PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Derrick Santana (ranked 6417 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Smith (ranked 6395 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Sweet Emotion. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Santana
vs
Smith

196 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Derrick Santana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Smith!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Alec Ball and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Santana shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Santana showed some decent athleticism there.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Smith is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Santana's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Santana's back!
Santana tries to escape the position.
Santana covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith connects with a big shot to the side of Santana's head.
Smith trying to control momentarily.
Smith is working the ground and pound. Can Santana escape?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith wants to control but Santana is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
What can Santana do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Smith controlling well, preventing Santana from escaping the position.
Santana is working hard here to advance position.

Smith goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Santana escapes and is now in half guard on top.
Santana controlling the action here.
Santana really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Smith controlling the position well.
Smith wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santana keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Santana not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Santana seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Smith does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Smith gets back to full guard.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Santana is one step ahead there.

Smith is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Santana defends well.
Santana trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith looking to control.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Santana is one step ahead there.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith is pulling down on Santana's head to control his posture.
Santana wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Smith clinches up against the cage.
Smith jumps guard but Santana turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Smith turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Smith tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Santana is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to stand but Santana has his arm trapped.
Santana tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Smith presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Santana reaches up to try and control the position but Smith seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Santana rolls and tries to escape and now Smith has his back!

Santana is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Santana rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Smith dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Smith fails with a takedown attempt.

Santana tries to sprawl but Smith drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Smith drops an elbow to the side of Santana's head.
Smith seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Santana makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Santana.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santana tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Santana preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is pushing down on Santana's leg trying to pass to half guard. Santana is fighting to maintain full guard but Smith has managed to sneak the leg through.
Santana wants to control but Smith is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Smith wants to stand but Santana has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Santana trying to control here.
Santana pushes Smith off looking to stand but Smith dives back in and keeps control.

Smith is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Smith throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two 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.
Smith trying to mount his opponent but Santana defends it.
Smith throws a strike but Santana avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Santana is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith trying to control but Santana is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith shoots for a takedown but Santana saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Santana wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Smith scores with a three punch combo!

Smith changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Santana looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Santana throws Smith to one side and escapes!
Derrick Santana is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Santana.

Smith fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Santana sprawls well initially but Smith persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Santana looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santana is trying to control but can't.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Santana is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Santana slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Santana is keeping the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Santana takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Smith tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Santana defends well and Smith ends up having to push Santana into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Derrick Santana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Smith.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice sprawl there from Santana as Smith shoots in.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Derrick Santana will probably get the nod.
That's time! Santana's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Smith shoots in for a double leg but Santana sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Santana tries to counter with a takedown but Smith is quick to defend against it.
Santana slips a jab and a cross from Smith.
Santana tries to clinch up.
Santana defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smith.

Santana has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
Smith fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Derrick Santana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Smith.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.
Smith fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santana shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Smith is trying to defend but Santana finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Santana is looking for a kimura here.

Santana is trying to work for a kimura but Smith is defending well.

Santana is looking for a kimura but Smith is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Santana to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santana sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Smith defending well though.

Santana is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Smith is just riding it out for now. Santana eventually gives up the hold.
Santana wants to get back to his feet.
Santana trying to control from half guard but Smith is working away.
Santana is just content to waste time from the top position. Smith takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Santana wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smith is trying to control the position but Santana postures up.
Santana postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Smith throws a left and a right that both miss

and Santana moves into the clinch.
Santana jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Smith walks away with a smile on his face. Santana gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sloppy strikes from Smith. Those never looked like landing.

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Smith showed some decent athleticism there.
Santana is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith working the head and body with strikes.
Smith trying to control the action but Santana is working from the bottom.
Smith frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Santana is working to get back to half guard.

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 Derrick Santana.
I think Santana 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 William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Derrick Santana!
The defeated John Smith had this to say: 'I will be back better than ever'.