PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lassi Lambada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santiago is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Asesinos - Los Crudos. Antonio Santiago 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!

Lambada
vs
Santiago

188 cm
27
200 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

188 cm
37
198 lbs
26 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lassi Lambada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Leandro Rodrigues and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lambada but Lambada pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Santiago shoots in for a takedown but Lambada shows good takedown defense.
Lambada connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Some wild striking there from Lambada.
Lambada is looking to clinch.
Santiago is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lambada sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lassi Lambada has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Santiago.
Santiago throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lambada.
Santiago lands with an uppercut that bounces Lambada off the cage and back into range.
Lambada avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Santiago avoids a punch combination nicely.
A left lands for Lambada.
Lambada goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Lambada tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santiago paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lambada misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lambada connects with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lambada tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Lambada clinches with his opponent.
A head punch on the inside from Santiago fails to land.
Lambada lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Lambada doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lambada pushes Santiago back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Santiago drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lambada gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Santiago changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lambada fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Santiago jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lambada misses with a wild body shot.
Lambada jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lambada scores with a nice strike.
Lambada moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
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!
Santiago misses with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Santiago misses.
Lambada looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Santiago fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lambada manages to avoid it.
Santiago throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lambada's waist but Lambada gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Santiago off to one side.
Santiago shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
No luck for Santiago with that takedown attempt.
Lambada steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Santiago.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Lambada, as that shot connected.
Santiago throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Santiago throws a big shot that misses.

Lambada closes the distance and clinches.
Santiago lands a hook that snaps the head of Lambada backwards.
Santiago is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Lambada is defending well.
Lambada tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lambada connects with a knee to the head.
Santiago tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago blocks an uppercut.
Santiago has had enough of the clinch but Lambada keeps him there for the moment.
Lambada working aggressively here.
Lambada lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Lambada gets through Santiago's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Santiago stops a takedown attempt from Lambada.
Santiago drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lambada working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lambada makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Lambada drops down looking for an ankle pick but Santiago pulls his leg out and moves away.
Lambada throws a series of punches but Santiago avoids them all with ease.
Santiago takes one on the button.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lambada uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Jab from Lambada.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lambada clinches up with Santiago and pushes him back against the cage.
Santiago has a couple of punches blocked by Lambada.
Lambada swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lambada lands a body punch.
Santiago blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Lambada works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Santiago escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lambada gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Santiago pushes Lambada off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Santiago throws a jab when Lambada was well out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lambada misses with a series of wild punches.
Santiago misses the body punch
and Lambada counters with a stiff right hand.
Santiago swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Lambada is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lambada shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Santiago as he avoids it easily.

Lambada looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Santiago!
Lambada tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Santiago sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Santiago is trying to get back to full guard.
Santiago is trying to control but can't.

Santiago kicks off Lambada and gets to his feet.
Lassi Lambada is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Santiago tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lambada sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Santiago somewhat.
Santiago dives in and grabs Lambada's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lambada pushes down on Santiago's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago throws a big shot that misses.
Lambada staying out of range there.
Lambada tries for a takedown but Santiago sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Santiago drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Santiago working the ground and pound from side control.
Santiago sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Lambada is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Santiago has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lambada can't do much from the bottom here.

Santiago tries for a kimura but Lambada is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Lambada sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santiago wants to control but Lambada is keeping him busy.
Santiago lands a decent elbow from side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Santiago looks up at the clock and then as Lambada takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Santiago smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Santiago is looking to take a break and control but Lambada is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lambada regains half guard, as Santiago was trying to land strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago trying to control the action but Lambada is working from the bottom.
Lambada avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Santiago.
Santiago passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Lambada!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lambada wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Santiago.
Santiago misses with a head shot.
Lambada is looking to improve his position but Santiago isn't that keen on the idea.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santiago thowing shots but they're missing.
Santiago misses with a head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Santiago showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Lambada's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lambada walks into a stiff left hand from Santiago.
Lambada is looking to clinch but Santiago is avoiding it.
Santiago misses with a takedown

and Lambada counters by moving into the clinch.
Santiago prevents a body shot from Lambada.
Lambada is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Santiago gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lambada.
Lambada lands a body punch.
Santiago throws a punch but it's blocked by Lambada.

Lambada is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Santiago can't fight it off and eventually Lambada manages to take the fight to the floor. Santiago looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lambada trying to control the position from guard on top but Santiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santiago is trying to keep Lambada in close.
Lambada has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Santiago wants to stand and escape but Lambada is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Santiago throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Santiago escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lambada gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Santiago keeping full guard, as Lambada tries to pass.
Santiago trying to keep a closed guard but Lambada is proving a slippery customer.
Lambada stands up over Santiago, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lambada is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Lambada looking to sit in guard and control but Santiago gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lambada looking to hit a scissor sweep but Santiago is one step ahead there.
Santiago throws a strike but Lambada rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is looking to sweep but instead, Lambada has passed into half guard.
Lambada wants to control but Santiago is keeping him busy.
Lambada is really struggling to control Santiago but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Santiago looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Santiago has hold of Lambada's hands but Lambada slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Santiago is pressing down on Lambada's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Santiago looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Lambada got a little sloppy there for a moment and Santiago has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lambada has managed to get both his arms back between Santiago's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lambada wants to control from the top but Santiago keeps moving.
Lambada controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Santiago is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Antonio Santiago has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lambada sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Santiago's guard.
Lambada sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Santiago defending well though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lambada lands with a punch from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lassi Lambada showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lambada 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lassi Lambada!
A very excited looking Lassi Lambada made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.