PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bennett Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cristo Santo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santo has chosen Danza Kuduro as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Russell
vs
Santo

211 cm
24
162 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bennett Russell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cristo Santo!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Roger Salmon and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Russell but Russell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Santo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Russell counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Russell fails with an attempt to clinch.
Russell keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Santo.

Russell takes the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Russell manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Santo trying to control but Russell is working from the bottom.
Russell keeping full guard, as Santo tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Russell is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Santo presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Russell has Santo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Santo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Santo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Santo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Russell shoots in looking for a takedown but Santo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Russell's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Santo raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Russell takes the fight into the clinch.
Santo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Russell gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bennett Russell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cristo Santo.
Russell tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Santo just stands there and leans against the cage.

Santo gets control of Russell's arms and successfully pulls guard. Santo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell jumps guard but Santo stands there with Russell around his waist. Russell gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Santo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Russell prevents it.

Santo manages to break the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santo looks for a takedown but Russell sprawls well.
Santo throws a sloppy head kick and Russell moves out of range easily.
Russell feinted with a counter takedown.

Santo has Russell up against the cage in a clinch.
Russell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Russell tries to score a body lock takedown but Santo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Bennett Russell has been cut.
Russell is trying to stall.

Santo has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Russell uses from the top position.
Russell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Russell stands up from Santo's guard - Russell perhaps looking for a knockout.

Santo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Russell, pushing him back against the cage.

Russell breaks the clinch.
Cristo Santo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Russell tries to clinch there but Santo circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Russell circles away.
Russell thinks about countering with a head kick.
Santo has a takedown stuffed.

Santo clinches.

Santo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Russell blocks a head kick by Santo.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Santo is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Russell to keep the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cristo Santo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Bennett Russell's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Santo has managed to clinch.
Russell is trying to drag Santo to the mat but Santo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Santo looking to throw knees to the head but Russell is blocking nicely.
Santo scores a nice knee to the body.

Russell breaks the clinch.
Russell tries to clinch but Santo is having none of it.
It seemed like Santo was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Santo tries a head kick but it misses.
A quick step to the side and Russell tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Russell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Santo ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Bennett Russell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Santo darts in and clinches Russell up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santo is trying to drag Russell to the mat but Russell just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Santo landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Russell tries to score a body lock takedown but Santo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Russell tries to score a body lock takedown but Santo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bennett Russell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santo wants to take the fight to the mat but Russell manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Santo has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Russell after a bit of a struggle.
Russell is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Santo to keep the fight standing.
Santo prevents Russell from breaking the clinch.
Santo fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Santo decides to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Russell's guard.

Russell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Russell wriggles free and stands up.

Santo moves into the clinch successfully.
Russell drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Santo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Santo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Santo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Russell prevents it.
Russell tries to pull guard but Santo holds him up against the cage and eventually Russell drops back down to his feet.
Russell fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santo jumps guard but Russell stands there with Santo around his waist. Santo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Santo is looking to take this one to the mat.

Russell successfully pulls guard.
Santo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The strikes coming from Santo are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Santo sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Russell is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Santo trying to control the position but Russell is working away.
Santo in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Santo throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santo working the strikes but Russell uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Russell is looking for a sweep. Santo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Russell has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Santo is working away from the top position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Santo wants to free his trapped foot but Russell is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Russell wants to get back to full guard.

Santo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Santo looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cristo Santo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bennett Russell's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Russell slaps away a takedown attempt from Santo, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Russell tries to clinch but Santo is having none of it.
Russell fails with an attempt to clinch.
Russell shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Santo pinned against the cage. Santo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santo misses with a takedown attempt - Russell sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell tries to clinch but Santo moves out of range.
And Santo tries to counter it with a takedown but Russell pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Cristo Santo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Russell leaves Santo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bennett Russell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cristo Santo.
Russell keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
It looked like Russell was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Santo.
Russell changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Santo tries to avoid it but Russell manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Santo to the ground. Santo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Santo wants to counter with a clinch but Russell pushes him away.
Russell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Santo throws out a counter right but Russell avoids it with no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Santo throws a sloppy head kick and Russell moves out of range easily.
Santo keeps the fight on the outside.
Santo is looking to clinch but Russell is avoiding it.
Santo throws a leg kick
and Russell counters with a nice body kick.
Santo keeps the fight on the outside.
Santo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Santo throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Santo doesn't manage to clinch there - Russell circles away.
Russell swats away the attempt to clinch by Santo.
Russell tries to counter with a takedown but Santo is quick to defend against it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santo shoots in for a double leg but Russell sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Russell looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Santo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Santo moves into the clinch.
Russell is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Santo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Santo is looking for a takedown.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Santo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Santo pulls guard.
Santo has a closed guard, preventing Russell from standing up.
Santo tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell stops Santo from standing up.

Russell stands up from guard. Let's bang!
No luck for Russell with that takedown attempt.

Santo clinches up against the cage.
Bennett Russell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cristo Santo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Russell pulls Santo into guard.
Santo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cristo Santo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Santo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cristo Santo!
Cristo Santo was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.