PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Angel Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Mmachi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Santiago
vs
Mmachi

160 cm
18
214 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Angel Santiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Mmachi!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Reed Andrews and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Angel Santiago has been cut.
Mmachi throws a nice looking combination but Santiago bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Mmachi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Santiago prevents Mmachi from breaking the clinch.

Santiago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice sprawl there from Mmachi as Santiago shoots in.

Santiago drives through and clinches with Mmachi against the cage.
Santiago on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Santiago is trying to force a seperation but Mmachi has the dominant position.
Santiago is trying to pull guard but Mmachi turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Mmachi breaks from the clinch.
Santiago shoots in but Mmachi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Angel Santiago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santiago staying out of range there.
Santiago throws a head kick but Mmachi moves out of range.
Santiago shoots in for a double leg but Mmachi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Mmachi or perhaps it was just good defense by Santiago which made him look bad.
Santiago looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mmachi is fending him off so far but Santiago persists. Nope, Mmachi circles away and we're back to standing.

Santiago moves into range and clinches up with Mmachi.

Mmachi pulls guard.

Santiago drops back, looking for a kneebar! Mmachi looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Mmachi looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Mmachi!

Mmachi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Santiago, who protects the arm well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santiago dodges the ground and pound from Mmachi.
Santiago could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago dodges the ground and pound from Mmachi.
Mmachi prevents Santiago from escaping the position.
Santiago struggling a bit here.

Mmachi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Santiago is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Mmachi trying to control the position but Santiago is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago has one of Mmachi's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Mmachi in side control, throwing shots but Santiago defends.
Santiago regains half guard there - taking advantage of Mmachi's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Santiago makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Santiago.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mmachi throws an elbow that misses. Santiago uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mmachi's guard. Nice move by Santiago!
Mmachi trying to control the position.
Santiago controls from within his opponent's guard.
Mmachi wants to control the position but Santiago says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Mmachi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Angel Santiago's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Santiago.
Chris Mmachi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice takedown defense from Mmachi. No joy for Santiago on that attempt.
Mmachi tries to clinch but Santiago is having none of it.
Mmachi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Santiago.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Angel Santiago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mmachi tries to clinch but Santiago is having none of it.
Santiago moves out of range as Mmachi throws a body kick.
Mmachi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Santiago pinned against the cage. Santiago gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Santiago gets tackled into the cage by Mmachi. Mmachi maintains the clinch.
Mmachi has had enough of the clinch but Santiago keeps him there for the moment.

Santiago jumps guard.
Santiago trying to keep a closed guard but Mmachi is proving a slippery customer.
Santiago might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mmachi won't allow Santiago to sweep him here.
Mmachi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Santiago working for a triangle but Mmachi defends it easily.
Mmachi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Santiago is trying to keep Mmachi in close.
Santiago throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mmachi trying to control but Santiago is working from the bottom.
Mmachi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Santiago is trying to control the position but Mmachi postures up.
Mmachi trying to control but Santiago is working from the bottom.

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

Mmachi closes the distance and clinches.
Mmachi slowing the pace effectively.

Mmachi drags the fight down to the ground.
Santiago is fighting to break Mmachi's control of his arms but Mmachi is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mmachi tries to strike from the bottom.
Santiago wants to stand but Mmachi is controlling his posture from full guard.
Mmachi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Santiago!
Santiago keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago blocking the ground and pound.
Santiago can't escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santiago regains half guard.
Santiago throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Santiago is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mmachi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Santiago's head.
Mmachi tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Mmachi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Angel Santiago's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Mmachi tries to bum rush Santiago with a series of wild strikes but Santiago uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mmachi avoids the head kick by Santiago.
Santiago slips a jab and a cross from Mmachi.
Santiago shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mmachi defends it nicely.
Mmachi tries to clinch up.
Angel Santiago is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice sprawl there from Santiago as Mmachi shoots in.
Mmachi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santiago paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Santiago darts in and clinches Mmachi up against the cage.
Santiago tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mmachi tries to land knees in the clinch but Santiago avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santiago pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mmachi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mmachi throws a series of punches but Santiago moves out of range.
Santiago throws a combination. Mmachi tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Santiago displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mmachi.
Mmachi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mmachi tries to clinch but Santiago moves out of range.
Santiago just misses with a punch to the body.

Santiago clinches.
Santiago is leaning against Mmachi and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Mmachi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Santiago drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mmachi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Angel Santiago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mmachi wants to get back to striking at distance but Santiago won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mmachi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Santiago taking a breather.
Santiago stops a takedown attempt from Mmachi.
Santiago tries to pull guard but Mmachi holds him up against the cage and eventually Santiago drops back down to his feet.
Mmachi is pressed up against the cage. Santiago has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mmachi down to the mat. Mmachi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mmachi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice takedown defense from Santiago. No joy for Mmachi on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago fails with a takedown attempt.
Mmachi tries to clinch up but Santiago circles away and keeps his distance.
Mmachi shoots in looking for a takedown. Santiago tries to sprawl out of it but Mmachi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Santiago manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Santiago fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mmachi, pushing him back against the cage.
Mmachi fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Santiago pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Santiago keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Mmachi blocks the body kick.
Santiago closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mmachi circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago shoots in for a takedown but Mmachi shows good takedown defense.
Left hook, right uppercut from Mmachi.
Mmachi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Santiago instigates a clinch.
Mmachi tries to pull guard but Santiago forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Santiago controlling the action here for a moment.
Chris Mmachi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Angel Santiago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mmachi is looking for a takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Angel Santiago showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mmachi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Mmachi!
After the fight, Chris Mmachi 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.