PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Santo Downs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon XxzirionXx (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brandon XxzirionXx has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Downs
vs
XxzirionXx

198 cm
24
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
20
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 Hilo, Santo Downs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Brandon XxzirionXx!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Ryoma Takatsuka and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Downs pushes XxzirionXx up against the cage in a clinch.
Downs tries to break the clinch but XxzirionXx is controlling the position.
We've been informed that XxzirionXx has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
XxzirionXx doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
XxzirionXx keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Downs's efforts to push away.

XxzirionXx escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Downs shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as XxzirionXx sprawls well. XxzirionXx wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Downs gets slowly back to his feet.
Downs keeps the fight on the outside.
XxzirionXx leaves Downs with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

XxzirionXx clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downs tries to pull guard but XxzirionXx won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santo Downs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Downs working hard to break the clinch.

XxzirionXx breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
XxzirionXx connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
XxzirionXx shoots in but Downs avoids the takedown attempt easily.
XxzirionXx fails with a takedown attempt.
XxzirionXx looks winded!
XxzirionXx tries to score a power double leg takedown but Downs sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten XxzirionXx somewhat.

Downs gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Downs tries to pull guard but XxzirionXx forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
XxzirionXx keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Downs's efforts to push away.
Downs is trying to pull guard but XxzirionXx has him pressed against the cage.
XxzirionXx tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
XxzirionXx is trying to pull guard but Downs turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Downs just leaning against XxzirionXx, taking a breather.

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

Downs has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
XxzirionXx can't break the clinch.
Downs drops to a knee looking for a takedown but XxzirionXx gets the underhooks and prevents it.
XxzirionXx can't break the clinch.
XxzirionXx is trying to maintain a safe position but Downs gets an underhook and turns XxzirionXx into the cage.
XxzirionXx keeps control of Downs as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Downs pulls guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
XxzirionXx looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Downs is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downs tries to strike from the bottom.
XxzirionXx should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Downs looking to hit a scissor sweep but XxzirionXx is one step ahead there.
Downs 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.
Downs controls XxzirionXx momentarily but XxzirionXx frees himself.

Downs is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Downs looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Downs pushes XxzirionXx off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santo Downs dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Downs has XxzirionXx up against the cage in a clinch.
Downs avoids the elbow strike from XxzirionXx, against the cage.
XxzirionXx trying to land knees to the body.
XxzirionXx is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Downs tries to circle away but XxzirionXx has him pinned against the cage.

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

Downs fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging XxzirionXx to the ground. Downs is now in XxzirionXx's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Downs thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
XxzirionXx is breathing heavily.
XxzirionXx can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Downs controls the pace.
XxzirionXx wants to stand but Downs is controlling the position.
XxzirionXx wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Downs throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Downs will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Downs tries to free his leg and advance position but XxzirionXx is retaining full guard.
Downs pushing down on XxzirionXx's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Downs not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Downs prevents XxzirionXx from improving his position.
Downs slows the pace down in half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Santo Downs.

Downs closes the distance and clinches.
Downs is looking to break free of the clinch but XxzirionXx has double underhooks.
Downs is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downs is trying to break the clinch but XxzirionXx is controlling him.
Downs has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by XxzirionXx after a bit of a struggle.
Downs drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santo Downs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
XxzirionXx missing with knees to the body.
XxzirionXx tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Downs just stands there and leans against the cage.
XxzirionXx tries to pull guard but Downs won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downs tries to break free but XxzirionXx pushes him back against the cage.

Downs jumps guard.
XxzirionXx trying to control the position from guard on top but Downs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Downs has his foot on XxzirionXx's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. XxzirionXx works his way back into a safe position though.
XxzirionXx stopping the sweep attempt from Downs.
Downs trying to keep a closed guard but XxzirionXx is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
XxzirionXx trying to control the position from guard on top but Downs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Downs had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. XxzirionXx defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santo Downs dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Downs forces XxzirionXx back against the cage and clinches.
Downs keeps the fight in the clinch, despite XxzirionXx's efforts to push away.
XxzirionXx jumps guard but Downs turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Downs has had enough of the clinch but XxzirionXx keeps him there for the moment.
Downs is looking for a takedown.

XxzirionXx breaks the clinch.

Downs pushes XxzirionXx up against the cage in a clinch.
XxzirionXx takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downs can't break the clinch.
Downs on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Santo Downs has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Downs wants a takedown but no success here.
XxzirionXx tries to pull guard but Downs forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Downs goes for a takedown in the clinch but XxzirionXx prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santo Downs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
XxzirionXx jumps guard but Downs turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
XxzirionXx displaying some good clinch control by pressing Downs up against the cage.
Downs is trying to push XxzirionXx away but XxzirionXx has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Downs wants to get back to striking at distance but XxzirionXx won't allow it.
Downs is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but XxzirionXx is defending well.
Downs tries to break the clinch but XxzirionXx is controlling the position.
Downs is working for takedown but XxzirionXx is calmly controlling the position for now.

Downs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
XxzirionXx thows a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
XxzirionXx moves in looking to clinch but Downs pushes him off.

XxzirionXx tries to keep at a distance but Downs has taken the fight into the clinch.
Downs is looking to take this one to the mat.
XxzirionXx prevents the takedown attempt.

XxzirionXx breaks the clinch.
Downs misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
XxzirionXx darts in trying to clinch

and Downs counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Downs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downs changes levels and goes for a takedown here. XxzirionXx fights it off and pushes away nicely.
XxzirionXx fails in his attempt to clinch.
XxzirionXx fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Downs is trying hard to land a takedown here. XxzirionXx sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Downs drives through and clinches with XxzirionXx against the cage.
Downs is trying to pull guard but XxzirionXx has him pressed against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Santo Downs showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Downs, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Santo Downs!