PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pedro Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Micah Hays (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Micah Hays was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Santiago
vs
Hays

175 cm
26
142 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

168 cm
25
140 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pedro Santiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Micah Hays!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Dillan Fox and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Hays. Santiago does a little dance to reset his feet.
Santiago throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Santiago looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Micah Hays seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hays keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Santiago.
Hays throws a body kick that misses

and Santiago counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Hays breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Hays moves into the clinch.
Hays throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Santiago trying to land knees to the body.
Santiago creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Santiago scores with a knee to the head.
Santiago prevents a body shot from Hays.
Santiago lands an elbow inside that Hays shrugs off.
Santiago unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hays lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hays lands a shoulder strike.
Santiago unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hays lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Santiago misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hays.
Hays avoiding damage as Santiago throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hays.

Hays's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hays throws a sloppy head kick and Santiago moves out of range easily.
Hays moves out of range of the strikes.
Santiago avoids the head kick by Hays.

Santiago gets tackled into the cage by Hays. Hays maintains the clinch.

Hays breaks from the clinch.
Santiago doesn't manage to clinch there - Hays circles away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hays.
Hays circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hays gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Santiago clinches.
Hays pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago throws an elbow but it misses.
Hays creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Hays avoiding damage.
Hays avoiding damage as Santiago throws knees to the body.
Hays dodges an elbow strike from Santiago.
Santiago tries to land a knee to the head but Hays blocks with his arms.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hays lands a nice uppercut.
Hays managing to block the knees to the body from Santiago.
Hays leaning his opponent against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hays.

Hays breaks from the clinch.
Hays throws a head kick that misses.
Santiago tries to clinch up.
Good work by Santiago as he checks the leg kick.
Hays throws a front kick that sends Santiago stumbling back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hays thows a left - swing and a miss!

Hays moves into the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Santiago obliges.
Hays misses with a punch to the body.
Hays taking a breather.
Hays on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Santiago just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hays's brow.
Santiago scores a nice knee to the body.
Hays tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hays throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Santiagos head.
Santiago using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hays has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hays avoids the elbow strike from Santiago, against the cage.
Santiago tries to land a knee to the head but Hays blocks with his arms.
Hays has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Santiago seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Hays can turn it around.
Hays throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Santiagos head.

Hays breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A left lands for Hays.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hays delivers a nice body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santiago swings for the body but Hays moves out of range.
Hays throws out a leg kick but Santiago moves out of range and Hays only half commits.
Santiago moves out of range of the body kick.
Hays tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Santiago was well out of range. Poor timing from Hays.
Santiago lands with an overhand left.
Santiago checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Hays throws a head kick that misses.
Santiago seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Hays throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A big right from Hays misses.
Hays moves away from the strike by Santiago.
Santiago uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hays.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Micah Hays will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Santiago misses with a straight left.
Hays scores with a hook.
Hays throws out a leg kick but Santiago moves out of range and Hays only half commits.
Santiago lands with a hook. Hays tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Micah Hays seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A slow jab from Hays misses its intended target.
Hays throws a leg kick but Santiago sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Hays wants to land a leg kick but Santiago is out of range.
Hays avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Santiago takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Santiago moves into the clinch successfully.
Santiago misses with a knee strike.
Santiago tries to land knees in the clinch but Hays avoids the damage to the body.
Hays blocks the elbow strike.
Santiago crunches a lovely knee into Hays's ribcage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hays is trying to break free.
Santiago misses with an elbow over the top.

Hays breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hays throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Santiago counters with a nice uppercut.
Santiago doesn't manage to clinch there - Hays circles away.

Hays has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hays lands a left hand.

Hays breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Santiago checks a leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Hays.
Santiago cracks Hays with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Santiago throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hays connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

It looks like Pedro Santiago has been cut.
A left lands for Santiago.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santiago on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Santiago misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Hays counters with a good low kick that Santiago was not able to check.
Hays fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Santiago looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hays throws a looping overhand right but Santiago ducks down to avoid it.
Santiago gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Hays throws a shot from downtown. Santiago moves away and avoids it.
Santiago is looking to counter punch.
Hays lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hays missing with a left hand there. Santiago was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Santiago tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Hays manages to circle out of the way.
Santiago throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hays counters with a thumping low kick.
Hays connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Santiago takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hays tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Good work by Santiago as he checks the leg kick.
Hays looks to throw the jab but Santiago is out of range.
Santiago ducks under a wild hook from Hays.
Santiago tries to counter by clinching up but Hays breaks away and moves out of range.
Santiago on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hays. Hays obviously looking to wear him down.
Hays throws a leg kick that misses.
Santiago closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Hays misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Santiago.
Santiago tries to counter by clinching up but Hays breaks away and moves out of range.
Hays throws a lazy head kick

and Santiago holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Hays tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Santiago missing with knees to the body.
Santiago lands a good knee to the midsection. Hays won't want to take too many of those.
Santiago throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hays with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Hays pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hays.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santiago throws a right hand that misses
enabling Hays to counter with a crisp jab.
Santiago lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Santiago avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Hays misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Santiago.
Santiago has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hays finds it's way round the side to connect with Santiago's head.
Hays misses with a body kick.
Hays throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Santiago misses with a looping right.
Santiago misses with a few strikes there.
Santiago cracks Hays with an open hand slap.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Micah Hays showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Pedro Santiago's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Santiago throws the left hand but Hays avoids the punch easily.
Hays misses with a low kick.
Hays throws a leg kick that misses.
Hays looks for the body kick but Santiago saw that one coming.
Santiago is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Hays.
Santiago swings away with a body shot that misses
and Hays counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Santiago just misses with a punch to the body.
Hays thinks about the counter body kick.
Hays throws out a leg kick but Santiago moves out of range and Hays only half commits.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hays.
Hays sizes up Santiago with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hays tries to land a front kick but Santiago steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A jab from Hays misses.
Hays misses with a head kick.
Hays tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago throws a body shot but no joy.
Hays lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Hays bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Santiago throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Santiago throws a jab but it's blocked by Hays.
Hays misses with a low kick as Santiago jumps back.
Santiago misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hays.
Santiago defending well as Hays loads up on a big left hand.
Santiago blocks a leg kick.
Santiago is looking to counter the offense by Hays and move into the clinch.
Hays fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Santiago looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hays feints and then cracks Santiago's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Santiago down.
Hays slips a straight right by Santiago.
Pedro Santiago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hays takes a swing at Santiago's ribcage but misses.
Santiago misses with a looping right.
Santiago tries to clinch up.
Santiago takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Santiago is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Santiago staying out of range there.
Santiago wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Hays feints and then cracks Santiago's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Santiago down.

Hays has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hays wants to break free but Santiago has control.
Hays blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Hays escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Some bone on bone action there as Santiago checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hays swats away the attempt to clinch by Santiago.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago takes a swing at Hays's ribcage but misses.
Hays misses with a right hand
and Santiago counters with a stiff right hand.
Hays cracks a nice hook into Santiago's ribs.
Hays misses with an uppercut.
Hays ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Hays in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Santiago drops his hands momentarily and Hays takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Hays throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hays throws a head kick that misses.
Santiago wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Hays drives through and clinches with Santiago against the cage.
Hays blocks an elbow strike.
Pedro Santiago has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hays has Santiago pressed against the cage.
Hays avoiding damage as Santiago throws knees to the body.
Micah Hays is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hays has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hays avoids the elbow strike from Santiago, against the cage.
Santiago lands a damaging elbow.
Santiago misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hays.
Santiago tries to land knees in the clinch but Hays avoids the damage to the body.
Hays managing to block the knees to the body from Santiago.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hays pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hays throws a leg kick but Santiago sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Good leg kick by Hays there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hays misses with a low kick.
Hays lands a nice leg kick that just misses Santiago's sensitive parts.
Hays lands a jab to the head.

Hays clinches with his opponent.
Hays on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Santiago lands a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Micah Hays comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hays 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Micah Hays!