PBP Commentary

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

Claudiano
vs
Santos

160 cm
28
149 lbs
10 - 8 - 2

175 cm
28
137 lbs
25 - 7 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Aspire Clothing
Arcticus University: London

Strong Suplementos 159Q/$200

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 10 - 8 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Waldo Claudiano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gustavo Santos!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Seu Braga and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Santos gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Santos has clasped his hands together around Claudiano's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Claudiano tries to improve position but can't.
Santos in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Claudiano is trying to improve his position.
Claudiano wants to control but Santos postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Claudiano is trying to work for a sweep but Santos has mounted him!
Santos can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Claudiano is looking to escape.
Claudiano's coaches at Brazilian Elite Team have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Claudiano is desperately trying to improve his position but Santos has a good base and remains in mount.
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 controlling the position easily from mount.
Claudiano is in all sorts of trouble here.
Claudiano wants to hold on but Santos pushes him away.
Claudiano can't escape the position.
Santos controlling the position easily from mount.

Santos goes for an armbar but Claudiano turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Claudiano.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano content to stall in guard here.
Claudiano trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santos told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Claudiano throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Santos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano with a flurry of punches that miss.
Claudiano throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Claudiano working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Santos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Claudiano working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Santos tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Claudiano with a flurry of punches that miss.
Claudiano landing some decent shots from guard.
Claudiano works over Santos with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos wants to sweep here but Claudiano controlling him for the moment.
Claudiano might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Claudiano works over Santos with some ground and pound from guard.
Santos keeping moving, preventing Claudiano from controlling successfully.
Claudiano in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Claudiano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santos is keeping the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Claudiano throws a big elbow that misses.
Claudiano wants to pass the guard but Santos is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gustavo Santos 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.

Santos shoots in and bounces Claudiano off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Claudiano wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Santos tries to free his leg and advance position but Claudiano is retaining full guard.
Claudiano pulls Santos in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Claudiano looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Santos passes into side control.
Santos trying to control the action but Claudiano is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claudiano struggling a bit here.
Claudiano manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Claudiano looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Claudiano wants to get back to full guard.
Claudiano gets full guard.
Claudiano keeping moving, preventing Santos from controlling successfully.
Santos looking to pass the guard.
Santos sitting in guard here, content to control.
Let's hope that Santos has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santos bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Santos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Claudiano keeps working.
Claudiano tries to improve position but can't.
Santos tries to move into full mount but can't pass Claudiano's legs.
Claudiano manages to work his way to half guard, despite Santos's best efforts.
Claudiano keeping control of the position.
Claudiano wants to control but Santos is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano wants to improve his position but Santos is controlling well.
Santos missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Claudiano has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Santos is working away from the top position though.
Santos is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Claudiano!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Claudiano holds on for dear life.
Claudiano wants to hold on but Santos pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustavo Santos 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!

Claudiano clinches.
Claudiano tries to throw a body punch but Santos avoids it by throwing Claudiano back against the cage.
Claudiano misses with a body punch.

Santos has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Claudiano regains guard immediately.
Claudiano is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Claudiano is trying to control. Santos wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Santos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Claudiano landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Claudiano works his foot free and advances to mount.
Santos is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claudiano is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Santos can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Santos is trying to escape the mount.
Claudiano lands a big shot there that rocks Santos but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Santos is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Claudiano pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Claudiano can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Santos is looking to escape.
Claudiano postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Santos looks a forlorn figure.
Waldo Claudiano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano tries to control but Santos wriggling away.
Claudiano lands a big elbow.
Santos is working to get back to half guard.
Santos is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Claudiano wants to control the pace but Santos is squirming around nicely.
Claudiano with good strikes from the mount here!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano landing strikes from the mount.
Santos tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Claudiano scoring with strikes but Santos is staying in there.
Santos can't escape the position.
Claudiano is landing with some decent strikes but Santos is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Claudiano prevents Santos from getting the reversal.
Claudiano is landing with some decent strikes but Santos is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Claudiano landing shots from mount.
Gustavo Santos is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Santos regains half guard.
Claudiano missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano is nestled in close to Santos, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Claudiano lands a nice short elbow.
Santos is looking for a sweep. Claudiano is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Claudiano is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Santos doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Claudiano.

Claudiano seems to be working for a kimura but Santos defends the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Waldo Claudiano showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Santos has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Gustavo Santos!