PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Reuben Santana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leon Fox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Santana
vs
Fox

166 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Reuben Santana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leon Fox!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fox has managed to clinch.
Fox avoiding damage as Santana throws knees to the body.

Fox pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Santana throws a head kick that misses.
Fox has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Fox there as he acknowledges the shot.

Fox gets a clinch.
Santana wants to break the clinch but can't.

Fox breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Santana throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fox misses with a low kick as Santana jumps back.
Santana misses with an uppercut.
Santana closes the distance but Fox moves to the side
enabling Fox to counter with a crisp jab.

Fox shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Fox was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fox trying to control the action but Santana is working from the bottom.
Fox landing a few strikes.
Fox working away.
Santana tries to control but Fox manages to take his back.
Santana could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Fox doesn't have the hooks in and Santana manages to turn into his guard.

Fox looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fox trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santana stopping the sweep attempt from Fox.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fox working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Santana doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Santana manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Santana has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santana postures up in Fox's guard and throws a big left but Fox blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fox is pulling down on Santana's head to control his posture.
Fox is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Santana trying to control but Fox postures up.
Fox has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Santana is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santana wants to control but Fox is having none of it.
Santana is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Fox is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Santana wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Fox is not going to allow Santana to sit and survive in this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A lull in the action here.
Santana trying to control the action but Fox just sinks the hooks in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Fox dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Santana shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Fox napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Fox tries to improve position but can't.
Check out the look on Santana's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Santana scores with a couple of short elbows.
Fox tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Santana wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Fox manages to work his way to half guard, despite Santana's best efforts.
Fox moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Fox manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fox lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Santana knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fox on the ground.
Fox connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Santana has given up his back here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fox slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Fox struggling to keep hold of the position.
Santana wants to control his opponent's hands but Fox gets his hands free.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Fox is not going to allow Santana to sit and survive in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fox keeps control of the position as Santana tries to break free.

Fox has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Santana has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Fox lands strikes to the head.
Fox gets his hands free as Santana looks to control.
Even with his hooks in, Fox manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Fox is not going to allow Santana to sit and survive in this position.
Leon Fox has got the better of the ground game so far.
Santana is in bad spot here.
Fox struggling to keep hold of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fox controlling well, preventing Santana from escaping the position.
Fox somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

Fox is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Santana tries to break free.

Santana is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Fox is looking for the choke from the back position but Santana is controlling his hands well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santana looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santana showing good submission defense here.
Fox missing with strikes from the back.
Fox has the hooks in. Santana is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Santana looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Fox is looking to control Santana but Santana is wriggling around and keeping busy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Fox working for a choke but Santana is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Fox showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Santana throws a head kick that misses.
Reuben Santana is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Santana throws a combination. Fox tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Fox shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Santana's guard.
Santana wants to improve his position but instead Fox has moved into half guard.
Fox controlling the pace.
Fox is trying to control the action in half guard but Santana is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Santana is looking to control Fox's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Santana avoid being mounted?

Fox is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fox wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santana keeps working.
Santana is pressing down on Fox's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Fox wants to pass the guard but Santana is keeping the position.
Fox is stalling in the full guard.
Santana looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Santana pulls Fox in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fox pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santana is keeping the position for now.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Leon Fox hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Fox closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Santana looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Santana is fighting off a takedown attempt but Fox is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Santana to the mat. Santana regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Santana seems keen to control Fox's posture.
Santana is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fox is working Santana over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Fox wants to control from the top but Santana keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Fox engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Leon Fox was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Santana tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Santana tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Santana looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Fox shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Santana napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santana trying to remain calm as Fox controls from the top position.
Santana tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Fox presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fox wants to control the pace but Santana is squirming around nicely.
Fox might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Santana haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Santana wants to hold on but Fox pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fox lands a big shot there that rocks Santana but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fox avoids the attempt from Santana to control.
Santana is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leon Fox comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Fox winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leon Fox!