PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Darwin Strapp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lionel Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Strapp
vs
Santos

181 cm
31
191 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

195 cm
30
203 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Darwin Strapp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lionel Santos!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Jeff Smith and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos checks a low kick from Strapp.
Santos throws a lazy head kick
and Strapp cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Santos checks a low kick from Strapp.
Santos missing with a left hand there. Strapp was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Strapp showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Santos.

Strapp moves into range and clinches up with Santos.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos gets through Strapp's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

It looks like Darwin Strapp has been cut.
Santos tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Strapp lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Santos creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Santos tries to land knees in the clinch but Strapp avoids the damage to the body.
Santos keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Strapp's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Strapp breaks from the clinch.
Strapp throws a leg kick
and Santos counters with a solid body kick.
Strapp misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've been told by Strapp's head coaches at Island Warriors that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Santos circles away from the clinch attempt.
Santos throws out a counter right but Strapp avoids it with no problem.
Strapp tries a head kick but it misses.
A slapping leg kick lands for Strapp.
Santos blocks a jab.
Santos counters with a body kick.

Strapp drives through and clinches with Santos against the cage.
Santos lands a hook to the side of the head.
Santos misses with a short punch on the inside.
Santos throws a head punch that misses.
Strapp blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Santos.
Strapp taking a breather.
Strapp lands a body punch.
Santos misses with a knee to the head.
Strapp tries a body shot but Santos blocks it.
Santos fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Santos.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Santos lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Santos is fighting off a takedown attempt but Strapp is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Santos to the mat. Santos regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Strapp missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Strapp looking to pass the guard.
Strapp is in close to Santos's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Santos wants to stand but Strapp is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strapp wants to control from the top but Santos keeps moving.
Strapp loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Strapp stops Santos from standing up.
Strapp stands up over Santos, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Strapp throwing strikes from guard but Santos blocks nicely.
Strapp wants to control from the top but Santos keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Strapp 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.
Santos wants to stand and escape but Strapp is having none of it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Strapp lands with a thumping leg kick.

Strapp moves into the clinch.
Strapp blocks the elbow strike.
Strapp wants to stall.
Strapp blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Santos's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Santos gets through Strapp's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Strapp breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Santos throws a right hand that Strapp ducks under and follows up with a left that Strapp also avoids with ease.
Strapp looks to land a right hand but Santos moved out of range.
Santos staying out of range there.
Santos takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Darwin Strapp will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Darwin Strapp's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Strapp will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Strapp throws a leg kick which misses Santos's front leg but catches the back leg as Santos tries to avoid it.
Santos circles away from the clinch attempt.
Santos tries to counter by closing the distance.
Strapp throws a leg kick
and Santos counters with a big head kick but Strapp shrugs it off.
Strapp fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Santos.

Strapp clinches up against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Strapp as the two fighters clinch.
Strapp working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Santos working aggressively here.
Santos looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Strapp's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Strapp - that will leave a mark!
Santos misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos blocks a leg kick.
Strapp throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Santos! But no joy.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Strapp takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Crunch! Santos slams his shin into Strapp's torso.
Strapp tries a head kick but it misses.
Santos with a nice cross.
Strapp cracks Santos with an open hand slap.
Strapp throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Strapp scoring well with a low kick there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strapp wants to clinch but Santos slips to the side
letting Santos counter with a right hand.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A nice left hand lands by Strapp.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Strapp is trying to force a seperation but Santos has the dominant position.
Strapp drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Strapp wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Santos lands a body punch.
Nice body punch from Santos.
Santos throws a punch but it's blocked by Strapp.
Santos gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Strapp.
Santos misses with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Strapp scores with a nice short uppercut.
Santos blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strapp avoids a wild elbow strike from Santos.
Strapp misses with a punch to the body.

Strapp breaks from the clinch.
Strapp misses with a kick to the body.
Strapp ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Strapp shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Strapp scores with a nice body kick.
Strapp tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Santos cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Strapp misses with an uppercut
enabling Santos to counter with a crisp jab.
Santos avoids a kick to the body.
Strapp tries to clinch but Santos moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strapp takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Strapp misses with a leg kick.
Strapp lands a jab to the nose.
Strapp swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Santos swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Santos thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Strapp if he has to take too many more of those.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Strapp swings widly with a right hand
and Santos counters with a big head kick but Strapp shrugs it off.
Strapp uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Strapp misses with a left hand
and Santos counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Santos on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Strapp. Strapp obviously looking to wear him down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Darwin Strapp will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Darwin Strapp's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Strapp moves into the clinch.
Santos lands an uppercut.
Santos utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Strapp gets through Santos's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Santos.
Strapp prevents a body shot from Santos.
Santos can't find room to land a body shot as Strapp controls the action.
Santos creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Strapp swings wildly with an uppercut but Santos uses good head movement to avoid it.
Santos throws an elbow but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Strapp breaks from the clinch.
Strapp looks to land a left hand but Santos moved out of range nicely.
Strapp takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Santos has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Strapp misses with a hook
and Santos counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strapp wants to clinch but Santos slips to the side
and Santos counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Strapp tries to clinch up but Santos circles away and keeps his distance.
As Strapp backs off Santos throws a huge counter combo but Strapp manages to avoid it all.
Strapp tries to clinch but Santos is having none of it.
Santos fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Strapp.
Strapp listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Santos misses the jab.
A low kick from Strapp misses
and Santos counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That kick from Strapp tenderised Santos's leg. Santos is trying to keep his angry face on.
Santos wants to clinch.
Lionel Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Santos is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Strapp takes the fight into the clinch.
Santos blocking some punches.
Santos lands a left hand.
Strapp lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Strapp takes a shot to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Strapp blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right from Santos.
Santos misses with a short punch on the inside.
Strapp has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Santos creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos lands a nice elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Santos.

Strapp's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Strapp looks for the body kick but Santos saw that one coming.
Santos pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Darwin Strapp is winning the standup battle so far.
Strapp tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Santos checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Santos keeps the fight on the outside.
Santos thows a leg kick but Strapp checks it
and Strapp counters with a nice low kick that buckles Santos's knee momentarily.
Darwin Strapp seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strapp throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Strapp takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Santos looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Santos throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Santos blocks a leg kick.
Santos's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Strapp connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Santos scrambles back to his feet.
Santos gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Strapp counters with an outside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santos takes a kick to the side of the head.

Santos is rocked!
Santos is wiping some vaseline out of his eye. Strapp doesn't give a rats ass about fair play and cracks him with a massive hook to the side of the head! Santos crumples to the floor out cold! The cornerman is going to be in Santos's bad books for that mishap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Darwin Strapp!
In his post fight interview, Darwin Strapp started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.