PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Duke Oreily (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dave Santos struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 172.8lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Dave Santos looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Oreily
vs
Santos

174 cm
22
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
22
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Duke Oreily!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Dave Santos!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Andrew Berry and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Oreily gets a clinch.
Santos looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Oreily lands with a short shot to the head.

It looks like Dave Santos has been cut.
Santos trying to land knees to the body.

Oreily manages to break the clinch.

Oreily closes the distance and pushes Santos back into the cage.
Santos tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Oreily pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Santos wants to clinch
and Oreily counters with a two punch combo.

Oreily fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Santos, pushing him back against the cage.
Santos tries a knee to the head but Oreily blocks it.
Santos gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Oreily.
Santos tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Oreily misses with a knee strike.

Oreily is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Santos can't fight it off and eventually Oreily manages to take the fight to the floor. Santos looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Oreily 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.

Santos is working an open guard so Oreily takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oreily throws a head kick but Santos moves out of range.

Oreily clinches up against the cage.
Oreily slowing the pace effectively.

Oreily breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Oreily lands a nice hook to Santos's body. Santos takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Oreily lands with a nice combination. Santos backs away looking to recover.

Oreily gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Oreily landing knees to the body.

Oreily jumps into guard, dragging Santos to the mat.
Oreily is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Santos trying to stand up but can't free himself from Oreily's guard.
Oreily throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Oreily is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Oreily throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos stopping the sweep attempt from Oreily.
Oreily seems keen to control Santos's posture.
Santos stopping the sweep attempt from Oreily.

Santos stands up from Oreily's guard - Santos perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santos clinches with his opponent.
Oreily lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Oreily pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Oreily looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Santos is fending him off so far but Oreily persists. Nope, Santos circles away and we're back to standing.
A left and a right from Santos both land. Nice combination.
Santos tries to clinch up

and Oreily counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Oreily keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Santos's head.
Santos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Oreily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Oreily passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Santos wants to control but Oreily postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos is trying to get back to his feet.
Santos wants to control but Oreily postures up.
Oreily working the head and body with strikes.
Oreily scoring with punches from side control.
Oreily is chipping away with strikes.
Santos is looking to reverse the position.
Santos manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Santos wants to improve his position but Oreily is controlling well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Santos wants to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Oreily has managed to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duke Oreily dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dave Santos'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.

Horrible takedown by Oreily or perhaps it was just good defense by Santos which made him look bad.
Santos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dave Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Oreily fails to land the takedown.
Santos slips a jab and a cross from Oreily.
Oreily shoots in for a double leg but Santos sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Duke Oreily. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santos closes the distance looking to clinch

and Oreily holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Oreily managing to block the knees to the body from Santos.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos lands a knee to the head.

Oreily escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Oreily throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Santos counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Oreily is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Santos.
Santos throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Oreily.
Santos shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Oreily as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Santos escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Santos misses with a combination

so Oreily counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Santos is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Oreily is controlling him.
Santos is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Oreily tries to stand but Santos is controlling from the bottom.
Santos wants to get back to his feet but Oreily passes into half guard.
Oreily prevents Santos from improving his position.
Oreily is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oreily tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Oreily tries to pass to full mount but Santos defends it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Oreily shoots in for a takedown but Santos shows good takedown defense.
Santos swats away the attempt to clinch by Oreily.
Santos tries to clinch
and Oreily finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

Oreily shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Oreily showed some decent athleticism there.
Santos wants to get back to his feet.

Santos looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos tries to kick Oreily off in order to stand up. Oreily Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Oreily working the ground and pound.
Santos tries to improve position but can't.
Oreily scores with punches from side control.
Oreily trying to control the action but Santos is working from the bottom.
Oreily working the head and body with strikes.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A combination from Santos does no damage.
Oreily slips a straight right by Santos.
Oreily tries to clinch up but Santos circles away and keeps his distance.
Oreily with a poor takedown
and Santos counters with a head kick.
Santos tries to clinch
and Oreily counters with a nice body kick.
Oreily shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

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.
Oreily takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Oreily shoots for a double leg takedown but Santos sprawls well. He's pushed Oreily's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Santos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Oreily circles away quickly and effectively.
Oreily pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
The fight stays on the outside here - Oreily looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Santos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Santos darts in and clinches Oreily up against the cage.
Oreily lands an elbow that stopped Santos in his tracks for a moment.
Santos is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Oreily breaks from the clinch.
Santos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Oreily circles away quickly and effectively.

Oreily drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Oreily works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Oreily decides to stand back up. Oreily steps back and let's Santos get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duke Oreily dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dave Santos's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Santos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Oreily tries for a takedown but Santos sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Oreily shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Santos as he avoids it easily.
Santos connects with a looping right hand.
Santos tries to clinch up but Oreily circles away and keeps his distance.
Oreily shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Santos as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Duke Oreily. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santos wants to clinch but Oreily slips to the side
and Oreily counters with a solid body kick.

Santos closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Santos's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Oreily drives through and clinches with Santos against the cage.

Santos breaks from the clinch.
Santos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Oreily tries to close the distance and clinch but Santos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Santos gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Oreily gets underhooks to prevent Santos's takedown attempt.
Santos wants a takedown.
Oreily works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short left from Santos.
Oreily has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Santos avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Santos looking to throw knees to the head but Oreily is blocking nicely.
Santos landing knees to the body.
Oreily scores a nice knee to the body.
Oreily blocking some punches.

Santos jumps guard and drags Oreily to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Oreily passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Oreily has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Santos struggling a bit here.
Santos wants to get back to his feet.
Santos manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santos decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Left hook, right uppercut from Santos.
Oreily will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Santos wants to clinch but Oreily slips to the side

so Oreily counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Santos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Oreily can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Oreily throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Santos works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Oreily connects with a couple of short punches.
Oreily makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Oreily slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Santos wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oreily stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santos swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Oreily postures up and lands a big shot to Santos's brow.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Oreily will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Oreily clinches up with Santos and pushes him back against the cage.

Santos escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Santos will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Oreily closes the distance and clinches up with Santos, looking for a takedown. Oreily pushes Santos against the cage but Santos circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Oreily swats away the attempt to clinch by Santos.
Oreily doesn't manage to clinch there - Santos circles away.
Oreily changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Santos tries to avoid it but Oreily manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Santos to the ground. Santos escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Oreily doesn't manage to clinch there - Santos circles away.
Oreily wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Santos tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Santos stuffs the takedown.
Santos lands with a kick to the temple. Oreily shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Oreily takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Santos tries to clinch

and Oreily decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Santos's guard.
Santos looking for a sweep. Not yet Santos, not yet.

Oreily gets to his feet. Santos looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Oreily has managed to clinch.
Oreily with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Oreily wants to get back to striking at distance but Santos won't allow it.
Oreily's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Santos manages to break the clinch.

Oreily moves into the clinch.
Dave Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Duke Oreily is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Santos tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Oreily smiles and moves away.
Santos doesn't manage to clinch there - Oreily circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Duke Oreily showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Oreily has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Duke Oreily!