying hard to land a takedown here. Santiago sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Santiago drives through and clinches with Woods against the cage.
Woods is trying to pull guard but Santiago turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Woods takes a knee right on the jaw!
A short right from Santiago on the inside.
Santiago scores a nice knee to the body.
Santiago holding his opponent close, against the cage.
The crowd are getting on Santiago's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Santiago avoids the elbow strike from Woods, against the cage.
Santiago slowing the pace effectively.
Santiago lands a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago dodges an elbow strike from Woods.
Woods looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Woods. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santiago lands an uppercut.

Woods has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Santiago uses from the top position.
Woods is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Woods seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Santiago wants to get up but he can't break Woods's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Woods is trying to keep Santiago in close.

We're going to have a standup here because Jack Woods wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Santiago displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Woods.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Woods tries to clinch there but Santiago circles away.

Santiago moves into the clinch.
Woods drops down looking for an ankle pick but Santiago pulls his leg out and moves away.
Woods changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Santiago tries to avoid it but Woods manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Santiago to the ground. Santiago escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Woods with a lazy takedown attempt

and Santiago counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Santiago prevents a takedown attempt there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Woods just misses with a elbow thrown towards Santiago's brow.
Santiago goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Santiago misses with a hook to the ribs.
Woods looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Woods tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Santiago just stands there and leans against the cage.
Santiago lands a hook that snaps the head of Woods backwards.
A short right from Santiago on the inside.
Woods trying to land knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Santiago lands a body punch in the clinch.
Santiago lands with a left to the head.
Santiago trying to land knees to the body.
Woods tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Santiago smiles and moves away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Santiago misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago digs a right hand underneath Woods's ribcage. Woods let out a lung full of air as it connected.
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!
Santiago lands a nice knee to the body.
Santiago lands a nice uppercut.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Woods is trying to drag Santiago to the mat but Santiago just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Santiago using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Woods has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Santiago pressing his opponent against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santiago misses with a body punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Santiago comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Santiago has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Joe Santiago!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Joe Santiago!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Joe Santiago!

Joe Santiago wins by unanimous decision!