PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jimi Santana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshimitsu Tajiri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tajiri has chosen Asiattacker by Jim Johnston as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Santana
vs
Tajiri

169 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
23
161 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jimi Santana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Yoshimitsu Tajiri!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Robert Douchet and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Santana shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Santana stands up from Tajiri's guard - Santana perhaps looking for a knockout.
Tajiri misses with a takedown

and Santana counters with a takedown into side control.

Santana is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tajiri has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tajiri can't do much from the bottom here.
Santana is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Tajiri tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Santana wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Tajiri wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Santana tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santana has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Tajiri!
Tajiri avoids a series of strikes thrown by Santana.
Santana trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Santana prevents Tajiri from getting the reversal.
Tajiri holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Santana tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Santana takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Santana working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Tajiri is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tajiri is desperately trying to improve his position but Santana has a good base and remains in mount.
Tajiri really wants to buck Santana off and get back to his feet.

Santana stands up from mount. Strange move.
A right-left combo lands from Tajiri.

Santana gets the takedown into side control.
Tajiri is looking to regain half guard here but Santana keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Santana is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Tajiri will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana tries to move to full mount but Tajiri actually manages to regain half guard.
Santana is breathing heavily.

Santana is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Tajiri has managed to free his arm - good work.
Tajiri is trying to stand back up but Santana is controlling him
Tajiri won't allow Santana to pass to mount.
Santana not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Santana stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Tajiri to get to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nice takedown defense from Tajiri. No joy for Santana on that attempt.
Tajiri wants to clinch

and Santana counters with a single leg into guard. Tajiri didn't expect that.
Santana wants to stand and escape but instead Tajiri has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Tajiri thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tajiri wants to get up but he can't break Santana's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tajiri trying to control the position from guard on top but Santana is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santana wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimi Santana dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tajiri gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Santana trying to control the position from guard on top but Tajiri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tajiri is on top in guard.
Santana not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Santana lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Tajiri!
Jimi Santana overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Santana takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Santana looking for the choke but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tajiri trying to control the hands but Santana won't let him.
Santana wants to control but Tajiri manages to buck him off and is now in Santana's guard! Nice work there by Tajiri!
Santana manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tajiri manages to get himself to full guard.
Tajiri keeping full guard, as Santana tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Santana postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Tajiri is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Santana, into his guard.
Tajiri is looking to stand up but Santana won't let him.
Tajiri trying to control the position from guard on top but Santana is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tajiri tries to free his leg and advance position but Santana is retaining full guard.
Santana working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tajiri passes Santana's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Tajiri blocks the strikes from Santana.
Santana is looking to improve his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Santana drives through with a takedown into guard.

Santana drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Tajiri dives on top into guard.
Tajiri stopping the sweep attempt from Santana.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santana wants to get back to his feet but Tajiri is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tajiri trying to control the position from guard on top but Santana is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santana tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tajiri wants to get up but he can't break Santana's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Tajiri gets to his feet. Santana looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Tajiri throws a series of punches but Santana moves out of range.

Tajiri gets caught flat footed, as Santana shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimi Santana dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tajiri misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tajiri misses with a head kick.
Tajiri tries a head kick but it misses.
Santana blocks a head kick by Tajiri.
Santana avoids the head kick by Tajiri.

Santana clinches.
Santana tries for a takedown. No joy.
Tajiri prevents a takedown attempt there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Santana gets control of Tajiri's arms and successfully pulls guard. Santana will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Tajiri lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santana is trying to keep Tajiri in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santana throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Santana has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Tajiri is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Santana.
Tajiri working the ground and pound.

Tajiri decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Santana looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimi Santana. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santana fails with a takedown attempt.
Tajiri throws a sloppy head kick and Santana moves out of range easily.
Tajiri throws a head kick but Santana moves out of range.
Tajiri closes the distance looking to clinch

and Santana counters by clinching up.
Tajiri is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santana jumps guard.
Tajiri wants to control from the top but Santana keeps moving.
Tajiri wants to get up but he can't break Santana's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Tajiri throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Santana works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Santana manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tajiri manages to get himself to full guard.
Santana passes into half guard.

Santana is looking for a kimura but Tajiri is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Santana to get the leverage.

Santana is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Yoshimitsu Tajiri has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santana is just content to waste time from the top position. Tajiri takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Santana stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tajiri swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Santana stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Jimi Santana is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tajiri misses with a head kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Santana changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Tajiri looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Tajiri is being controlled here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimi Santana showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Santana, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jimi Santana!