PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Everett Perez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Caesar Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Everett Perez has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Perez
vs
Santiago

165 cm
25
279 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

200 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Everett Perez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Caesar Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Santiago instigates a clinch.
Santiago missing with knees to the body.

Santiago decides to pull guard.
Perez trying to control the position from guard on top but Santiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Perez drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Santiago manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Perez has Santiago in his guard.

Santiago is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Santiago really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Perez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Perez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Santiago must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Perez is on top in guard.

Santiago being controlled here, momentarily.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Santiago can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perez is fighting to break Santiago's control of his arms but Santiago is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Santiago looking for a sweep. Not yet Santiago, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Perez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Perez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Perez wants to control from the top but Santiago keeps moving.

Santiago is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Perez wants to control from the top but Santiago keeps moving.

That's two 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.
Perez advances position into side control!
Santiago can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Santiago is looking for a sweep.
Santiago is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
An elbow from Perez crashes against the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Perez is trying to get an arm triangle but Santiago is defending well.
Perez could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Perez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Santiago is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Santiago wants to control but Perez postures up.
Santiago tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Perez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Perez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santiago keeps working.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Santiago tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Perez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Perez looks up at the clock and then as Santiago takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Perez smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Perez wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Santiago, who protects the arm well.
Perez tries to score with some ground and pound. Santiago controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Santiago holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
You can see the frustration on Santiago's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Perez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santiago keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Everett Perez dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Santiago closes the distance and clinches.
Santiago tries to circle away but Perez has him pinned against the cage.
Santiago lands a nice uppercut.

It looks like Everett Perez has been cut.
Santiago tries to pull guard but Perez won't allow it.
Perez blocks an elbow strike.
Santiago is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Perez is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santiago avoiding damage as Perez throws knees to the body.
Perez presses Santiago against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Santiago lands a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perez is trying to pull guard but Santiago has him pressed against the cage.
Santiago tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Santiago tries to pull guard but Perez holds him up against the cage and eventually Santiago drops back down to his feet.
Everett Perez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Caesar Santiago.

Santiago gets control of Perez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Santiago will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Perez throwing strikes but missing.
Santiago is pulling down on Perez's head. It's preventing any offense from Perez, at least for the moment.
Santiago being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Perez is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Perez trying to control but Santiago is working from the bottom.
Santiago wants to stand up but Perez is controlling him.
Perez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Santiago looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Everett Perez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Perez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santiago has taken the fight to the clinch.
Santiago has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The referee calls for Santiago to work.
Santiago will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Perez up against the cage.
Santiago receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Perez tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Santiago avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Santiago misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Perez.

Santiago breaks from the clinch.
Santiago fails with the takedown.
Santiago is looking to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Santiago.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Santiago shoots for a takedown but Perez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Perez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caesar Santiago showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Everett Perez'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!

Perez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Santiago.
Santiago is looking to clinch.
Santiago gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Perez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Perez tries to pull guard but Santiago won't allow it.
Santiago goes for a takedown in the clinch but Perez prevents it.
Everett Perez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Caesar Santiago.
Perez is trying to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santiago has Perez pushed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago jumps guard but Perez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Santiago is trying to pull guard but Perez turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Perez working Santiago over with knees to the body.
Perez tries to stall but Santiago uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Perez wants to take the fight to the mat but Santiago manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Santiago drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Santiago breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Santiago blocks a head kick by Perez.
Santiago doesn't manage to clinch there - Perez circles away.
Perez wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Santiago throws a lazy head kick

and Perez counters by clinching up.
Santiago lands a body punch in the clinch.
Perez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Santiago pushes Perez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Santiago drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Caesar Santiago seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Santiago wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Perez has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago managing to block the knees to the body from Perez.
Perez has Santiago pressed against the cage, preventing Santiago from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Perez tries to throw a body punch but Santiago avoids it by throwing Perez back against the cage.
Perez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Santiago pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Perez letting Santiago take a breather here.
Perez gets underhooks to prevent Santiago's takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Santiago breaks the clinch.
Perez scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Perez dives in for a single leg takedown but Santiago sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Santiago tries to clinch there but Perez circles away.
Santiago fails with an attempt to clinch.
Perez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Santiago swivels and escapes.
Santiago replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Perez blocks it well.
Perez lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Caesar Santiago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Santiago scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Santiago takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Perez tries to bench press Santiago off him but Santiago keeps the position.
Perez sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Perez tries to get to full guard but Santiago has control of the leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Everett Perez.
I think Perez 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Everett Perez!