PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gorilla Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and TJ Mcgregor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Santos
vs
Mcgregor

157 cm
26
138 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
26
135 lbs
5 - 3 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gorilla Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, TJ Mcgregor!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Bruno Lombardi and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mcgregor sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Santos somewhat.
Santos stuffs the takedown.

Santos gets a clinch.
Santos goes for a takedown attempt but Mcgregor pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mcgregor tries for a takedown but Santos sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Santos throws the left hand but Mcgregor avoids the punch easily.

Santos clinches.
Santos stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mcgregor is looking to break free of the clinch but Santos has double underhooks.

Santos ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Santos no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Mcgregor's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcgregor trying to stand up but can't free himself from Santos's guard.
Mcgregor wants to pass the guard but Santos is keeping the position.
Santos knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mcgregor on the ground.
Santos has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Mcgregor has passed into side control.

Mcgregor decides to stand up, so the ref orders Santos to his feet.

Mcgregor has taken the fight to the clinch.
Santos is trying to push Mcgregor away but Mcgregor has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Mcgregor can't find room to land a body shot as Santos controls the action.

Santos manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mcgregor fails with the takedown.
Gorilla Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of TJ Mcgregor.
Mcgregor darts in looking for a takedown but Santos gets double underhooks and turns Mcgregor into the cage.

Mcgregor closes the distance and pushes Santos back into the cage.
Santos looking for a takedown.

Mcgregor breaks from the clinch.
Santos has a takedown stuffed.

Mcgregor has Santos up against the cage in a clinch.
Mcgregor tries to pull guard but Santos forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Santos breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mcgregor pinned against the cage. Mcgregor gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mcgregor misses with a series of wild punches.
Mcgregor moves forwards but Santos connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Mcgregor feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Mcgregor is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Mcgregor trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santos might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mcgregor controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Mcgregor working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Santos's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcgregor trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santos keeping full guard, as Mcgregor tries to pass.
Mcgregor slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mcgregor tries to score with some ground and pound. Santos controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Mcgregor decides to stand up, so the ref orders Santos to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TJ Mcgregor dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Santos shoots in looking for a takedown. Mcgregor tries to sprawl out of it but Santos keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mcgregor manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mcgregor is trying hard to land a takedown here. Santos sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mcgregor stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mcgregor wants it to stay on the feet.
Santos doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Santos works the jab nicely.
Mcgregor tries to score a power double leg takedown but Santos sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mcgregor somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mcgregor is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Santos's half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos tries to roll over but Mcgregor keeps him under control.
Well, if Mcgregor is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Mcgregor decides to return to a standing position.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Santos.
As Santos backs off Mcgregor throws a huge counter combo but Santos manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gorilla Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Santos gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Mcgregor counters with a series of strikes. Santos will be more careful next time no doubt.
Santos with a poor takedown
and Mcgregor counters with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mcgregor throws a wild body kick that Santos sees coming a mile off.
Mcgregor looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Santos attempts a counter takedown but Mcgregor avoids it well and moves away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Santos.

Mcgregor sneaks out the side door and pushes Santos away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
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 fails to land with a series of punches.
Mcgregor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It looked like Santos was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Mcgregor shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Santos manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Mcgregor decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mcgregor is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Santos's half guard.
Mcgregor with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Mcgregor prevents Santos from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mcgregor controlling the action here.
Santos is trying to maintain the position but Mcgregor is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcgregor 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.
Santos tries to roll over but Mcgregor keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mcgregor takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
TJ Mcgregor has got the better of the ground game so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TJ Mcgregor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Mcgregor decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Santos is trying to escape back to his feet but Mcgregor uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Mcgregor trying to control the position but Santos is working away.
Mcgregor is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mcgregor has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Santos is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Mcgregor yanks on the arm and Santos is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Mcgregor.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). TJ Mcgregor!