PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Shelby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcelo Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tommy Shelby had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Shelby
vs
Santiago

176 cm
21
155 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

155 cm
23
150 lbs
6 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

King of Clothes

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Tommy Shelby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcelo Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Shelby as he jumps to the side.
Santiago dives in for a single leg takedown but Shelby sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Santiago drops his hands momentarily and Shelby takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Shelby lands a nice hook to Santiago's body. Santiago takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Shelby misses with an uppercut.
Shelby throws a looping overhand right but Santiago ducks down to avoid it.
And Santiago tries to counter it with a takedown but Shelby pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Shelby connects with a body shot.
Santiago shoots in for a takedown but Shelby shows good takedown defense.
Tommy Shelby has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcelo Santiago.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shelby just misses with a punch to the body.
Santiago avoids the body shot from Shelby.
Santiago looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Shelby misses the shot to the body.
Shelby misses with a wild body shot.
Santiago tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Shelby ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shelby swings for the body but Santiago moves out of range.
It seemed like Santiago was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Santiago steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Shelby.
Santiago throws out a counter right but Shelby avoids it with no problem.
Shelby lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
We've been told by Shelby's head coaches at England Fight Club MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
A jab from Shelby misses.
Santiago drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Shelby defends it well.
Santiago avoids the body shot from Shelby.
Santiago is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Santiago shoots and misses
and Shelby counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shelby thows a left - swing and a miss!
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Santiago! But no joy.
Santiago moves out of range as Shelby strikes.
Shelby connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Shelby scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Santiago throws an off balance right hand
and Shelby counters with a straight right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shelby. Santiago does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shelby swings for the body but Santiago moves out of range.
Santiago doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Shelby misses with a body punch
and Shelby takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Shelby is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Shelby stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Shelby wants it to stay on the feet.
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!
A shot to the body from Shelby misses
and Santiago counters with a nice uppercut.
Santiago shoots in looking for a takedown but Shelby manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Santiago's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
It looked like Shelby wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Shelby, as that shot connected.
Nice sprawl there from Shelby as Santiago shoots in.
Shelby lands a jab to the nose.
Shelby stuffs the takedown.
Shelby rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Santiago moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
It seemed like Santiago was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Santiago takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Santiago takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shelby lands with a hook. Santiago tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Shelby connects with a single shot there.
Shelby looks to land a right hand but Santiago moved out of range.
Shelby jabs Santiago right on the nose. Santiago blinks but takes it well.
Shelby throws a body punch but Santiago moves out of range.
Santiago tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Shelby misses with a body shot.
Santiago looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Shelby connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Santiago ducks under a wild hook from Shelby.
Santiago tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Shelby throws an off balance right hand

and Santiago counters with a single leg into guard. Shelby didn't expect that.
Shelby wants to stand but Santiago is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago looking to sit in guard and control but Shelby gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

This has been an exciting period of action!

Santiago throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Shelby avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Shelby decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Shelby dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Shelby scores with a shot to the body.
Shelby fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Santiago manages to avoid it.
Shelby misses with an uppercut.
Shelby throws a hook but Santiago avoids it easily.
Santiago looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Shelby throws a hook to the side of Santiago's head but Santiago sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Santiago swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Santiago closes the distance and clinches up with Shelby, looking for a takedown. Santiago pushes Shelby against the cage but Shelby circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Santiago uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shelby.
Santiago shoots in and drives through. Shelby sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santiago needs to keep his hands up - Shelby had a free shot at his head there.
Shelby throws the left hand but Santiago avoids the punch easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shelby. Santiago does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shelby fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Santiago manages to avoid it.
Santiago drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Shelby defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shelby throws a big shot that misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Santiago misses.
Shelby just misses with a punch to the body.
Santiago looks for a takedown but Shelby sprawls well.
Tommy Shelby has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcelo Santiago.
Santiago gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shelby. Santiago does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shelby lands with a hook. Santiago tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Shelby scores with a decent looking hook.
Shelby has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Santiago avoids a punch combination nicely.
Santiago appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Shelby tests Santiago's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shelby just misses with a punch to the body.
Santiago looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Shelby throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shelby is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A jab from Shelby misses.
Santiago drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Santiago swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Shelby was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Shelby digs a good hook to Santiago's body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shelby lands a nice shot that snaps Santiago's head back.
Tommy Shelby is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shelby throws a sloppy body shot
and Santiago counters with a stiff right hand.
Shelby is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Santiago can do to turn this around?
Shelby lands a nice looking body shot.
Santiago uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Shelby.
Shelby connects with a single shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shelby digs a good hook to Santiago's body.
Shelby throws a lazy uppercut
and Santiago counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Shelby throws a lazy uppercut
and Santiago counters with a right hand to the body.
Santiago closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shelby circles away.
Shelby is looking to counter punch.
Santiago has his takedown stuffed
and Shelby counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shelby sizes up Santiago with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Shelby dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Santiago takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Shelby scores with a punch to the head.
Shelby ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Santiago moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shelby lands with a right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shelby jabs Santiago to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Santiago changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shelby tries to avoid it but Santiago manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shelby to the ground. Shelby escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Santiago closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shelby circles away.
Shelby misses with a wild combination.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Santiago! But no joy.
Santiago shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Shelby as he avoids it easily.
Shelby misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Santiago gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Shelby counters with a nice body shot.
Shelby throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Shelby dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A jab from Shelby misses.
Santiago has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Shelby swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Santiago counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shelby misses with a straight left.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Santiago takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A big right from Santiago misses.
Shelby swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Shelby lands a body shot.
Santiago throws a good cross that connects.
Santiago takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shelby stuns Santiago with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A slow jab from Shelby misses its intended target.
Santiago swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Jab, jab by Shelby - just one landing.
Santiago tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Shelby defends well and Santiago ends up having to push Shelby into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Shelby counters with a straight right hand.
Shelby stuffs the takedown.
Tommy Shelby has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcelo Santiago.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Shelby, as that shot connected.
Shelby throws a body punch but Santiago moves out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Santiago! But no joy.
Shelby throws a looping overhand right but Santiago ducks down to avoid it.
Santiago uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Shelby.
Santiago with the counter takedown but Shelby avoids it easily.
Shelby jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shelby lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Shelby throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Santiago throws out a counter right but Shelby avoids it with no problem.
Shelby misses with a jab to the body
and Santiago counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Santiago uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shelby.
Marcelo Santiago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shelby lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Santiago walks into a stiff left hand from Shelby.
Shelby throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Shelby lands a nice looking body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Santiago tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shelby sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Santiago somewhat.
Shelby swings for the body but Santiago moves out of range.
Shelby lands with an uppercut that bounces Santiago off the cage and back into range.
Shelby lands a nice shot to the body.
Tommy Shelby seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shelby. Santiago does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shelby moves into range and connects with a jab.
Santiago with a poor takedown
and Santiago takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Shelby scores with a jab to the jaw.
Santiago uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Shelby.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Santiago! But no joy.
Shelby just misses with a punch to the body.
Tommy Shelby is winning the standup battle so far.
Shelby throws a poor cross that misses

and Santiago counters with a takedown into side control.
Shelby is trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santiago working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Tommy Shelby is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Shelby sneaks out the side door and pushes Santiago away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shelby tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Santiago was well out of range. Poor timing from Shelby.
A left lands for Shelby.
Nice body punch from Shelby.
Santiago with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Shelby to score with a decent uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy Shelby showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shelby 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy Shelby!