PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Byron Travis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fernando Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Travis
vs
Santos

181 cm
18
140 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

184 cm
20
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Byron Travis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fernando Santos!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Travis tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Santos counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santos trying to control but Travis is working from the bottom.
Travis looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Santos trying to control but Travis is working from the bottom.

Santos drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Travis dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Travis got a little sloppy there for a moment and Santos has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Travis has managed to get both his arms back between Santos's legs - danger averted.
Travis throws a big elbow that misses.

Santos is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Travis is aware though and is defending well.
Travis trying to control but Santos is working from the bottom.
Travis postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Travis postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Travis trying to control but Santos is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Travis shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Santos preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santos preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Travis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Travis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Travis keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Santos's head.

Santos looking for a guillotine here but Travis defends easily.
Santos looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Travis with a flurry of punches that miss.
Santos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Santos has control of Travis's left arm, preventing Travis from doing any damage.
Santos keeping moving, preventing Travis from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Travis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Santos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Travis is one step ahead there.
Travis is working Santos over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Travis controlling from the top position.
Travis trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

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

and Santos counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Santos.
Santos tries for a takedown. No joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santos is looking for a takedown.
Travis throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Travis throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
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 Byron Travis will probably get the nod.
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.

Travis decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Travis not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Santos works his way to full guard. Good work.
Santos managing to control the position.

Santos working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Travis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Travis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Travis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Travis chips away with some ground and pound.
Santos is trying to keep Travis in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Travis throws a big elbow that misses.
Travis has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Santos looking to control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Travis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Santos looking to control.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Fernando Santos wasn't active enough on the ground.

Santos scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Travis regains half guard.
Travis tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Travis wants to control but Santos is keeping busy.
Santos tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Travis.
Travis is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Travis is looking for a sweep. Santos is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Santos is thwarting Travis's attempts to control the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Byron Travis just wasn't active enough.

Santos rushes Travis and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Santos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Santos has taken the fight to the clinch.
Santos keeps control of Travis as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Travis decides to pull guard.
Santos trying to control but Travis is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Travis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Santos slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Santos throws an elbow but Travis slips to the side and avoids it well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Travis is looking to reverse the position.

Santos tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Santos has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fernando Santos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A head kick misses from Travis.
Travis throws a head kick but Santos moves out of range.
Travis looks to clinch

and Santos counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Santos.
Travis wants to break the clinch but can't.
Santos is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Travis pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Travis manages to break the clinch.

Travis closes the distance and clinches.
Travis tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos has Travis pressed against the cage, preventing Travis from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Santos gets control of Travis's arms and successfully pulls guard. Santos will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Travis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Travis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Travis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Santos works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Santos wants to sweep but no luck.
Travis makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Travis really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Santos is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Santos wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Travis postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Santos is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Travis, into his guard.
Travis trying to keep a closed guard but Santos is proving a slippery customer.
Travis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Travis trying to control the position.
Travis looking for a sweep. Not yet Travis, not yet.

We're going to have a standup here because Byron Travis wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Santos rushes Travis and presses him up against the cage.

Travis tightens his grip and picks Santos up, before dumping him to the ground. Santos manages to land in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Travis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Travis is sitting in close to Santos's body. Santos has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Travis is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Travis is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Santos.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Fernando Santos!