PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jorge Santos (ranked 2070 p4p, 274 weight class) and Ash Catchum (ranked 2948 p4p, 364 weight class). Jorge Santos had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Santos
vs
Catchum

188 cm
25
204 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

185 cm
25
190 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jorge Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ash Catchum!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yuuki Gou and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos misses with a combination
and Catchum counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Santos swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A punch combination from Santos misses.
Santos scoring well with a low kick there.
Catchum throws a shot to the body.
Catchum lands with a right hand.
Catchum misses with a looping left.
Catchum misses with a straight right.
A jab lands there for Catchum.

It looks like Jorge Santos has been cut.
Some wild striking there from Catchum.
Catchum takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santos fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Catchum on the side of the head.
Catchum scores with a hook to the body. Santos takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Santos works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Catchum keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Santos.
No joy there for Catchum, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Santos throws a big shot that misses.
Catchum lands a jab to the head.
Santos takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Catchum scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Santos doesn't seem bothered though.
Ash Catchum is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Catchum wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Catchum throws a right hand that misses

and Santos counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Santos is trying to control the action in half guard but Catchum is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santos perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santos not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Catchum keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Santos working over Catchum with some ground and pound. Catchum looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Catchum regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Santos.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Santos's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Santos wants to control from the top but Catchum keeps moving.
Santos postures up and lands a big shot to Catchum's brow.

Santos is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Santos controlling from the top position.
Catchum pulls Santos in close to his closed guard and prevents Santos from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos wants to control from the top but Catchum keeps moving.
Santos is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Catchum is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Catchum working a defensive guard but Santos passes into half guard.
Santos is looking to pass Catchum's guard but actually Catchum recovers to full guard.
Santos wants to pass the guard but Catchum is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Catchum can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Santos controls the pace.
Catchum preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Santos postures up in Catchum's guard and throws a big left but Catchum blocks it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Santos misses with a left hand
and Catchum counters with a straight right hand.
Santos throws a shot from downtown. Catchum moves away and avoids it.
Catchum misses with a body shot.
Santos ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Santos throws a chopping leg kick but Catchum manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Santos takes a jab right on the kisser.
Santos throws a right and a left that both miss.
Santos keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ash Catchum will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jorge Santos's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Catchum throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A combination from Catchum does no damage.
Santos ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Santos fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Catchum avoids it really well and circles away.
Catchum avoids the head kick by Santos.
A little jabbing left from Catchum on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Catchum misses with an uppercut. Santos saw that one coming.
Ash Catchum seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Catchum throws a right and a left that Santos avoids nicely.
Santos closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Catchum slips under a jab from Santos.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos slips a straight right by Catchum.
Catchum takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Catchum closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Catchum tries a body shot but Santos blocks it.
Santos working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos misses with a hook to the ribs.
Santos has a couple of punches blocked by Catchum.
Catchum misses with the head strike.
Catchum misses with a hook from the clinch.
Santos controlling the action here for a moment.

Santos lands a takedown into guard.
Catchum wants to hit a switch here but Santos passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Catchum there!

Santos goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Catchum is on top in guard.

Santos working for submissions but it's allowed Catchum to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos is positioning himself well to prevent Catchum advancing to mount.
Santos is trying to maintain the position but Catchum is very close to passing his half guard.
Santos is controlling Catchum's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Santos is looking to control Catchum's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Santos avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Santos has his hands clasped together around Catchum's back. He's all about the action.
Santos wants to control but Catchum is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Catchum prevents Santos from improving his position.
Jorge Santos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Santos is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Santos trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Catchum manages to pass to mount!
Catchum is stalling here but it's allowed Santos to get half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santos works his way to full guard. Good work.
Santos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Catchum is one step ahead there.
Catchum being controlled here momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Santos wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ash Catchum will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jorge Santos's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Santos keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Catchum.
Santos tries to score with a low kick but Catchum moves his leg out of the way.
Santos shoots for a takedown but Catchum saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Catchum closes the distance and pushes Santos back into the cage.
Catchum is working Santos over against the cage.
Catchum swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Santos has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Catchum regains guard immediately.
Santos is in close to Catchum's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Santos wants to control from the top but Catchum keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Catchum seems keen to control Santos's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Santos wants to control from the top but Catchum keeps moving.
Catchum working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Santos.
Santos trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Santos wants to pass the guard but Catchum is keeping the position.
Catchum pulls Santos in close to his closed guard and prevents Santos from doing any damage or advancing position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Catchum throws a one two combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Catchum tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Santos was well out of range. Poor timing from Catchum.
A swing and a miss from Catchum.
Santos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Santos misses with a body kick.
Catchum throws out a counter right but Santos avoids it with no problem.
Catchum fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Santos looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Catchum connects with a single shot there.
Catchum is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Santos takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Santos misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Catchum to counter with a crisp jab.
Santos lands the left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Catchum has managed to clinch.
Catchum working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Catchum.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos lands a hook that snaps the head of Catchum backwards.
Santos stalling in the clinch but Catchum improves position.
Santos blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Santos has Catchum pressed against the cage.
Santos has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Santos throws a punch but it's blocked by Catchum.
Santos wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jorge Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santos blocks an uppercut.
Catchum throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Santoss head.
Catchum blocks an uppercut.
Catchum working aggressively here.
Catchum misses with a body punch.
Catchum tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Catchum fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ash Catchum is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos misses with a punch on the inside.
Santos lands with a left to the head.
Santos is looking for a takedown.
Catchum works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Santos is trying to force a seperation but Catchum has the dominant position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Catchum.
Catchum misses with some punches.
Catchum has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Santos seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Catchum can turn it around.
Santos jumps guard but Catchum turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Santos lands a shoulder strike.
Santos misses with the head strike.
Jorge Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Santos fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Santos has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Catchum is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ash Catchum comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Catchum winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ash Catchum!
During a confident post fight interview, Ash Catchum thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.