PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Griffin McElroy (ranked 21775 p4p, 609 weight class) and Marcelo Santiago (ranked 2244 p4p, 247 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

McElroy
vs
Santiago

175 cm
30
151 lbs
8 - 11 - 0

155 cm
24
150 lbs
7 - 13 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 8 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Griffin McElroy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcelo Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago closes the distance and clinches up with McElroy, looking for a takedown. Santiago pushes McElroy against the cage but McElroy circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
McElroy tries to close the distance and clinch up but Santiago swats him away and circles back towards the center.

McElroy closes the distance and pushes Santiago back into the cage.
McElroy tries a knee to the head but Santiago blocks it.

Santiago breaks from the clinch.

McElroy has managed to clinch.
McElroy lands a right hand.
McElroy doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Santiago fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McElroy creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Santiago wants to take the fight to the mat but McElroy manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McElroy swings wildly with an uppercut but Santiago uses good head movement to avoid it.
McElroy lands a left hand.
Santiago blocks an elbow strike.
McElroy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Santiago escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McElroy tries to clinch there but Santiago circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McElroy closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Santiago to counter with a crisp jab.

McElroy forces Santiago back against the cage and clinches.

Santiago's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McElroy tries to clinch there but Santiago circles away.
Santiago connects with a single shot there.
McElroy tries to close the distance and clinch up but Santiago swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Santiago has his takedown stuffed

and McElroy counters by moving into the clinch.
Griffin McElroy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcelo Santiago.
McElroy tries to work over Santiago's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Santiago wants the takedown. McElroy is fighting it off but Santiago persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in McElroy's guard against the cage.

McElroy has his feet on Santiago's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santiago circles away from the clinch attempt
and Santiago counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Santiago circles away from the clinch attempt.
McElroy has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Santiago finds it's way round the side to connect with McElroy's head.
Santiago shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McElroy sprawls well. McElroy wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Santiago gets slowly back to his feet.
McElroy doesn't manage to clinch there - Santiago circles away.
Santiago is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

McElroy drives through and clinches with Santiago against the cage.
Our sources have told us that McElroy has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santiago is trying to trip McElroy. He has hold of a leg but McElroy is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Santiago persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Santiago trying to control but McElroy is working from the bottom.

Santiago gets to his feet. McElroy looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Santiago has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as McElroy is landing a low percentage of strikes.
McElroy wants to clinch up but Santiago keeps it at a distance.
Santiago looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

McElroy gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Santiago can't get the takedown.
McElroy blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Santiago fails to pull guard.
Santiago dodges an elbow strike from McElroy.
McElroy misses with an elbow over the top.

Santiago breaks from the clinch.
Griffin McElroy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McElroy tries to close the distance and clinch up but Santiago swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McElroy tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Santiago counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McElroy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Santiago feints the counter takedown.

Santiago closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McElroy is trying to buck Santiago off.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Santiago is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McElroy knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marcelo Santiago will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

McElroy moves in looking to clinch but Santiago pushes him off.
McElroy tries to close the distance and clinch but Santiago swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Santiago is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

McElroy closes the distance and clinches.

Santiago successfully pulls guard.
McElroy in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McElroy looking to sit in guard and control but Santiago gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

McElroy wriggles free and stands up.
Griffin McElroy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McElroy forces Santiago back against the cage and clinches.
Santiago is trying to pull guard but McElroy has him pressed against the cage.
McElroy prevents a body shot from Santiago.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago looking for a takedown.
Santiago misses with a hook from the clinch.
Santiago blocks an uppercut.
McElroy is working Santiago over against the cage.
McElroy lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Santiago tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. McElroy smiles and moves away.
Griffin McElroy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcelo Santiago.
Santiago shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. McElroy defends it nicely.
Horrible takedown attempt by Santiago or perhaps it was just good defense by McElroy, which made it look bad.
McElroy fails in his attempt to clinch.
Santiago avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Santiago gets tackled into the cage by McElroy. McElroy maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Santiago has a couple of punches blocked by McElroy.
Santiago jumps guard but McElroy turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Santiago jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as McElroy walks away with a smile on his face. Santiago gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
McElroy wants to clinch up but Santiago keeps it at a distance.

Santiago gets tackled into the cage by McElroy. McElroy maintains the clinch.
Santiago is looking for a takedown.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Santiago creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
McElroy swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Santiago fails to pull the fight into his guard.
McElroy misses with a body punch.
Santiago tries to pull guard but McElroy holds him up against the cage and eventually Santiago drops back down to his feet.
McElroy misses with a punch to the body.
Santiago prevents a body shot from McElroy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McElroy tries to throw a body punch but Santiago avoids it by throwing McElroy back against the cage.
McElroy lands a body punch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from McElroy.
Santiago drops to a knee looking for a takedown but McElroy gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McElroy misses with the head strike.
Santiago lands a right hand that snaps the head of McElroy backwards.

Santiago gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, McElroy regains guard.

Santiago postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! McElroy is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Santiago, into his guard.

McElroy's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Santiago working for a triangle but McElroy defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McElroy 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.

Santiago is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
McElroy throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Griffin McElroy dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

McElroy looks to clinch
and Santiago counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Griffin McElroy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McElroy is looking to clinch.
And Santiago tries to counter it with a takedown but McElroy pushes his down on his head and steps out.
McElroy fails with an attempt to clinch.
McElroy tries to close the distance and clinch up but Santiago swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McElroy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santiago paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Santiago tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
McElroy tries to clinch there but Santiago circles away.
Santiago swats away the attempt to clinch by McElroy.
Santiago tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santiago circles away from the clinch attempt.
It seemed like Santiago was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
McElroy looks to clinch
and Santiago counters with a straight right hand.
Santiago shoots in for a takedown but McElroy shows good takedown defense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McElroy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santiago paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McElroy leaves Santiago with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Santiago circles away from the clinch attempt.
Marcelo Santiago seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McElroy tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Santiago counters with a nice uppercut.
McElroy tries to clinch but Santiago is having none of it.
Santiago changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
McElroy wants to clinch up but Santiago keeps it at a distance.
McElroy tries to clinch but Santiago moves away
and Santiago counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McElroy tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Santiago counters with a left to the body.
McElroy tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Santiago manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Santiago decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
McElroy tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Santiago manages to move to mount!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santiago looking to control but McElroy is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McElroy is trying to stand up.
Santiago misses with a head shot.
McElroy is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
McElroy holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Santiago tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Santiago working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McElroy avoids a series of strikes thrown by Santiago.
You get the feeling that McElroy really doesn't like being in this position too much.

McElroy wants to get back to his feet but in bucking up he's left an arm hanging out! Santiago has locked onto it and has pulled off a slick armbar! McElroy taps furiously! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Marcelo Santiago!