PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Gustafsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evangelista Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexander Gustafsson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Gustafsson
vs
Santos

196 cm
26
205 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
26
205 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Alexander Gustafsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Evangelista Santos!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Wagner Zegers and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gustafsson moves in looking to clinch but Santos pushes him off.
Gustafsson throws an off balance right hand
and Santos counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Santos has closed the distance and engaged Gustafsson in a clinch.
Gustafsson jumps guard but Santos stands there with Gustafsson around his waist. Gustafsson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A short right from Santos.
Gustafsson can't find room to land a body shot as Santos controls the action.
Santos scores with a nice hook to the head.
Santos keeps control of Gustafsson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Still in the clinch, Santos scores with a nice short uppercut.
Santos fails to pull guard.
Santos blocks a body shot from Gustafsson.
Santos is trying to pull guard but Gustafsson has him pressed against the ropes.
Gustafsson wants to break free but Santos has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Santos drags the fight down to the ground.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Gustafsson chips away with some ground and pound.
Santos keeping moving, preventing Gustafsson from controlling successfully.
Gustafsson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Santos can do anything to dispel that myth.
Santos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gustafsson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gustafsson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gustafsson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gustafsson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Santos struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Santos sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Santos is not content to let Gustafsson control the position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Gustafsson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Santos sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Gustafsson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santos keeps working.
Santos is looking to regain half guard here but Gustafsson keeps moving and retains side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gustafsson tries to score with some ground and pound. Santos controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Gustafsson blocks the strikes from Santos.
Santos is trying to control Gustafsson's posture but Gustafsson avoids it.

Gustafsson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gustafsson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santos keeps working.
Gustafsson throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Santos parries the strikes from Gustafsson easily there. Gustafsson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Santos to escape.
Santos tries to buck Gustafsson off but Gustafsson is having none of it.
Santos can't do much from the bottom here.
Santos really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gustafsson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Santos avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Gustafsson.
Sloppy strikes there by Gustafsson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos parries the strikes from Gustafsson easily there. Gustafsson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Santos to escape.
Santos is looking for a sweep.
Gustafsson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Gustafsson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Santos is looking to regain half guard here but Gustafsson keeps moving and retains side control.
Santos is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gustafsson trying to control the action but Santos is working from the bottom.
Gustafsson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santos is trying to control Gustafsson's posture but Gustafsson avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Gustafsson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gustafsson shoots in but Santos avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Santos keeps the fight on the outside.

Santos darts in and clinches Gustafsson up against the ropes.
Santos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gustafsson just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Gustafsson works on Santos's body with a couple of short punches.
Santos lands with a light punch inside.
Santos prevents a body shot from Gustafsson.
Gustafsson tries for a takedown but Santos manages to get underhooks.
Santos scores with a shot to the side of Gustafsson's head.
Santos pushes Gustafsson back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Santos makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustafsson tries to work over Santos's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gustafsson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Gustafsson is rocked!
Santos lands a shot to the body.
Oh Gustafsson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Santos dips a shoulder and cracks Gustafsson with a mighty uppercut! Gustafsson falls back against the ropes and Santos unloads with a barrage of strikes! Gustafsson is completely out with his eyes open, only supported by the ropes! Save him ref! Eventually the ref decides to do his job and jumps in - Santos screams abuse at the incompetent official before going over to celebrate with his corner. Brutal stuff!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Evangelista Santos!
During a confident post fight interview, Evangelista Santos thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.