PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Keosayan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neymar Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santos has chosen Garota de Ipanema as his entrance music. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Keosayan
vs
Santos

169 cm
25
157 lbs
11 - 7 - 2

175 cm
27
170 lbs
15 - 11 - 0

Great wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
GREEN!160

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 11 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sergey Keosayan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Neymar Santos!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Steven Brown and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Santos.
Keosayan attempts a counter takedown but Santos avoids it well and moves away.
Keosayan has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Keosayan misses the shot to the body.
Keosayan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Santos.
Keosayan half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Santos fails to land with a series of punches.
Keosayan feints and then cracks Santos's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Santos down.
Santos on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Keosayan. Keosayan obviously looking to wear him down.
Keosayan moves out of range of the strikes.
Santos pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Santos blocks a head kick by Keosayan.
Santos works the jab nicely.

Santos closes the distance and clinches.
With the fighters up against the cage, Santos throws an elbow but misses.
Santos misses with some punches.
With the fighters up against the cage, Santos throws an elbow but misses.
Santos lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Santos lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keosayan changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Santos fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Santos blocks a jab.
Neymar Santos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Keosayan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Santos throws out the jab.
Santos punishes Keosayan's body with a nice straight punch.
Santos checks a low kick from Keosayan.
Good shot there by Keosayan.
Santos looks to land a combination but Keosayan avoids it well.
Santos misses with a hook

and Keosayan counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Santos!
Keosayan is looking to take a break and control but Santos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Keosayan working the head and body with strikes.

Keosayan is trying to get an arm triangle but Santos is defending well.
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!
Santos is pushing Keosayan's head away, looking to escape. Keosayan manages to hold on to the position though.
Keosayan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos tries to improve position but can't.
Keosayan in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
You can see the frustration on Santos's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Santos is looking to reverse the position.
Santos can't do much from the bottom here.
Santos regains half guard, as Keosayan was trying to land strikes.

Keosayan is trying to work for a kimura but Santos is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keosayan throwing shots but Santos is blocking nicely.
Santos has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Keosayan is working away from the top position though.
Santos tries to kick Keosayan off but Keosayan keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Keosayan looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Keosayan is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Santos has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Santos trying to control but Keosayan postures up.
Keosayan is trying to control the action in half guard but Santos is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Santos looks to land a right hand but Keosayan moved out of range.
Santos bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Keosayan lands a nice leg kick that just misses Santos's sensitive parts.
A looping hook to the body misses from Santos. Keosayan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Santos takes a swing at Keosayan's ribcage but misses.
Keosayan tries to counter with a takedown but Santos is quick to defend against it.
Santos throws a low kick but it's checked well by Keosayan.
Left hook, right uppercut from Keosayan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Keosayan connects with an inside leg kick.
Keosayan smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sergey Keosayan is winning the standup battle so far.
Santos throws a series of punches but Keosayan moves out of range.
Santos tries to clinch there but Keosayan circles away.
Santos wants to land a leg kick but Keosayan is out of range.
Keosayan looks for the body kick but Santos saw that one coming.
And Santos responds with a good body kick, but Keosayan manages to step out the way in time.
The fight stays on the outside here - Santos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Santos is looking to score with low kicks.
Keosayan throws a leg kick but Santos sees it coming and moves out of range.
Keosayan throws a leg kick but Santos sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Santos scores with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Santos gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Santos misses with a punch on the inside.
Santos creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Santos swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Santos stops a takedown attempt from Keosayan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Keosayan avoids it.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Santos being controlled against the cage.
Keosayan misses with a body punch.
Keosayan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Santos has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Keosayan seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Santos can turn it around.

Keosayan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Santos slips a jab from Keosayan.
Keosayan swinging wildly here.
Keosayan throws a leg kick which misses Santos's front leg but catches the back leg as Santos tries to avoid it.
Keosayan tries to land a front kick but Santos steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santos drives through and clinches with Keosayan against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Santos.
Santos tries to land knees in the clinch but Keosayan avoids the damage to the body.
Santos misses with a body punch.
Keosayan lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Santos backwards.
Keosayan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Keosayan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Neymar Santos seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Santos lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Keosayan backwards.
Keosayan blocks an elbow strike from Santos.
Keosayan wants a takedown.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Santos working aggressively here.
Santos gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Keosayan.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergey Keosayan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santos throws a punch but it's blocked by Keosayan.
Keosayan has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Santos after a bit of a struggle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Keosayan turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Keosayan lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Santos down.
Keosayan landing a few strikes.
Santos tries to buck Keosayan off but Keosayan is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Santos's face as Keosayan controls the position.
Keosayan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santos keeps working.
Santos can't do much from the bottom here.
Keosayan prevents Santos from escaping the position.
Santos tries to bench press Keosayan off him but Keosayan keeps the position.

Keosayan goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Santos has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Keosayan but great work by Santos.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santos has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Keosayan tries for a takedown but Santos circles away easily
and Santos makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
An inside leg kick lands from Santos.
Keosayan misses with a body shot.
Santos tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Keosayan is able to avoid easily.
Santos avoids a punch combination nicely.
Santos fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Keosayan.
Santos throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Santos checks a leg kick.
Keosayan dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Santos. That did some damage!
Santos throws a nice outside leg kick.
Keosayan looks to land a body kick but Santos moved away.
Keosayan ducks under a wild hook from Santos.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neymar Santos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Keosayan throws a leg kick but Santos checks it.
Santos throws a shot from downtown. Keosayan moves away and avoids it.
Santos cracks Keosayan with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Santos swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Neymar Santos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A good leg kick by Keosayan.
Santos moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Keosayan's corner calls for a 1-2. Keosayan obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Santos moves into the clinch.
Keosayan makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Santos stalling the fight.
A head punch on the inside from Santos fails to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keosayan can't get the takedown.
Santos looking to stall.
Keosayan scores with a nice hook to the head.
Keosayan dodges an elbow strike from Santos.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Sergey Keosayan has been cut.
A shot in the inside from Keosayan.
Keosayan wants a takedown but no success here.
Santos pushes Keosayan back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Keosayan - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Keosayan will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Santos up against the cage.
Santos misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Santos misses with a short punch on the inside.
Santos blocks a body shot from Keosayan.
Santos throws an elbow that misses.
Santos throws a punch but it's blocked by Keosayan.
Santos gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Sergey Keosayan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keosayan makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Keosayan stalling against the cage.
Santos tries to throw a body punch but Keosayan avoids it by throwing Santos back against the cage.
Santos tries to land a knee to the head but Keosayan blocks with his arms.
Santos tries to throw a body punch but Keosayan avoids it by throwing Santos back against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Santos throws an elbow but misses.
Keosayan misses with some punches.
Santos lands a nice knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Santos looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Santos misses with an elbow strike.
Santos blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Keosayan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Keosayan tries to work over Santos's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Santos lands an elbow inside.
Neymar Santos is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Keosayan lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Keosayan is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Santos wants to get back to full guard.
Santos has his hands clasped together around Keosayan's back. He's all about the action.
Santos wants to control but Keosayan is keeping busy.
Santos is controlling Keosayan's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keosayan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Keosayan drops an elbow to the side of Santos's head.
Keosayan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Keosayan takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Santos wants to get back to full guard.
Keosayan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santos keeps working.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Keosayan connects with a nice short shot to Santos's temple.
Santos trying to control from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Neymar Santos.
I've got Santos 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neymar Santos!
Our winner, Neymar Santos, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.