PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mateus Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vitor Penn has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Penn
vs
Santiago

182 cm
19
195 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

187 cm
22
209 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mateus Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Daniel Cesar and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Santiago pushes Penn up against the cage in a clinch.

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

Penn gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Santiago stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Penn takes a shot to the head.
Penn is trying to drag Santiago to the mat but Santiago just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Penn changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Santiago fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Santiago tries to close the distance and clinch but Penn swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Santiago tries to clinch but Penn moves away

and Penn counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Santiago lands a knee to the head.
Santiago lands a knee to the head.
Santiago lands a knee to the head.
Santiago connects with a nasty looking knee right to Penn's face.
Penn has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Santiago is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitor Penn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Penn takes a knee right on the jaw!
Santiago with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Penn tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Santiago just stands there and leans against the cage.
Santiago connects with a nasty looking knee right to Penn's face.
Penn is breathing heavily.

Penn lands a takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santiago wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn looking to sit in guard and control but Santiago gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Santiago wants to stand but Penn has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Santiago preventing the sweep.
Santiago has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Penn is proving hard to escape from.
Penn tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Penn lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Santiago!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Santiago wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Penn looking to ground and pound but Santiago is blocking nicely.
Santiago really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Penn. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Penn wants to control the pace but Santiago is squirming around nicely.

Penn goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Santiago turns into him and now he's in Penn's guard.
Penn looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago passes into half guard.
Santiago tries to stand but can't do so whilst Penn controls his leg.
Penn wants to control but Santiago is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Santiago escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Santiago is looking to clinch.
Santiago doesn't manage to clinch there - Penn circles away.

Santiago has taken the fight to the clinch.
Santiago landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Penn drops down looking for an ankle pick but Santiago pulls his leg out and moves away.
Penn tries to clinch up but Santiago circles away and keeps his distance.
Mateus Santiago is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
No joy there for Penn, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The fight stays on the outside here - Santiago looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mateus Santiago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santiago clinches but Penn breaks the clinch

and Penn counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Santiago!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Penn throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Santiago because Penn loaded up on that one.

Penn moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Santiago has worked his arm free - good work by Santiago!
Penn has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Santiago!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mateus Santiago will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Penn darts in trying to clinch

and Santiago holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Penn on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Penn is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Penn tries to land a knee to the head but Santiago blocks with his arms.
Penn looking to slow down the pace here.

Santiago escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Santiago wants to clinch.
Santiago doesn't manage to clinch there - Penn circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santiago doesn't manage to clinch there - Penn circles away.
Penn wants to clinch up but Santiago keeps it at a distance.

Santiago darts in and clinches Penn up against the cage.
A knee to the head by Santiago.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Santiago misses with a knee strike.
A right handed body shot lands from Santiago.
Santiago just leaning against Penn, taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn tries to pull guard but Santiago holds him up against the cage and eventually Penn drops back down to his feet.

Santiago breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Santiago lands a two punch combo.
Santiago wants to clinch
and Santiago takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Penn wants to clinch up but Santiago keeps it at a distance.
Santiago throws a left and a right that both miss

and Penn moves into the clinch.
Penn is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Santiago pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitor Penn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santiago connects with a knee to the head.
Santiago tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Penn manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Penn looking for a sweep. Not yet Penn, not yet.
Santiago has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Penn is proving hard to escape from.
Santiago slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Penn looking for submissions off his back.
Penn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Penn is working hard here to advance position.
Penn is looking to control Santiago's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Penn avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Penn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Santiago tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Penn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Penn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Penn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Santiago closes the distance and clinches.
Penn changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Santiago fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Santiago swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Penn counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Penn.
Santiago using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Penn has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Santiago manages to break the clinch.

Penn drives through and clinches with Santiago against the cage.

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

Santiago clinches up with Penn and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Santiago.
Penn with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Penn has had enough of the clinch but Santiago keeps him there for the moment.
Santiago looking to throw knees to the head but Penn is blocking nicely.
Penn is trying to stall.
Santiago tries to land a knee to the head but Penn blocks with his arms.
Santiago slows down the pace here.

Penn pulls Santiago into guard.

Santiago gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
A lazy body kick from Santiago

and Penn counters by clinching up.

Santiago breaks the clinch.
No joy there for Penn, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Penn misses with a jab, cross combination.
Santiago blocks a head kick by Penn.
Santiago throws a combination that misses

and Penn holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mateus Santiago showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Penn circles away from the clinch attempt
and Penn counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Santiago takes the fight into the clinch.
Santiago lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Penn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Santiago blocks a body shot from Penn.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Penn.
Santiago presses Penn against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Santiago lands with a short shot to the head.
A short uppercut from Santiago.
Santiago throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Penn blocks it with crossed arms.
A knee to the head by Santiago.
Penn is working for takedown but Santiago is calmly controlling the position for now.

Santiago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Santiago is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Penn keeps the fight on the outside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Santiago clinches up with Penn and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn stalling in the clinch but Santiago improves position.
A knee to the head by Santiago.

Penn pulls guard successfully.
Penn is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santiago tries to kick Penn off but Penn keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Penn is looking to take a break and control but Santiago is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Penn stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Penn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Santiago wants to clinch but Penn slips to the side
and Penn counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Santiago misses with a two punch combination.
Santiago fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Santiago looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Penn pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Santiago tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Santiago looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Santiago tries to clinch there but Penn circles away.
Penn looks to land a combination but Santiago avoids it well.
Santiago is looking to clinch but Penn is avoiding it.
Penn wants to clinch.
Penn closes this distance looking for a takedown but Santiago circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Penn tries to keep at a distance but Santiago has taken the fight into the clinch.

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

Santiago takes the fight into the clinch.

Santiago breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santiago paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santiago paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Penn looks to land a combination but Santiago avoids it well.

Santiago gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Santiago misses with a knee strike.
Santiago lands an elbow inside that Penn shrugs off.
Santiago looking to throw knees to the head but Penn is blocking nicely.
Penn takes a knee right on the jaw!
Penn tries to score a body lock takedown but Santiago shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitor Penn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Penn goes for a takedown in the clinch but Santiago prevents it.
Santiago slows down the pace here.
A knee to the head by Santiago.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn takes a knee right on the jaw!
Penn wants a takedown.
Penn wants to break free but Santiago has control.
Santiago has Penn pushed against the cage.
Penn tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Santiago just stands there and leans against the cage.

Santiago manages to break the clinch.
Penn tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Santiago counters by moving into the clinch.
Penn is looking to control Santiago's arms but Santiago gets an underhook and turns him. Now Penn has his back to the cage.
Penn drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Santiago gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Penn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Penn is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Santiago pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Santiago presses Penn against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Santiago with a knee to the head.

Santiago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Penn rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Santiago moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Vitor Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mateus Santiago is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Santiago tries to clinch but Penn is having none of it.

Santiago clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mateus Santiago comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Santiago 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mateus Santiago!