PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Angel Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Angel Santiago had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Santiago
vs
Bishop

160 cm
18
214 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 - 1 - 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, Andre Bishop!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, John Roberts and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Santiago could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Santiago throws a right hand that Bishop ducks under and follows up with a left that Bishop also avoids with ease.
Bishop throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Santiago takes the fight into the clinch.

Santiago has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Bishop uses from the top position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Bishop is looking to stand up but Santiago won't let him.
Bishop looking to pass the guard.
Bishop won't allow Santiago to sweep him here.
Bishop trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Santiago is adopting a defensive guard.
Santiago trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop looking to sit in guard and control but Santiago gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Santiago sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bishop's guard.
Bishop controlling the position for now.
Bishop is refusing to be controlled, as Santiago sits in half guard.
Santiago stalling.
Bishop is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bishop looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Santiago works his way into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bishop tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Santiago wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
A lull in the action here.
Bishop tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santiago decides to stand up, so the ref orders Bishop to his feet.
Santiago fails with a takedown attempt.
Bishop displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Santiago.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Angel Santiago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bishop shoots in looking for a takedown. Santiago tries to sprawl out of it but Bishop 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.
Horrible takedown by Santiago or perhaps it was just good defense by Bishop which made him look bad.
Bishop defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Santiago.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago wants to clinch.
Bishop scores with the left hand. Santiago knows he should have avoided that one.

It looks like Angel Santiago has been cut.
Santiago fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bishop misses with a body shot.
Bishop tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Santiago counters with a solid body kick.

Bishop closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santiago avoids a wild elbow strike from Bishop.

Santiago gets control of Bishop's arms and successfully pulls guard. Santiago will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bishop working some strikes from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Angel Santiago will probably get the nod.
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.

Santiago slips a jab and a cross from Bishop.
Santiago avoids the head kick by Bishop.
Santiago keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Santiago manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Bishop on his heels. He'll look to pass Bishop's guard now, I'm sure.
Bishop wants to stand up but Santiago is controlling him.
Bishop wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Santiago is now in half guard.
Santiago perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Angel Santiago overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Santiago stands up and beckons Bishop to join him on the feet.
Santiago misses with a takedown attempt - Bishop sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago lands a head kick. Bishop smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Santiago closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bishop circles away.
Santiago tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bishop defends well and Santiago ends up having to push Bishop into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Angel Santiago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Santiago prevents a takedown attempt there.

Santiago breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Santiago tries to clinch but Bishop is having none of it.
Santiago dives in for a single leg takedown but Bishop sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Bishop as Santiago tries to tie him up.

Santiago pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bishop fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A left and a right from Bishop both land. Nice combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bishop tries to close the distance and clinch but Santiago swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bishop changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Santiago tries to avoid it but Bishop manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Santiago to the ground. Santiago escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bishop looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Santiago is fending him off so far but Bishop persists. Nope, Santiago circles away and we're back to standing.
Santiago circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bishop stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bishop wants it to stay on the feet.
Bishop works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Bishop throws a low kick, looking for Santiago's leg but Santiago calmly moves out of range.
Santiago shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bishop sprawls well. Bishop wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Santiago gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago dodges the punch combination from Bishop.
Angel Santiago is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bishop fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Bishop gets a clinch.

Bishop breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Bishop looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Santiago escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bishop gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Santiago keeping moving, preventing Bishop from controlling successfully.
Bishop must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago trying to strike off his back.
Bishop is looking to pass into half guard but Santiago pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Santiago is in guard.
Bishop really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Santiago. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bishop is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bishop is looking to sweep but instead, Santiago has passed into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bishop regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Santiago.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Bishop 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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Bishop shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Santiago punching from the bottom.
Santiago is controlling Bishop's trapped leg to prevent Bishop from advancing to side control.
Santiago is looking to control Bishop's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Santiago avoid being mounted?
Bishop wants to stand up but Santiago is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago gets back to full guard.
Bishop would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Santiago tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Santiago is working hard here to advance position.
Santiago is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Santiago tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bishop defends well and Santiago ends up having to push Bishop into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Santiago jumps guard.
Bishop looking to sit in guard and control but Santiago gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Bishop is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Bishop is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Santiago is aware though and is defending well.
Santiago passes Bishop's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop trying to hold on to Santiago's head to control him but Santiago postures up.
Bishop wants to get back to full guard but Santiago has mounted him!
Bishop wants to control but Santiago is having none of it.
Bishop sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Santiago slows the pace down in half guard.
Bishop is refusing to be controlled, as Santiago sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bishop blocking the ground and pound attempt from Santiago.
Santiago thows a huge punch but Bishop dodges it nicely.
Santiago works his way into side control.
Santiago working the ground and pound but Bishop is defending the strikes.
Bishop is trying to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Santiago working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Angel Santiago showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Santiago 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Angel Santiago!