PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gregor McConor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcelo Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

McConor
vs
Santiago

180 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

155 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Gregor McConor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcelo Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, William Gold and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McConor takes the fight into the clinch.
Santiago effectively controlling the action here.

Santiago breaks the clinch.
Santiago tries a head kick but it misses.

Santiago rushes McConor and presses him up against the cage.

Santiago has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics McConor uses from the top position.
McConor sitting in guard here, content to control.
Santiago is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McConor stands and steps away. Santiago gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Santiago shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

McConor manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Marcelo Santiago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago thuds a left hand into McConor's body.
Santiago fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McConor manages to avoid it.
Santiago fails with a takedown attempt.

Santiago drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McConor lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

McConor controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Our spies down at at Vendetta Alliance London Gym inform us that Santiago has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Santiago tries to land a sweep but no joy.
McConor will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Santiago wants to get back to his feet but McConor is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Santiago is trying to keep McConor in close.

Santiago is looking for a triangle but McConor pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Santiago had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. McConor defends it easily.
McConor trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Santiago is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McConor is controlling him.
McConor sitting in guard here, content to control.
Santiago trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
McConor stays in close to Santiago's body and controls the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
McConor wants to control from the top but Santiago keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
McConor looks for a takedown but Santiago sprawls well.
A head kick misses from Santiago.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Santiago pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces McConor back to the cage. Santiago follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Nice takedown defense from McConor. No joy for Santiago on that attempt.
Santiago throws a right and a left that McConor avoids nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcelo Santiago dominated that round.
That's time! McConor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

McConor drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Santiago throws McConor to one side and escapes!

McConor has Santiago up against the cage in a clinch.

Santiago escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McConor throws a right hand that Santiago ducks under and follows up with a left that Santiago also avoids with ease.
A countering left hand to the body from Santiago misses.

Santiago gets a takedown into half guard.

McConor manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McConor sprawls well. McConor wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Santiago gets slowly back to his feet.
McConor is looking for a counter combo.

Santiago closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. McConor did well to prevent Santiago getting side control.
Santiago throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Santiago looks to land a strike but McConor avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Santiago loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Santiago trying to control the position from guard on top but McConor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McConor has his hands on Santiago's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago wants to pass the guard but McConor is keeping the position.
Santiago trying to control but McConor is working from the bottom.
McConor wants to sweep here but Santiago controlling him for the moment.
Santiago must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
McConor has his hands on Santiago's head, controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McConor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gregor McConor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Santiago is looking to clinch but McConor is avoiding it.
McConor misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Santiago avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Santiago. Those never looked like landing.
A low kick from McConor is predictable there

and Santiago counters with a takedown into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McConor is not content to let Santiago control the position.
Santiago tries to stand but McConor is controlling his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is looking to take a break and control but McConor is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McConor tries to bench press Santiago off him but Santiago keeps the position.
McConor regains half guard.
McConor won't allow Santiago to pass to mount.
Marcelo Santiago has got the better of the ground game so far.
Santiago trying to control from McConor's half guard. McConor has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
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 Gregor McConor will probably get the nod.
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 looks for a takedown but McConor sprawls well.
Santiago shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Santiago tries to clinch but McConor is having none of it.
McConor misses with a wild combination.
Santiago misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Santiago tries to clinch but McConor is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McConor blocks the body kick.
Nice sprawl there from McConor as Santiago shoots in.
Gregor McConor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcelo Santiago.

Santiago gets caught flat footed, as McConor shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Santiago is wriggling around but McConor manages to pass to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santiago is looking to control McConor's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Santiago avoid being mounted?
McConor sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Santiago tries to regain full guard. Instead though, McConor has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
McConor controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McConor lands a big elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McConor prevents Santiago from getting the reversal.
Santiago wants to hold on but McConor pushes him away.
Santiago is in all sorts of trouble here.
McConor landing strikes from the mount and Santiago is in trouble!

McConor looking for a guillotine from mount but Santiago is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Santiago bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Santiago looking to pass the guard.
Santiago wanted to stand there but McConor had control of the position.

McConor looking for a guillotine here but Santiago defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santiago looking to sit in guard and control but McConor gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McConor seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
McConor wants to stand but Santiago has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McConor preventing the sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gregor McConor showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McConor has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Marcelo Santiago!
Gregor McConor was interviewed post fight and said 'i will be back'.