PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jose Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bram Nijhoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santiago's entrance music is The Rza - Samurai Showdown. A fine choice. Bram Nijhoff has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Santiago
vs
Nijhoff

179 cm
22
164 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

178 cm
24
165 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)
DC Unrivaled

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jose Santiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bram Nijhoff!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nijhoff showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Santiago.
Nijhoff shoots for a double leg takedown but Santiago sprawls well. He's pushed Nijhoff's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
As Nijhoff looks to move away, Santiago throws a big counter combo bu Nijhoff just gets out of the way.
Santiago throws a nice head kick!
Santiago catches Nijhoff with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Nijhoff on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Santiago misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jose Santiago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nijhoff shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Santiago is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nijhoff throwing strikes from guard but Santiago blocks nicely.
Santiago looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nijhoff throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nijhoff working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nijhoff scoring with punches to the head and body.
Nijhoff postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Santiago manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nijhoff manages to get himself to full guard.

Nijhoff can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Santiago controls the pace.

Nijhoff is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago misses with a looping left.
Santiago misses with a head kick.
Nijhoff needs to keep his hands up - Santiago had a free shot at his head there.
Santiago throws a sloppy head kick and Nijhoff moves out of range easily.
Santiago misses with a looping right.
Nijhoff drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Santiago defends it well.
Santiago throws a shot from downtown. Nijhoff moves away and avoids it.
Santiago throws a left and a right that both miss

and Nijhoff counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nijhoff.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nijhoff wants to control from the top but Santiago keeps moving.
Nijhoff with a nice head shot there.
Nijhoff landing with the ground and pound.
Santiago has momentary wrist control but Nijhoff slips an elbow through the middle.
Santiago is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nijhoff trying to control the position from guard on top but Santiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nijhoff with a nice head shot there.
Nijhoff won't allow Santiago to sweep him here.
Nijhoff scoring with some ground and pound.
Nijhoff throwing strikes but missing.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Santiago holds on and takes a little breather.
Nijhoff sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Santiago's guard.
Nijhoff misses with a head shot. Santiago uses the momentum to regain guard.
Nijhoff throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nijhoff accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Santiago escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nijhoff gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Santiago wants to sweep but no luck.
Santiago is working hard here to advance position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nijhoff's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
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.
Nijhoff with a nice head shot there.
Nijhoff trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nijhoff throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Santiago works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Santiago not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bram Nijhoff will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nijhoff shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nijhoff is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Nijhoff tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Santiago swivels and escapes.
Nijhoff goes for a double leg but Santiago avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Santiago continues to drive forward.
Nijhoff staying out of range there.
Santiago lands a high kick!
We've been told by Santiago's head coaches at Evil Empire: †AWAKENING† that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Santiago throws a jab when Nijhoff was well out of range.
Nijhoff changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Santiago misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santiago misses with a lunging right hand

and Nijhoff counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Santiago!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nijhoff working the body and head with strikes.
Santiago is not content to let Nijhoff control the position.
Santiago tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nijhoff wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nijhoff wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santiago keeps working.
Check out the look on Nijhoff's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Santiago is looking to regain half guard here but Nijhoff keeps moving and retains side control.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Nijhoff working the ground and pound from side control.
Santiago is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Santiago is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Nijhoff off and has taken his back!
Santiago thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago missing with strikes from the back.

Santiago is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Bram Nijhoff has got the better of the ground game so far.
Santiago throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Nijhoff trying to control the position but Santiago manages to sink in the hooks.
The referee is taking a good look at Nijhoff as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Santiago!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nijhoff wriggles onto his back under a barage of strikes.
Nijhoff wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Santiago.
Nijhoff is in all sorts of trouble here.
Nijhoff is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Santiago looking to control but Nijhoff is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Nijhoff tries to lock up and control but Santiago gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Santiago trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Santiago raining down shots from the mount!
Nijhoff 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.
Nijhoff bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Nijhoff wants to control from the top but Santiago keeps moving.
Nijhoff throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nijhoff accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nijhoff scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Santiago dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Santiago misses with a wild body shot.
Nijhoff changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Good standup being displayed there by Santiago as he connects with a hook.
Santiago moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Nijhoff misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A slow jab from Santiago misses its intended target.
Santiago misses with a head kick.
Nijhoff tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Santiago misses with a looping right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nijhoff drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Nijhoff trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Santiago keeping moving, preventing Nijhoff from controlling successfully.
Nijhoff with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nijhoff scoring with some ground and pound.
Nijhoff throws a big right hand that misses.
Santiago has momentary wrist control but Nijhoff slips an elbow through the middle.
Nijhoff postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nijhoff stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santiago swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nijhoff distracts Santiago with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nijhoff landing some decent shots from guard.
Nijhoff trying to control the position from guard on top but Santiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santiago is trying to keep Nijhoff in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Santiago ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nijhoff moves away.
And Nijhoff tries to counter it with a takedown but Santiago pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Santiago is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Santiago dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Nijhoff. That did some damage!
Santiago lands a glancing blow to the side of Nijhoff's head.
Nice takedown defense from Santiago. No joy for Nijhoff on that attempt.
Nijhoff dives in for a single leg takedown but Santiago sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Jose Santiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bram Nijhoff.
Nijhoff ducks under a wild hook from Santiago.
A cross from Santiago lands.
Nijhoff fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Good standup being displayed there by Santiago as he connects with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Santiago.
Santiago throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A head kick from Santiago lands but Nijhoff takes it in his stride.

Nijhoff is rocked!
Santiago lands with a precision combination! Left, right, uppercut and Nijhoff falls flat on his face, eyes wide open but he's out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Jose Santiago!
After winning the bout, Jose Santiago thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.