PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Neymar Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Santa Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santos comes to the cage accompanied by Garota de Ipanema. Santa Cruz has chosen 50 cent P.I.M.P as his entrance music. Rafael Santa Cruz acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Santos
vs
Santa Cruz

175 cm
31
170 lbs
22 - 16 - 0

180 cm
39
170 lbs
33 - 30 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

King of Fists

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 22 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Neymar Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 30 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Rafael Santa Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos throws a lazy uppercut
letting Santa Cruz counter with a right hand.
Santa Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Santos.
Santa Cruz slips under a jab.
Santa Cruz drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Santos defends it well.
Santa Cruz avoids the head kick by Santos.
Santos's jab looks to have found its range, popping Santa Cruz under the eye.
Santos looks to throw the jab but Santa Cruz is out of range.
Santa Cruz with the counter takedown but Santos avoids it easily.
Santa Cruz tries to clinch but Santos moves out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Santos.
Santos on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Santos misses with a looping left.

Santa Cruz closes the distance and pushes Santos back into the cage.
Santos blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Santa Cruz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Santos after a bit of a struggle.
Santa Cruz lands with a right to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Santos as Santa Cruz tries to tie him up.
Santa Cruz swings wildly with an uppercut but Santos uses good head movement to avoid it.
Santa Cruz scores with a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos tries to work over Santa Cruz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Santos lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Santos.
Santa Cruz can't get the takedown.
Santa Cruz misses with a punch on the inside.
Santos scores with a shot to the side of Santa Cruz's head.
A head punch on the inside from Santa Cruz fails to land.
Santos scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Santa Cruz swings wildly with an uppercut but Santos uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Santos.
Santa Cruz dodges an elbow strike from Santos.
Santos lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Santa Cruz misses with some punches.
The referee calls for Santos to work.
Nice elbow from Santos.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santos lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos lands with a short shot to the head.
Santos misses with the head strike.
Santa Cruz is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Santos is defending well.
Neymar Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Santa Cruz.
Santos lands an elbow inside.
Santos misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Santos blocks a body shot from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz is looking to control Santos's arms but Santos gets an underhook and turns him. Now Santa Cruz has his back to the cage.
Santa Cruz swings wildly with an uppercut but Santos uses good head movement to avoid it.
Santa Cruz avoiding damage as Santos throws knees to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Santos.
Santa Cruz taking a breather.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Santos.
Santa Cruz misses with a hook from the clinch.
Santos digs a right hand into Santa Cruz's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Santa Cruz's gas tank.
Santos tries a body shot but Santa Cruz blocks it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Santos.

It looks like Rafael Santa Cruz has been cut.
Santa Cruz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Santos avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Santa Cruz blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Santa Cruz lands with a left to the head.
Santa Cruz lands a hook that snaps the head of Santos backwards.
Santa Cruz has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Santos is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Santa Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as Santos controls his hands.
Santos tries a body shot but Santa Cruz blocks it.
Santa Cruz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Santos prevents it.
Santa Cruz slowing the pace effectively.

Santos's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Santos throws a series of punches but Santa Cruz avoids them all with ease.
A leg kick checked by Santos.
Santa Cruz takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Santos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Santa Cruz circles away quickly and effectively.
Santos misses with a double jab.
Santa Cruz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Santa Cruz bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos lands a slapping body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Santos tries to keep at a distance but Santa Cruz has taken the fight into the clinch.
Good body shot from Santos.
Santa Cruz is looking to take this one to the mat.
Santos lands a right hand.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Santos.
Santa Cruz's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Santa Cruz takes an elbow to the temple.
Santos makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Santa Cruz misses with a body punch.
Stalling in the clinch from Santos.
Santos lands an elbow just above Santa Cruz 's eye.
A nice left hand lands by Santos.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santa Cruz avoids a wild elbow strike from Santos.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neymar Santos dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Santa Cruz's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Santos moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Neymar Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santa Cruz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Santa Cruz tries to clinch there but Santos circles away.
Santos appears to be looking for a big counter.
Santos misses the jab.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Santa Cruz! But no joy.
Neymar Santos is winning the standup battle so far.
Santos lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Santa Cruz misses with a takedown attempt - Santos sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Santos throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Santos takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Santa Cruz moves into range and clinches up with Santos.

Santos breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Santa Cruz stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Santos.
Santa Cruz lands with an overhand left.
Santa Cruz checks the leg kick nicely there.
Santa Cruz scores with a hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santos lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A nice inside leg kick there by Santos. That's going to slow Santa Cruz down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Santos lands a lovely overhand right.
Santos connects with a leg kick. Santa Cruz looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Santos lands with a cross.
Santa Cruz moves out of range of the strikes.
Santa Cruz needs to keep his hands up - Santos had a free shot at his head there.
Santa Cruz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Santos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Santos will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Santos.
Neymar Santos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Santa Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Santos.

Santos moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Santos doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Santa Cruz works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Santos blocking some punches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Santos.
Neymar Santos has scored more points in the clinch so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santos lands an elbow that stopped Santa Cruz in his tracks for a moment.
Santos gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Santa Cruz.
Neymar Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Santa Cruz.
Santos fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Santa Cruz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Santos pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Santa Cruz.
Nice body punch from Santos.
Santos misses with an elbow over the top.
Santos throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Santa Cruz is breathing heavily.
Santa Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Santos.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Santa Cruz blocks the elbow strike.
Santos lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Santos blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Santos throws an elbow but misses.
Santos misses with a punch to the body.
Santa Cruz has a couple of punches blocked by Santos.
Santos lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Santos is working Santa Cruz over against the cage.
Santos effectively controlling the action here.
Santa Cruz tries for a takedown but Santos manages to get underhooks.
Santos creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Santa Cruz's defenses.
Santa Cruz misses with some punches.
Santa Cruz misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Santa Cruz fails to land.
Santos creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Santos looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Santos.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Santa Cruz has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Santos regains guard immediately.
Santos wants to get back to his feet but Santa Cruz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Santos is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Santos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Santa Cruz trying to control but Santos is working from the bottom.
Santos is looking to sweep but instead, Santa Cruz has passed into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neymar Santos dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Santa Cruz's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Santos scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Santos throws a nice inside leg kick.
Santa Cruz stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Santos.
Santos throws a jab but it's blocked by Santa Cruz.
A big right from Santos misses.

Santa Cruz moves into the clinch.

Santa Cruz has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Santos clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Santos trying to control the hands but Santa Cruz won't let him.
Santa Cruz keeps control of the position as Santos tries to break free.
Santos controlling his opponent's hands, preventing the submission attempt.
Santos has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos manages to scramble and ends up in full guard, under a barage of strikes . Great composure from Santos.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Santos has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Santa Cruz has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Santos lands a nice shot to the body.
Santa Cruz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Santos fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Santos scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Santos throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Santa Cruz stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Santa Cruz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Santos manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Santos fires out a quick counter leg kick but Santa Cruz just manages to avoid it.
Santos tries a head kick but it misses.
Santa Cruz is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Santa Cruz takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Santa Cruz moves into range and clinches up with Santos.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santos comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Santos struggles to land a body shot inside as Santa Cruz controls his hands.
Santos lands an elbow that stopped Santa Cruz in his tracks for a moment.
Santos is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Santa Cruz can do to turn this around?
A short right hand to the side of the head by Santos.
Santos lands a shot to the body.
Santa Cruz dodges an elbow strike from Santos.
Santos gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Santos lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Good body shot from Santos.
Santa Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Santos comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Santos looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Santos lands an uppercut.
Santa Cruz stalling.
Santos digs a right hand into Santa Cruz's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Santa Cruz's gas tank.
Santos lands a nice elbow.
Santa Cruz prevents a body shot from Santos.
Santa Cruz's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Santos lands a hook that snaps the head of Santa Cruz backwards.
Neymar Santos is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos lands a right hand that snaps the head of Santa Cruz backwards.

Santa Cruz is rocked!
Santos lands with a short shot to the head.
Santa Cruz is still on wobbly legs! Can Santos finish him?
Santa Cruz content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Santos creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Santa Cruz with a big uppercut! Santa Cruz tries to clinch up but Santos pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Santa Cruz to the mat! Santa Cruz covers up and Santos unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:17 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Neymar Santos!
A victorious Neymar Santos thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.