PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nicky Santoro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michak Ropuia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ropuia has chosen Here comes the pain - Slayer as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Santoro
vs
Ropuia

160 cm
27
150 lbs
23 - 8 - 0

176 cm
30
152 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160
Milwaukee's Best Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nicky Santoro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Michak Ropuia!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Taro Takaoka and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ropuia gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Santoro counters with a left to the body.
Ropuia shoots in looking for a takedown. Santoro tries to sprawl out of it but Ropuia keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Santoro manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Santoro lands a nice shot to the body.

Santoro drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Ropuia pushes Santoro away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Santoro gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Ropuia tries to bench press Santoro off him but Santoro keeps the position.
Santoro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ropuia keeps working.
Santoro lands some shots froms side control.
Ropuia is not content to let Santoro control the position.

Santoro is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ropuia knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ropuia is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santoro in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Ropuia is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Ropuia is not content to let Santoro control the position.
Ropuia tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Santoro wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Santoro cracks Ropuia with a big right hand but Ropuia just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Ropuia sneaks back into half guard.
Santoro drops an elbow to the side of Ropuia's head.
Santoro trying to control the action but Ropuia is working from the bottom.
Santoro sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Ropuia felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Ropuia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ropuia actively working from the bottom here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santoro working the head and body with strikes.

Santoro is working for a submission of some sort.
Ropuia is trying to stand up here but Santoro is controlling him well.
Santoro working the head and body with strikes.

Ropuia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Ropuia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Ropuia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Santoro stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santoro is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ropuia doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Santoro.

Santoro is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Ropuia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Santoro is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ropuia is just riding it out for now. Santoro eventually gives up the hold.

Ropuia actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santoro is looking to advance position but Ropuia won't allow it.
Santoro trying to control from half guard but Ropuia is working away.
Santoro lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Santoro wants to take a breather but Ropuia is having none of it.

Ropuia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Santoro pulls his head out easily.

Ropuia looking for submissions off his back.
Santoro winds up and cracks Ropuia with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Santoro slips a nice elbow through Ropuia's hands, connecting with Ropuia's forehead.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ropuia tries to get to full guard but Santoro has control of the leg.
Ropuia is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Santoro jumps into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santoro cracks Ropuia with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Santoro is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ropuia is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicky Santoro dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Santoro slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Santoro lands a nice shot to the body.
Ropuia has his takedown stuffed
and Santoro counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ropuia thinking.

Santoro shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Santoro is looking to take a break and control but Ropuia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Santoro.

Santoro is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ropuia sees it coming and defends easily.
Santoro trying to control the action but Ropuia is working from the bottom.

Ropuia looking for submissions off his back.

Ropuia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santoro is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Santoro winds up and cracks Ropuia with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Santoro winds up and cracks Ropuia with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ropuia wants to improve his position but Santoro is controlling well.
Santoro winds up and cracks Ropuia with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Santoro lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Santoro seems to be looking for submissions.
Santoro looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ropuia with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Ropuia actively working from the bottom here.

Ropuia actively working from the bottom here.
Santoro lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santoro is looking to take a break and control but Ropuia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ropuia is looking for a sweep. Santoro is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Santoro is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ropuia has managed to free his arm - good work.

Ropuia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Santoro pulls his head out easily.

Santoro seems to be working for a kimura but Ropuia defends the submission attempt.

Ropuia actively working from the bottom here.
Santoro passes the guard and advances to mount!

Santoro looking for a guillotine from mount but Ropuia is having none of it.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ropuia really wants to buck Santoro off and get back to his feet.
Santoro has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ropuia is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ropuia takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Santoro lands a heavy elbow.
Ropuia is desperately trying to improve his position but Santoro has a good base and remains in mount.
Santoro unloading with bombs!
Santoro scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ropuia?

Ropuia is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santoro wants to control the pace but Ropuia is squirming around nicely.

Santoro has control of Ropuia's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Ropuia regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Ropuia taking shots to the head.
Ropuia is still in real trouble! Can Santoro finish him?
Santoro wants to control the pace but Ropuia is squirming around nicely.
Ropuia seems to have recovered his senses.

Santoro jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Ropuia manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ropuia takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Santoro working the ground and pound.
Ropuia wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Ropuia tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Santoro raining down hammerfists from mount.
Santoro pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Santoro looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Ropuia is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Santoro with a couple of short strikes.
Santoro postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Ropuia bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Santoro and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nicky Santoro!
An out of breath and clearly excited Nicky Santoro thanked Milwaukee's Best 160 for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).