PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sin Cara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arwind Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sin Cara has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cara
vs
Santos

180 cm
20
215 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

193 cm
24
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sin Cara!
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, Arwind Santos!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cara swivels and escapes.
Cara takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

Santos forces Cara back against the cage and clinches.
Santos gets underhooks to prevent Cara's takedown attempt.
Santos drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cara gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Santos breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cara slaps away a takedown attempt from Santos, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sin Cara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arwind Santos.
Cara tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos leaves Cara with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cara misses with a takedown attempt - Santos sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Santos tries a head kick but it misses.
Santos looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cara is fending him off so far but Santos persists. Nope, Cara circles away and we're back to standing.
Santos shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cara but Cara pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cara could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos thuds a left hand into Cara's body.
Cara throws a head kick but Santos moves out of range.
Santos closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cara circles away.
Santos shoots in looking for a takedown but Cara manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Santos's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A right-left combo lands from Santos.
Santos feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cara's calf.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cara shoots in for a takedown but Santos shows good takedown defense.
Santos swats away the attempt to clinch by Cara.
Santos pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Santos shoots in but no luck this time.
Santos looks gassed!
Santos tries a low kick but Cara avoids it.
Santos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cara sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Santos somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos lands a high kick!
Cara shoots in for a takedown but Santos shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Arwind Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santos misses the shot to the body.
Santos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cara misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arwind Santos dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Santos doesn't manage to clinch there - Cara circles away.
Santos throws a sloppy head kick

so Cara counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Santos manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cara manages to get himself to full guard.
Santos sitting in guard here, content to control.

Santos is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Cara is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Cara has escaped and now he's on top!

Cara drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Santos dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos throwing strikes but missing.

Cara is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Santos defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos trying to move into half guard but instead Cara has managed to sweep!

Cara has gone for a leg lock! Santos slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cara's guard.

Santos decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cara, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cara.
Santos throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cara's waist but Cara gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Santos off to one side.
Santos moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Santos misses with a takedown attempt - Cara sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Santos instigates a clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Cara has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Santos after a bit of a struggle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cara is looking to take this one to the mat.

Santos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cara misses with a takedown attempt - Santos sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sin Cara. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santos tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cara swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Santos clinches.
Cara wants a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Arwind Santos will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Santos throws a sloppy head kick and Cara moves out of range easily.
Santos shoots in and drives through. Cara sprawls well.
Cara moves in looking to clinch but Santos pushes him off.
Santos misses with a low kick as Cara jumps back.
A head kick from Cara lands but Santos takes it in his stride.
Santos shoots for a takedown but Cara saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Cara gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Santos to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Santos throws an elbow that misses. Cara uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Santos's guard. Nice move by Cara!
Santos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos wants to hit a switch here but Cara passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Santos there!
Santos can't escape the position.

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.

Cara wants to finish this one by submission but Santos is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Cara.
Santos sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Santos is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos gets back to full guard.

Cara drops back, looking for a kneebar! Santos looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Santos looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Santos!

Santos goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Cara has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Santos but great work by Cara.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cara is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Santos has escaped the position, nice work there.
Santos tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cara wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arwind Santos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Santos has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arwind Santos!