PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jorge Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mariusz Igielski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mariusz Igielski told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Santos
vs
Igielski

200 cm
23
270 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

198 cm
23
278 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Very confident

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, Jorge Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mariusz Igielski!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Santos closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Igielski is looking to reverse the position.
Igielski really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Santos. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Igielski wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Igielski stops Santos from passing to mount.
Igielski is trying to get back to his feet.

Santos is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Igielski knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Igielski is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Santos has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos fails to land a wild elbow strike.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Igielski can do anything to dispel that myth.
Igielski managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Santos.
Santos trying to control the action but Igielski is working from the bottom.
Igielski is looking to regain half guard here but Santos keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Santos.

Santos is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Igielski has escaped the position, nice work there.
Igielski is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Igielski is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos wants to control but Igielski is keeping him busy.

Santos is trying to get an arm triangle but Igielski is defending well.
Igielski is looking for a sweep.
Igielski can't do much from the bottom here.

Santos stands up and beckons Igielski to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos throws a head kick but Igielski moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Santos.
Igielski tries to close the distance and clinch but Santos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Santos shoots and misses

and Igielski counters with a single leg into guard. Santos didn't expect that.
Igielski looking to pass the guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Igielski trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santos is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jorge Santos will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Igielski looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Santos closes this distance looking for a takedown but Igielski circles away.
Igielski misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Santos shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Igielski pinned against the cage. Igielski gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Igielski shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Santos's guard.

Igielski stands up from Santos's guard - Igielski perhaps looking for a knockout.

Igielski shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Igielski working the head and body with strikes.
Igielski stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos is looking for a sweep. Igielski is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mariusz Igielski has got the better of the ground game so far.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Igielski looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Igielski content to control rather than advance.
Igielski trying to control the action but Santos is working from the bottom.
Igielski is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Santos manages to get to full guard.
Santos controls Igielski momentarily but Igielski frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos wants to sweep but no luck.
Santos keeping full guard, as Igielski tries to pass.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Santos looking for a guillotine here but Igielski defends easily.
Igielski seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Igielski trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Igielski must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mariusz Igielski was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Igielski uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Santos.

Igielski gets caught napping as Santos dives in and scores a takedown. Igielski manages to retain guard.
Santos prevents Igielski from getting back to his feet.
Igielski is breathing heavily.
Santos seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Igielski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santos tries to free his leg and advance position but Igielski is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mariusz Igielski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Santos has a takedown stuffed.
Igielski shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Jorge Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Igielski keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Santos enables Igielski to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Santos manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Igielski trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Igielski seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Santos trying to keep a closed guard but Igielski is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Igielski tries to keep at a distance but Santos has taken the fight into the clinch.
Igielski misses with a short punch on the inside.
Igielski is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Santos goes for a takedown in the clinch but Igielski prevents it.
Igielski trying to stall but Santos improves his position.

Igielski manages to break the clinch.
Santos shoots in looking for a takedown but Igielski manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Santos's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jorge Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Santos shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Igielski is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos tries to control but Igielski wriggling away.
Santos looking to ground and pound but Igielski is blocking nicely.
Santos thowing shots but they're missing.
Igielski is looking to improve his position but Santos isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos wants to control the pace but Igielski is squirming around nicely.
Igielski is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Santos controlling the position easily from mount.
Igielski gets back to half guard.
Santos missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santos wants to get back to his feet.
Santos missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jorge Santos.
I think Santos has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight for Mariusz Igielski!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Jorge Santos!
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Mariusz Igielski!

Mariusz Igielski wins by split decision!