PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dogen Zenji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Santerini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santerini has chosen "Bodies" Drowning Pool as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!

Zenji
vs
Santerini

185 cm
22
190 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

175 cm
23
189 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dogen Zenji!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rick Santerini!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santerini showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zenji.
Zenji tries to clinch there but Santerini circles away.
Santerini throws a lazy right hand but Zenji sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Zenji looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Zenji trying to control the position from guard on top but Santerini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zenji stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santerini swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Santerini escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zenji gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Zenji stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santerini swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Santerini looking for a guillotine here but Zenji defends easily.
Santerini manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zenji manages to get himself to full guard.
Zenji knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Santerini on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santerini pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zenji is keeping the position for now.
Santerini throws a big right hand that misses.
Santerini cracks Zenji with a solid left hand.
Zenji working a defensive guard here.
Zenji throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Zenji preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zenji preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zenji is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Santerini is controlling him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zenji tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santerini paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zenji changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Santerini tries to avoid it but Zenji manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Santerini to the ground. Santerini escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zenji goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Santerini tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zenji shoots in looking for a takedown. Santerini tries to sprawl out of it but Zenji keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Santerini manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Zenji moves out of range of the body kick from Santerini.
Zenji bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Santerini's head backwards.

Zenji gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Zenji is breathing heavily.
Zenji is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Santerini looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Zenji avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zenji is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zenji controls Santerini momentarily but Santerini frees himself.
Santerini should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Santerini advances position into side control!
Santerini misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Santerini tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Santerini has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zenji is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Santerini is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Zenji has escaped the position, nice work there.
Check out the look on Santerini's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Santerini has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zenji gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Santerini landing punches.
Santerini dominating with strikes here.
A nice elbow there by Santerini.
Zenji tries to reverse the position but Santerini maintains control.
Santerini looking to finish Zenji with some ground and pound. This is bad for Zenji!
Santerini landing punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santerini fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Santerini misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Zenji is trying to escape the mount.
Zenji is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Santerini dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Santerini stuffs the takedown.
No luck for Zenji with that takedown attempt.
Santerini closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zenji circles away.
Zenji lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Rick Santerini has been cut.
Zenji doesn't manage to clinch there - Santerini circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Zenji. No joy for Santerini on that attempt.
Zenji shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Santerini counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Santerini.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dogen Zenji. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santerini postures up.
Zenji is looking to stand up but Santerini isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Santerini is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Santerini postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santerini postures up in Zenji's guard and throws a big left but Zenji blocks it.
Santerini tries to free his leg and advance position but Zenji is retaining full guard.
Santerini throws a big right hand that misses.
Santerini passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Zenji is looking for a sweep.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zenji will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Santerini gets the takedown into side control.
Santerini working the body and head with strikes.
Zenji defending against the ground and pound.
Santerini working away.

Santerini tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Zenji is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Santerini's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santerini throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Zenji looking for submissions off his back.
Zenji trying to control here.

Santerini seems to be looking for submissions.
Zenji is pressing down on Santerini's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Santerini drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Zenji manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Santerini has Zenji in his guard.
Santerini keeping moving, preventing Zenji from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santerini has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zenji can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rick Santerini has got the better of the ground game so far.

Santerini is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Zenji postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Santerini wants to sweep here but Zenji controlling him for the moment.
Zenji scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Santerini is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Zenji wants to control from the top but Santerini keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santerini looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zenji wants to control from the top but Santerini keeps moving.

Santerini is looking for a triangle here but Zenji uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Zenji working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santerini sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Santerini showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rick Santerini's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Zenji tries to clinch but Santerini moves out of range.
Zenji has his takedown stuffed

and Santerini counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Santerini is looking to work some ground and pound but Zenji has wrist control.
Santerini is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Zenji manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Santerini manages to get himself to full guard.

Santerini had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Zenji is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Santerini Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Zenji's back instead.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Santerini has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Zenji has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Santerini keeps control of the position as Zenji tries to break free.
Santerini doesn't have the hooks in and Zenji manages to turn into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zenji gets to his feet. Santerini looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Santerini takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Santerini throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zenji gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Santerini decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zenji's guard.
Santerini loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Santerini thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Santerini works over Zenji with some ground and pound from guard.

Santerini drops back looking for a leg! Zenji is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zenji manages to kick Santerini off! Santerini jumps back into Zenji's guard.
Santerini pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zenji is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zenji is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Santerini moves into full guard.
Zenji stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santerini swivels though and keeps the full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Santerini is on top in guard.
Santerini advances to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Santerini thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zenji's head.
Santerini passes to side control.

Santerini wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zenji, who protects the arm well.
Santerini working the head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zenji pushes Santerini away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Santerini gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Santerini working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Zenji manages to work his way to half guard, despite Santerini's best efforts.
Zenji gets back to full guard.
Zenji seems keen to control Santerini's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santerini is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Santerini is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Zenji is trying to stand.
Zenji trying to control here.
Zenji avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Santerini.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zenji avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Santerini.
Santerini working Zenji over with strikes.
Dogen Zenji has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Santerini is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Santerini comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Santerini winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Santerini!