PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jose Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Little Hardon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santiago's entrance music is The Rza - Samurai Showdown. A fine choice. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Santiago
vs
Hardon

179 cm
20
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
20
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Dynamo Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jose Santiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Little Hardon!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Santiago gets a double leg takedown into Hardon's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Santiago postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Santiago tries to free his leg and advance position but Hardon is retaining full guard.
Santiago is working hard here to advance position.
Santiago won't allow Hardon to get back to his feet.
Hardon not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Santiago wants to control from the top but Hardon keeps moving.
Hardon managing to control the position.

Little Hardon has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Santiago moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Hardon keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Santiago.
Santiago scores with a sloppy right hand. Hardon should have avoided that one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago looking to slow down the pace here.
Santiago misses with a hook from the clinch.
Santiago with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hardon scores with a knee to the head.
Hardon lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Santiago dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jose Santiago.

Hardon lands a big head kick that sends Santiago tumbling to the mat! Hardon takes a step backwards and waves Santiago back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Santiago is rocked!

Hardon cracks Santiago with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Hardon has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Santiago to stand back up!
Oh Santiago is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Santiago tries a head kick but it misses.
Santiago turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Hardon counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hardon.

Santiago throws his legs up looking for a submission but Hardon uses it to pass to side control.
Santiago is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santiago seems to have got his legs back now.
Santiago sneaks back into half guard.

Santiago looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Santiago is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hardon pulls his head out easily.
Hardon prevents Santiago from improving his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Santiago manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Santiago working for a triangle but Hardon defends it easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Santiago is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Little Hardon 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.

Hardon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Hardon takes the fight into the clinch.
Hardon tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nice body punch from Hardon.
Santiago tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hardon smiles and moves away.
Santiago throws a big shot that misses.
Hardon takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardon misses with a straight left.
Santiago throws a nice inside leg kick.
Santiago throws a lazy right hand but Hardon sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Santiago darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Santiago throws a poor cross that misses
and Hardon counters with a stiff right hand.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hardon.
Santiago throws a leg kick
and Hardon counters with a thumping low kick.
A slow jab from Santiago misses its intended target.
Santiago looks for a takedown but Hardon sprawls well.
Santiago scores with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardon jabs Santiago right on the nose. Santiago blinks but takes it well.
Little Hardon seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardon thows a leg kick but Santiago checks it

and Santiago counters with a takedown into side control.
Hardon is trying to get back to half guard.
Santiago is looking to take a break and control but Hardon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hardon wants to control but Santiago postures up.
Santiago tries to move to mount but Hardon blocks the move with his legs.
Hardon tries to improve position but can't.
Hardon is not content to let Santiago control the position.
Santiago in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago tries to advance to mount but can't.
Jose Santiago overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Santiago trying to control the action but Hardon is working from the bottom.
Hardon is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Hardon tries to buck Santiago off but Santiago is having none of it.
Santiago content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Santiago tries to advance to mount but Hardon denies him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago takes a little break here. Hardon wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Hardon tries to buck Santiago off but Santiago is having none of it.
Hardon is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Santiago has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Hardon tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Santiago wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hardon managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Santiago.
Hardon being controlled for a moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santiago tries to advance to mount but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Santiago dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Santiago throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hardon sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hardon misses with a low kick.
A right-left combo lands from Santiago.
Santiago avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hardon misses with a low kick as Santiago jumps back.
Santiago scores with a nice body kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Santiago.
Santiago throws a head kick but Hardon moves out of range.
Santiago shoots in for a takedown but Hardon shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Santiago will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardon gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Jose Santiago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santiago shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hardon as he jumps to the side.
Santiago dives in and grabs Hardon's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hardon pushes down on Santiago's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Santiago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santiago looks for a takedown but Hardon sprawls well.
Little Hardon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hardon ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Santiago moves away.
Santiago throws a leg kick that misses.
Hardon throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago throws a right and a left that Hardon avoids nicely.
Hardon tries to bum rush Santiago with a series of wild strikes but Santiago uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hardon drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Santiago dips to his left and cracks Hardon with an uppercut!
No joy there for Santiago, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hardon keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Santiago.
Hardon goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Santiago.
Santiago rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hardon counters with a nice body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hardon fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A jab from Santiago finds it's way through Hardon's defenses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago avoids the head kick by Hardon.
Hardon throws a low kick but it's checked well by Santiago.
Hardon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hardon lands a jab to the nose.
A clash of legs there as Santiago blocks the low kick.
Hardon takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Santiago misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Santiago feints and then cracks Hardon's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hardon down.
Hardon tries to move into range but Santiago moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Santiago lands with a cross.
Santiago rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hardon counters with an outside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago lands with a slapping head kick.
The fighters circling - Santiago throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hardon staying out of range there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Santiago drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Santiago is looking to advance position but Hardon has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Santiago is trying to escape the mount.
Hardon trying to control but he's not successful this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santiago is working to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Santiago showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Santiago has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Santiago!
A victorious Jose Santiago thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.