PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jet Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pablo Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Li comes to the cage accompanied by Tourniquet by Evanescence. Santos is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Choosen One by Forever in Terror. Pablo Santos struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 172.2lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Jet Li has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Li
vs
Santos

167 cm
22
175 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

191 cm
32
184 lbs
23 - 22 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

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 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jet Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pablo Santos!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Li throws a low kick but Santos avoids it.
Li moves out of range of the strikes.
Santos avoids a kick to the body.
A low kick from Li misses
and Santos counters with a straight right hand.
Li will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Li tries to score with a low kick but Santos moves his leg out of the way.
A low kick from Li is predictable there

and Santos counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Li tries to roll over but Santos keeps him under control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Li looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Li is not content to let Santos control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santos is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Li sees it coming and defends easily.
Li might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Li looking for submissions off his back.
Li is trying to stand back up but Santos is controlling him

Santos seems to be looking for submissions.
Li is looking to improve his position.
Li moves into full guard.
Li keeping moving, preventing Santos from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Li works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Li is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Santos wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.
Santos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Santos sitting in guard here, content to control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Santos looking to sit in guard and control but Li gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Santos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li tries to free his leg and advance position but Santos is retaining full guard.
Li forces his way into half guard.
Santos is looking for a sweep. Li is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Li is looking for a kimura but Santos is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Li to get the leverage.
Santos won't allow Li to pass to mount.
Well, if Li is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Santos looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Li trying to control the action but Santos is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos is looking for a sweep. Li is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Santos looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Santos actively working from the bottom here.
Santos looks winded!
Santos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Li is working for a kimura but Santos is defending it quite comfortably.
Li tries to pass the half guard into mount. Santos knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Pablo Santos will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Santos connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Li throws a leg kick but Santos sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Santos darts in and clinches Li up against the cage.
Santos missing with knees to the body.

Li breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Santos blocks a head kick by Li.
Li smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Pablo Santos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A good leg kick by Li.
Santos throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Li.
Santos blocks the body kick.
Li avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Li throws a body kick that misses.
Li throws a leg kick that misses.
Li pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Li misses with a low kick as Santos jumps back.
Li throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos tries a head kick but it misses.
Li scores with a leg kick.
Li misses with a low kick.
Santos looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Santos is breathing heavily.
A head kick misses from Li.
Li lands with a thumping leg kick.

Santos fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Li sprawls well initially but Santos persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Santos thows a huge punch but Li dodges it nicely.
Li is looking to improve his position.
Li keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Li is looking for a sweep. Santos is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Santos unloading with bombs!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Li tries to reverse the position but Santos maintains control.
Li tries to lock up and control but Santos gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Santos.
Santos trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Santos looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Li working to try and regain half guard.

Santos looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Pablo Santos has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li trying desperately to get to his feet.
Li tries to hold on but Santos postures up.
Li regains half guard.
Li wants to control but Santos is keeping busy.
Li is refusing to be controlled, as Santos sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Santos is pushing down on Li's leg trying to pass to half guard. Li is fighting to maintain full guard but Santos has managed to sneak the leg through.

Santos wants to work for an arm triangle but Li is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Santos trying to control the action but Li is working from the bottom.

Li looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santos prevents Li from improving his position.

Li is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Santos pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jet Li will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Li has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Li there as he acknowledges the shot.
Santos is trying hard to land a takedown here. Li sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Li wants to land a leg kick but Santos is out of range.

Santos closes the distance and clinches.
Li is trying to break free.
Li goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Santos.
Li looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Santos has Li pressed against the cage, preventing Li from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Li can't break the clinch.
Li lands a shoulder strike.
Santos can't get the takedown.
Santos looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Santos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Li tries to stall but Santos uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Li throws a punch but it's blocked by Santos.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos misses with a punch on the inside.
Santos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Li.
A left hand lands to the body for Li.
A head punch on the inside from Li fails to land.
Li has had enough of the clinch but Santos keeps him there for the moment.

Santos has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Li regains guard immediately.
Santos trying to move into half guard but instead Li has managed to sweep!
Li is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Li looking to pass the guard.

Santos has his foot on Li's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Li works his way back into a safe position though.
Li wants to control from the top but Santos keeps moving.
Li is pushing down on Santos's leg trying to pass to half guard. Santos is fighting to maintain full guard but Li has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Li controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Li throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Santos trying to control but Li postures up.

Li is looking for a kimura but Santos is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Li to get the leverage.
Li tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Santos.

Santos actively working from the bottom here.

Santos looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Li gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Santos tries to close the distance and clinch but Li swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Li.
Li delivers a nice body kick.
A slow jab from Santos misses its intended target.
Li avoids the body shot from Santos.
Santos throws a lazy right hand but Li sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Santos takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Jet Li is winning the standup battle so far.
A big right from Santos misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Li cracks the inside of Santos's front leg.
A chopping leg kick lands by Li.
Santos blocks a low kick nicely.
Li tries to work over Santos's front leg with a kick but Santos checks it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santos fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jet Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pablo Santos.
Santos checks a leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Li, right into the meat.
Li throws a head kick but Santos moves out of range.
Santos takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santos throws a looping overhand right but Li ducks down to avoid it.
Santos sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A bone on bone clash there as Santos blocks the leg kick.
Li tried to score with a low kick but Santos checks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jet Li showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Li 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Jet Li!
After the fight, Jet Li was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.