PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Simon Manuel Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bjarno Lackenmeier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manuel Santos comes to the cage accompanied by Cypress Hill - Lowrider . Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Manuel Santos
vs
Lackenmeier

197 cm
25
270 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

188 cm
30
205 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Syndicate Nutrition

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 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Simon Manuel Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bjarno Lackenmeier!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Seu Braga and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Manuel Santos has closed the distance and engaged Lackenmeier in a clinch.
Lackenmeier misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Manuel Santos.
Knees in the clinch landing for Lackenmeier.
Lackenmeier with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lackenmeier blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lackenmeier throws an elbow but misses.
Manuel Santos stalling.
Lackenmeier scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Simon Manuel Santos has been cut.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Lackenmeier with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lackenmeier with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Manuel Santos looking to slow down the pace here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Manuel Santos.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lackenmeier with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Manuel Santos avoiding damage as Lackenmeier throws knees to the body.
Lackenmeier lands a good knee to the midsection. Manuel Santos won't want to take too many of those.
Lackenmeier misses with a knee to the head.
Lackenmeier tries to land a knee to the head but Manuel Santos blocks with his arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lackenmeier keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Manuel Santos's efforts to push away.
Manuel Santos tries to stall but Lackenmeier uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Manuel Santos lands with a short shot to the head.
Manuel Santos blocks an elbow strike.
Lackenmeier throws an elbow but it misses.
Lackenmeier blocks a body shot from Manuel Santos.
Manuel Santos wants to stall.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Manuel Santos wants to break free but Lackenmeier has control.
Lackenmeier blocks a body shot from Manuel Santos.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lackenmeier missing with knees to the body.
Lackenmeier blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Manuel Santos is trying to push Lackenmeier away but Lackenmeier has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Manuel Santos swings wildly with an uppercut but Lackenmeier uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short left from Manuel Santos.
Lackenmeier tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Manuel Santos avoids it.
Manuel Santos is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Lackenmeier misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Manuel Santos.
Manuel Santos lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Lackenmeier or not.
Lackenmeier tries to land a knee to the head but Manuel Santos blocks with his arms.
Lackenmeier is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Manuel Santos is defending well for now.
Lackenmeier lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Lackenmeier tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
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!
Lackenmeier missing with knees to the body.
Lackenmeier scores with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel Santos avoiding damage as Lackenmeier throws knees to the body.
Manuel Santos working hard to break the clinch.
Manuel Santos displaying some good clinch control by pressing Lackenmeier up against the cage.
Manuel Santos managing to block the knees to the body from Lackenmeier.
Still in the clinch, Manuel Santos scores with a nice short uppercut.
Manuel Santos avoiding damage as Lackenmeier throws knees to the body.
Lackenmeier being controlled against the cage.
Manuel Santos managing to block the knees to the body from Lackenmeier.
Manuel Santos leaning against his opponent.
Lackenmeier with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lackenmeier misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Manuel Santos.
Lackenmeier misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Manuel Santos.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lackenmeier misses with a knee to the head.
Manuel Santos misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lackenmeier missing with knees to the body.
Manuel Santos avoiding damage.
Manuel Santos misses with a hook to the ribs.
Manuel Santos tries to circle away but Lackenmeier has him pinned against the cage.
Manuel Santos has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lackenmeier scores a nice knee to the body.
Manuel Santos can't find room to land a body shot as Lackenmeier controls the action.
Manuel Santos is trying to stall.
Manuel Santos managing to block the knees to the body from Lackenmeier.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lackenmeier throws an elbow but misses.
Lackenmeier unloads a knee to the mid-section.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Manuel Santos misses with a punch to the body.
Lackenmeier prevents Manuel Santos from breaking the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bjarno Lackenmeier will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Simon Manuel Santos's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Manuel Santos fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lackenmeier looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lackenmeier doesn't manage to clinch there - Manuel Santos circles away.
Manuel Santos attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lackenmeier looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Manuel Santos throws a hook to the side of Lackenmeier's head but Lackenmeier sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lackenmeier tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Manuel Santos paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Manuel Santos swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Lackenmeier makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Lackenmeier wants to clinch.
Manuel Santos throws a lazy uppercut
and Lackenmeier counters with an inside leg kick.
Lackenmeier tries to close the distance and clinch up but Manuel Santos swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lackenmeier tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Manuel Santos manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Manuel Santos circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lackenmeier tries to clinch there but Manuel Santos circles away.
Manuel Santos throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Manuel Santos misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manuel Santos throws a low kick but Lackenmeier avoids it.
Manuel Santos throws an overhand right that lands on Lackenmeier's shoulder, as Lackenmeier tries to avoid the shot.
Lackenmeier tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Manuel Santos manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Simon Manuel Santos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Manuel Santos throws a nice looking combination but Lackenmeier bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Manuel Santos scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Manuel Santos misses with an uppercut. Lackenmeier saw that one coming.
Manuel Santos lands with a kick to the temple. Lackenmeier shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lackenmeier lands an elbow inside.
Manuel Santos looking to throw knees to the head but Lackenmeier is blocking nicely.
Manuel Santos misses with a knee strike.
Bjarno Lackenmeier seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Lackenmeier creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Manuel Santos's defenses.
Lackenmeier tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lackenmeier comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Good body shot from Manuel Santos.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lackenmeier connects with a nasty looking knee right to Manuel Santos's face.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lackenmeier lands a nice knee to the body.

Lackenmeier breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lackenmeier tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Manuel Santos paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Lackenmeier in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.

Lackenmeier has managed to clinch.

Lackenmeier escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lackenmeier tries to clinch up.

Lackenmeier rushes Manuel Santos and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lackenmeier trying to land knees to the body.
Lackenmeier throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Manuel Santos blocks it with crossed arms.
Lackenmeier connects with a nasty looking knee right to Manuel Santos's face.
Manuel Santos wants to stall.
Manuel Santos tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lackenmeier has Manuel Santos pressed against the cage, preventing Manuel Santos from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Lackenmeier.
Lackenmeier is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Manuel Santos is defending well for now.
Lackenmeier throws a knee to the head but misses.
A short left from Manuel Santos.
Lackenmeier using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Manuel Santos has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lackenmeier missing with knees to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Lackenmeier lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Manuel Santos tries to stall but Lackenmeier uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Manuel Santos tries a knee to the head but Lackenmeier blocks it.
Lackenmeier missing with knees to the body.
Lackenmeier missing with knees to the body.
Lackenmeier trying to land knees to the body.
Lackenmeier connects with a nasty looking knee right to Manuel Santos's face.

Simon Manuel Santos's cut is getting worse.
Lackenmeier lands a knee to the head.
Manuel Santos blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel Santos avoids the elbow strike from Lackenmeier, against the cage.
Lackenmeier tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Manuel Santos avoids it.
Lackenmeier misses with a knee to the head.
Manuel Santos misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lackenmeier with a knee to the head.
Manuel Santos blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
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!
Knees to the body from Lackenmeier.
Lackenmeier trying to land knees to the body.
Lackenmeier with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Manuel Santos on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lackenmeier using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lackenmeier putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Manuel Santos in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Lackenmeier connects with a nasty looking knee right to Manuel Santos's face.
Manuel Santos on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Manuel Santos on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bjarno Lackenmeier showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Simon Manuel Santos's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Lackenmeier tries to clinch but Manuel Santos moves out of range.

Lackenmeier closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Manuel Santos looking to slow down the pace here.
Lackenmeier with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Manuel Santos.
Manuel Santos managing to block the knees to the body from Lackenmeier.
Manuel Santos managing to block the knees to the body from Lackenmeier.
Lackenmeier misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Manuel Santos.
Manuel Santos looking to slow down the pace here.
Lackenmeier tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Manuel Santos manages to break the clinch.
Lackenmeier is looking to clinch but Manuel Santos is avoiding it.
A swing and a miss from Manuel Santos.
Manuel Santos pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lackenmeier moves into the clinch successfully.
Manuel Santos managing to block the knees to the body from Lackenmeier.
Lackenmeier throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Manuel Santos blocks it with crossed arms.
Manuel Santos digs a right hand into Lackenmeier's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Lackenmeier's gas tank.
Lackenmeier misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Manuel Santos.
Manuel Santos is trying to stall.
Lackenmeier landing knees to the head.
Manuel Santos slowing the pace effectively.
Lackenmeier tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Manuel Santos avoids it.
Lackenmeier misses with a knee to the head.
Manuel Santos trying to control the position but instead, Lackenmeier has worked for underhooks and has pushed Manuel Santos into the cage.
Lackenmeier misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Manuel Santos.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lackenmeier landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Lackenmeier pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lackenmeier tries to clinch up but Manuel Santos circles away and keeps his distance.
Simon Manuel Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lackenmeier tries to clinch there but Manuel Santos circles away.
Lackenmeier tries to close the distance and clinch up but Manuel Santos swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Lackenmeier drives through and clinches with Manuel Santos against the cage.
Manuel Santos managing to block the knees to the body from Lackenmeier.
Lackenmeier looking to throw knees to the head but Manuel Santos is blocking nicely.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Manuel Santos takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Manuel Santos wants to stall.
Lackenmeier tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Manuel Santos avoids it.
Manuel Santos slowing the pace effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lackenmeier misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Manuel Santos.
Manuel Santos trying to land knees to the body.
Manuel Santos tries to break free but Lackenmeier pushes him back against the cage.
Manuel Santos tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Manuel Santos works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Lackenmeier utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Lackenmeier obliges.
Lackenmeier throws a knee to the head but misses.
Manuel Santos is trying to break the clinch but Lackenmeier is controlling him.
Lackenmeier with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Manuel Santos tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Manuel Santos tries to circle away but Lackenmeier has him pinned against the cage.
Manuel Santos avoiding damage as Lackenmeier throws knees to the body.
Lackenmeier with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lackenmeier is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Manuel Santos is defending well for now.
Manuel Santos taking a breather.
Manuel Santos avoiding damage as Lackenmeier throws knees to the body.
Lackenmeier tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Manuel Santos avoids it.

Lackenmeier breaks the clinch.
Manuel Santos misses the jab.
Lackenmeier tries to close the distance and clinch up but Manuel Santos swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Lackenmeier gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Lackenmeier obliges.
Lackenmeier pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Simon Manuel Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Manuel Santos avoiding damage as Lackenmeier throws knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Manuel Santos working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Lackenmeier tries a knee to the head but Manuel Santos blocks it.
Lackenmeier trying to land knees to the body.
Bjarno Lackenmeier is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Manuel Santos can't find room to land a body shot as Lackenmeier controls the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bjarno Lackenmeier comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lackenmeier has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bjarno Lackenmeier!
An out of breath Bjarno Lackenmeier thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.