PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gaius Senator (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Manuel Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manuel Santos comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Cypress Hill - Lowrider kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Senator
vs
Manuel Santos

192 cm
20
244 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

197 cm
22
270 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gaius Senator!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Simon Manuel Santos!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Leandro Rodrigues and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Senator misses.
Senator fails to land the takedown.
Nice uppercut lands for Senator. That snapped Manuel Santos's head back.
Senator shoots in looking for a takedown but Manuel Santos manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Senator's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Senator shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Manuel Santos but Manuel Santos pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gaius Senator. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Senator throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Manuel Santos's waist but Manuel Santos gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Senator off to one side.
Senator throws a lazy right hand but Manuel Santos sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Senator walks into a jab.
Manuel Santos misses with the combination.

Manuel Santos tries to sprawl but Senator drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Manuel Santos is pressing down on Senator's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Senator drops back looking for a leg! Manuel Santos is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Manuel Santos manages to kick Senator off! Senator jumps back into Manuel Santos's guard.
Manuel Santos being controlled here, momentarily.
Senator throws a big right hand that misses.
Senator trying to control but Manuel Santos is working from the bottom.
Manuel Santos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Senator postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Manuel Santos really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Senator. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Manuel Santos is trying to control the position but Senator postures up.
Senator with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Senator throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Manuel Santos works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Senator tries to free his leg and advance position but Manuel Santos is retaining full guard.
Senator throwing strikes from guard but Manuel Santos blocks nicely.
Senator in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Senator loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Manuel Santos wants to stand up but Senator is controlling him.
Senator 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.

Senator thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Senator in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Senator trying to control but Manuel Santos is working from the bottom.
Manuel Santos trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Senator trying to control but Manuel Santos is working from the bottom.
Senator throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Senator lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Manuel Santos is trying to control the position but Senator postures up.
Manuel Santos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Senator.
Senator wants to control from the top but Manuel Santos keeps moving.
Senator working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Senator lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Senator controls from within his opponent's guard.
Senator passes Manuel Santos's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Senator is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Manuel Santos!
Senator lands with some strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Manuel Santos in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

It looks like Simon Manuel Santos has been cut.
Senator wants to control the pace but Manuel Santos is squirming around nicely.
Senator prevents Manuel Santos from getting the reversal.
Senator with shots to the head and body - Manuel Santos looks very uncomfortable down there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Senator wants to control the pace but Manuel Santos is squirming around nicely.
Senator dominating with strikes here.
Senator scoring with strikes but Manuel Santos is staying in there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gaius Senator dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Simon Manuel Santos's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Manuel Santos misses with a double jab.
Manuel Santos stuffs the takedown attempt from Senator. Senator gets slowly back to his feet.
Manuel Santos staying out of range there.
Manuel Santos tries to bum rush Senator with a series of wild strikes but Senator uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A combination from Manuel Santos does no damage.

Senator shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Senator showed some decent athleticism there.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Senator connects with a nice short shot to Manuel Santos's temple.
Manuel Santos blocking the ground and pound attempt from Senator.
Senator seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Senator thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Senator wants to control but Manuel Santos is keeping him busy.
Manuel Santos has hold of Senator's hands but Senator slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Senator trying to pass the guard but Manuel Santos defending well.
Senator working the head and body with strikes.
Senator landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Senator not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Manuel Santos is refusing to be controlled, as Senator sits in half guard.
Manuel Santos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Manuel Santos is looking for a sweep. Senator is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Senator slows the pace down in half guard.
Senator thows a huge punch but Manuel Santos dodges it nicely.
Senator wants to lay and pray for a moment but Manuel Santos keeps working.
Manuel Santos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Senator thows a huge punch but Manuel Santos dodges it nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Senator wants to lay and pray for a moment but Manuel Santos keeps working.
Senator passes the guard and advances to mount!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Manuel Santos can do anything to dispel that myth.
Senator has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Manuel Santos's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Senator pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Senator with the ground and pound from mount.

Senator goes for an armbar but Manuel Santos turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Manuel Santos.
Senator has a closed guard, preventing Manuel Santos from standing up.
Senator striking from the bottom here.

Senator throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Manuel Santos is looking to stand up but Senator won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Senator keeping full guard, as Manuel Santos tries to pass.
Senator wants to sweep here but Manuel Santos controlling him for the moment.
Senator wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Manuel Santos postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Senator throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Senator escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Manuel Santos gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gaius Senator dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Simon Manuel Santos's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Manuel Santos throws a series of punches but Senator avoids them all with ease.
Senator lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Manuel Santos swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A combination from Manuel Santos does no damage.
Manuel Santos moves away from the strike by Senator.
Senator dives in and grabs Manuel Santos's left leg, looking for a takedown. Manuel Santos pushes down on Senator's head and hops out.
No luck for Senator with that takedown attempt.
A jab from Senator misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Senator throws a right hand that misses
and Manuel Santos counters with a three punch combo that has Senator backing up. Senator nods at Manuel Santos to acknowledge the strikes.
Senator throws the left hand but Manuel Santos avoids the punch easily.
Some wild striking there from Manuel Santos.
Senator scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A looping hook to the body misses from Manuel Santos. Senator does a little dance to reset his feet.
Simon Manuel Santos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Senator slips under a jab.
Senator throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Manuel Santos ducks under a wild hook from Senator.
Manuel Santos will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Manuel Santos throws a body punch but Senator moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Senator throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Senator changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Manuel Santos looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Senator lands some shots froms side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Check out the look on Senator's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Senator wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Manuel Santos, who protects the arm well.
Gaius Senator overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The ground and pound from Senator seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Manuel Santos managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Senator.
Senator working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Senator working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Senator grinds an elbow into Manuel Santos's temple.
Manuel Santos takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Senator tries to score with some ground and pound. Manuel Santos controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Manuel Santos is not content to let Senator control the position.
Senator creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Senator has hold of Manuel Santos's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Manuel Santos tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Senator cranks the arm and Manuel Santos screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Manuel Santos, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Gaius Senator!