PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Larry Santangelo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Belt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnny Belt has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Santangelo
vs
Belt

175 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

171 cm
18
169 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Larry Santangelo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Johnny Belt!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Colin Fray and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santangelo has a takedown stuffed.
Johnny Belt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Santangelo darts in and clinches Belt up against the cage.
Belt being controlled against the cage.
Belt is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Santangelo to keep the fight standing.
Belt trying to control the position but instead, Santangelo has worked for underhooks and has pushed Belt into the cage.
Santangelo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Santangelo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Belt pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Larry Santangelo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Belt.
Belt tries to score a power double leg takedown but Santangelo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Belt somewhat.
Belt fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Santangelo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Belt sprawls well. Belt wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Santangelo gets slowly back to his feet.
Santangelo lands a right hook to the body.
Belt looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belt takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Santangelo thuds his shin into the meat of Belt's side.

Belt gets tackled into the cage by Santangelo. Santangelo maintains the clinch.
Santangelo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Belt avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Santangelo pulls guard successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Santangelo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Belt doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Belt manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Belt looking to pass the guard.
Santangelo seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santangelo keeping moving, preventing Belt from controlling successfully.
Santangelo has Belt pulled in close to control his posture.
Belt wants to control from the top but Santangelo keeps moving.
Santangelo managing to control the position.

Larry Santangelo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Santangelo. No joy for Belt on that attempt.

Santangelo has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santangelo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Santangelo rushes Belt and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Belt takes a knee to the side of the body.

Santangelo has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Belt uses from the top position.

Santangelo scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Santangelo tries for a takedown but Belt sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Santangelo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Belt but Belt pushes him off and we're back to square one.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santangelo shoots in looking for a takedown. Belt tries to sprawl out of it but Santangelo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Belt manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Santangelo rushes Belt and presses him up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A slapping leg kick lands for Santangelo.
Santangelo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice sprawl there from Belt as Santangelo shoots in.
Belt throws a head kick that misses.
Santangelo misses with a series of wild punches.

Santangelo pushes Belt up against the cage in a clinch.
Santangelo prevents a takedown attempt there.

Santangelo pulls guard effortlessly.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Belt got a little sloppy there for a moment and Santangelo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Belt has managed to get both his arms back between Santangelo's legs - danger averted.
Belt is breathing heavily.
Belt stays in close to Santangelo's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Belt trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Santangelo pushes Belt off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Santangelo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Larry Santangelo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santangelo with a poor takedown

and Belt decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Santangelo's guard.
Santangelo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Belt postures up in Santangelo's guard and throws a big left but Santangelo blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belt has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Santangelo is proving hard to escape from.
Belt looking to sit in guard and control but Santangelo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
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!
Belt utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Santangelo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Santangelo slips nicely into half guard.
Santangelo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Belt knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belt is looking to get back to full guard here but Santangelo has managed to pass to side control instead.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Belt is trying to control Santangelo's posture but Santangelo avoids it.

Santangelo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Santangelo moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larry Santangelo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Santangelo wants to control but Belt is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Santangelo dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Santangelo wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Belt tries to close the distance and clinch but Santangelo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Santangelo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Santangelo lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Belt shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Santangelo but Santangelo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Santangelo displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Santangelo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Belt closes the distance looking to clinch
and Santangelo counters with a low kick, right behind Belt 's knee.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santangelo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Belt pinned against the cage. Belt gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Larry Santangelo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belt tries to score a power double leg takedown but Santangelo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Belt somewhat.
Santangelo shoots in looking for a takedown but Belt manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Santangelo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Santangelo stuffs the takedown attempt from Belt. Belt gets slowly back to his feet.

Santangelo clinches up with Belt and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santangelo successfully pulls guard.
Santangelo wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Belt wants to pass the guard but Santangelo is keeping the position.
Santangelo wants to stand but Belt is controlling the position.

Santangelo scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Santangelo looks to land a combination but Belt avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santangelo drives through and clinches with Belt against the cage.
Belt fails to pull guard.

Santangelo manages to pull guard.
Santangelo is adopting a defensive guard.
Belt tries to free his leg and advance position but Santangelo is retaining full guard.
Belt wants to control from the top but Santangelo keeps moving.
Belt pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santangelo is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santangelo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Belt is one step ahead there.
Belt trying to control but Santangelo is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Johnny Belt.

Santangelo clinches up with Belt and pushes him back against the cage.

Santangelo breaks from the clinch.
Larry Santangelo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Santangelo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Belt, pushing him back against the cage.
Johnny Belt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Larry Santangelo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Santangelo drags the fight down to the ground.

And that's the end of the fight!
Larry Santangelo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Santangelo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Larry Santangelo!