PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jae Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neighborhood Slugger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Neighborhood Slugger has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Jae Santos's chin.

Santos
vs
Slugger

183 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

185 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jae Santos!
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, Neighborhood Slugger!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, David Schapiro and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Slugger pushes Santos up against the cage in a clinch.

Santos breaks from the clinch.

Slugger closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Santos quickly recovers to half guard.
Santos gets back to full guard.
Slugger with a flurry of punches that miss.
Slugger won't allow Santos to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Santos is on top in guard.
Slugger trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Slugger is working an open guard so Santos takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Santos tries to keep at a distance but Slugger has taken the fight into the clinch.
Slugger tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Slugger keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Santos's efforts to push away.
Slugger throws an elbow but it misses.
Slugger looks winded!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slugger throws a punch but it's blocked by Santos.
Santos wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Slugger has him pressed against the cage.
Slugger keeps control of Santos as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Slugger trying to land knees to the body.
Slugger tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Santos avoids it.
Santos trying to control the position but instead, Slugger has worked for underhooks and has pushed Santos into the cage.
Slugger throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Santos wants to break free but Slugger has control.
Santos can't get the takedown.
Santos lands an uppercut.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Still in the clinch, Slugger scores with a nice short uppercut.
Santos tries to break free but Slugger pushes him back against the cage.
Santos is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Slugger looking to throw knees to the head but Santos is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slugger throws a punch but it's blocked by Santos.

Santos breaks the clinch.

Santos gets a double leg takedown into Slugger's guard.

Santos decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Slugger, up you get!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Slugger gets tackled into the cage by Santos. Santos maintains the clinch.
Slugger trying to land knees to the body.
Santos is trying to break free.
Santos avoiding damage as Slugger throws knees to the body.
Santos lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Santos lands an uppercut.
Santos is trying to break the clinch but Slugger has him pressed against the cage.
Slugger keeps control of Santos as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Slugger is fighting off a takedown attempt but Santos is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Slugger to the mat. Slugger regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Santos controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slugger trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Slugger will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Santos engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Jae Santos has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Slugger moves into the clinch.
Santos wants to break free but Slugger has control.
Slugger has Santos pressed against the cage, preventing Santos from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Santos scores with a shot to the side of Slugger's head.
Santos working hard to break the clinch.
Slugger has Santos pressed against the cage, preventing Santos from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Santos has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Slugger uses from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Slugger throws an elbow that misses. Santos uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Slugger's guard. Nice move by Santos!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Slugger is working an open guard so Santos takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Santos forces Slugger back against the cage and clinches.
Slugger misses with a hook from the clinch.
Santos misses with a knee to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santos is trying to push Slugger away but Slugger has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Santos is looking for a takedown.
Santos dodges an elbow strike from Slugger.
Slugger lands a body punch in the clinch.

Santos has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Slugger uses from the top position.
Slugger lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Slugger throws a big elbow that misses.
Santos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jae Santos dominated that round.
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.

Slugger has closed the distance and engaged Santos in a clinch.
Jae Santos has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A frustrated look appears on Santos's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Slugger tries to land knees in the clinch but Santos avoids the damage to the body.
Slugger lands an elbow inside that Santos shrugs off.

It looks like Jae Santos has been cut.
Slugger misses with some punches.
Santos jumps guard but Slugger stands there with Santos around his waist. Santos gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Santos trying to control the position but instead, Slugger has worked for underhooks and has pushed Santos into the cage.
Santos tries to break free but Slugger pushes him back against the cage.

Santos breaks the clinch.
Santos throws the kick towards the body but Slugger avoids it.
Slugger is breathing heavily.

Slugger clinches up against the cage.
Slugger using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Slugger looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Slugger goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slugger tries to work over Santos's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Santos is looking to break free of the clinch but Slugger has double underhooks.
Slugger misses with an elbow strike.
Santos managing to block the knees to the body from Slugger.
Santos blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Santos is looking to break free of the clinch but Slugger has double underhooks.
Santos is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Slugger is defending well.
Santos just leaning against Slugger, taking a breather.
Slugger lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Slugger with a knee to the head.
Santos is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Slugger is keeping busy.
Slugger tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Santos avoids it.
A frustrated look appears on Santos's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Santos wants to get back to striking at distance but Slugger won't allow it.
Slugger creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Santos's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos blocks an elbow strike from Slugger.
Slugger misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Santos.
Santos softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Santos can't break the clinch.
Santos avoiding damage as Slugger throws knees to the body.
Santos working hard to break the clinch.
Slugger throws an elbow that misses.
Santos has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Slugger lands a nice knee to the body.
Santos is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Slugger with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Santos looking to stall.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santos managing to block the knees to the body from Slugger.
Slugger misses with a knee strike.
Santos is trying to break the clinch but Slugger is controlling him.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Slugger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Santos rushes Slugger and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Santos looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Santos wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Slugger has him pressed against the cage.
Slugger prevents Santos from breaking the clinch.
Slugger is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Santos is defending well for now.
Santos is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Slugger gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Santos blocking some punches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Slugger misses with a punch on the inside.
Santos can't break the clinch.

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

Slugger rushes Santos and presses him up against the cage.
The referee calls for Santos to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slugger is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Santos is defending well for now.
Santos has a couple of punches blocked by Slugger.
Slugger missing with knees to the body.

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

Slugger tries to keep at a distance but Santos has taken the fight into the clinch.
Santos has had enough of the clinch but Slugger keeps him there for the moment.
Slugger is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Santos is defending well for now.
Santos is trying to break free.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Slugger as Santos tries to tie him up.

Santos pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jae Santos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Santos moves into the clinch.
Santos avoiding damage as Slugger throws knees to the body.
Slugger tries to land knees in the clinch but Santos avoids the damage to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Neighborhood Slugger will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jae Santos's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Santos tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Santos pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Slugger moves into range and clinches up with Santos.
Slugger tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Santos's elbow.
Slugger misses with a hook from the clinch.
Slugger misses with an elbow over the top.
Santos takes an elbow to the forehead.
Santos misses with a hook to the ribs.
Slugger missing with knees to the body.
Santos lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Slugger misses with an elbow strike.
Santos is trying to break the clinch but Slugger has him pressed against the cage.
Santos is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santos tries to break free but Slugger pushes him back against the cage.
Santos displaying some good clinch control by pressing Slugger up against the cage.
Santos blocks an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos managing to block the knees to the body from Slugger.
Santos on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Santos's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Santos is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Slugger pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Santos misses with the head strike.
Slugger prevents Santos from breaking the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Santos wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Slugger has him pressed against the cage.
Slugger throws a head punch that misses.
Santos taking a breather.
Slugger prevents Santos from breaking the clinch.
Santos is trying to break the clinch but Slugger has him pressed against the cage.
Santos has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Santos drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Slugger is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Santos is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos is looking to break free of the clinch but Slugger has double underhooks.
Slugger using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Santos has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Slugger misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Santos.
Santos is trying to break the clinch but Slugger has him pressed against the cage.
Slugger goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Santos's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Santos closes the distance and clinches.

Santos's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Santos tries to keep at a distance but Slugger has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santos wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Slugger trying to land knees to the body.
Santos holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Slugger misses with an elbow over the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos is trying to push Slugger away but Slugger has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Slugger keeps control of Santos as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Slugger comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Santos escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Slugger has managed to clinch.
Santos trying to stall but Slugger improves his position.
Santos stalling against the cage.
Santos misses with a hook from the clinch.
Santos wants to break the clinch but can't.
Santos blocks an elbow strike from Slugger.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Slugger scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Slugger doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Santos fails to land.
Slugger doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos is trying to break the clinch but Slugger has him pressed against the cage.
Santos has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Slugger avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jae Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Slugger using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Santos has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Slugger lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Santos.
Santos on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Slugger tries to land knees in the clinch but Santos avoids the damage to the body.
Santos blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Santos pushes Slugger back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Slugger goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Santos gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Slugger regains guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Santos stands and steps away. Slugger gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Santos defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Slugger.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Slugger closes the distance and pushes Santos back into the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Slugger lands a hook to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jae Santos.
Well Santos has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jae Santos!