PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Santana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Weaver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that David Weaver was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Santana
vs
Weaver

177 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

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 Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Santana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, David Weaver!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Luis Engracia and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Weaver wants to clinch.

Santana shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Santana was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Santana prevents Weaver from getting the reversal.
Santana looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Santana sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Santana goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Weaver is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Santana escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Weaver gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Weaver trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Santana working for a triangle but Weaver defends it easily.

Santana has his foot on Weaver's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Weaver works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Weaver decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Weaver throws a hook to the side of Santana's head but Santana sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Santana pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Santana shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Weaver pinned against the cage. Weaver gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Weaver has taken the fight to the clinch.

Weaver ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Weaver no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Weaver wants to stand but Santana is controlling the position.
Weaver looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Santana puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weaver is not content to let Santana control the position.

Santana wants to work for an arm triangle but Weaver is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Santana is breathing heavily.
Weaver pushes Santana off looking to stand but Santana dives back in and keeps control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Weaver can do anything to dispel that myth.
Weaver tries to get to full guard but Santana has control of the leg.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Santana shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Weaver as he avoids it easily.
Weaver fails with an attempt to clinch.
Weaver tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Weaver tries a head kick but it misses.
Weaver stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Santana. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A solid body kick from Weaver.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Weaver scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Santana wants to get back to full guard but Weaver has mounted him!

Weaver is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Santana takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

Weaver has taken the fight to the clinch.
Weaver blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Weaver turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Weaver manages to end up in side control.
Santana tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Weaver wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Weaver decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Weaver moves into the clinch.

Weaver manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Santana with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santana trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Weaver has control of Santana's left arm, preventing Santana from doing any damage.

Santana 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.
Weaver wants to stand up but Santana is controlling him.

Weaver uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Santana tries to clinch up
and Weaver counters with a head kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santana with a poor takedown
and Weaver counters with a big head kick but Santana shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Weaver dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Weaver tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santana paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Santana with a poor takedown
and Weaver counters with a head kick. That will keep Santana thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
A thudding body kick lands there by Weaver!
Weaver doesn't manage to clinch there - Santana circles away.
Santana misses with a takedown attempt

and Weaver moves into the clinch.

Weaver decides to pull guard.
Weaver is trying to keep Santana in close.
Weaver wants to get back to his feet but Santana is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Weaver tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Weaver keeping moving, preventing Santana from controlling successfully.
Santana is looking to stand up but Weaver won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santana thows a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Weaver wants to stand but Santana is controlling the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Weaver wants to clinch up but Santana keeps it at a distance.
Weaver shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Santana pinned against the cage. Santana gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Weaver fails with an attempt to clinch.
Weaver fails with an attempt to clinch.

Weaver feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Santana trying to control the position.

Santana working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Weaver doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Weaver manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santana is looking for a triangle but Weaver pushes his legs off easily.

Weaver stands and steps away. Santana gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Weaver turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Santana gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Weaver counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Santana. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santana stops a takedown attempt from Weaver.
Weaver is looking to control Santana's arms but Santana gets an underhook and turns him. Now Weaver has his back to the cage.
Santana tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Santana being controlled against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weaver fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Santana pulls guard successfully.

Weaver gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Weaver throws a sloppy head kick and Santana moves out of range easily.
Santana with a poor takedown

and Weaver counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Weaver wanted to stand there but Santana had control of the position.
Weaver must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Santana looking for subs off his back but Weaver has passed one foot through into half guard.
Santana is looking for a sweep. Weaver is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weaver trying to pass the guard but Santana defending well.
Santana manages to get to full guard.

Santana throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Santana trying to control the position.

Weaver decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Weaver pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Weaver showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Weaver fails with an attempt to clinch.
Santana avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Santana keeps the fight on the outside.
Weaver throws a combination. Santana tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Santana shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Weaver counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Santana!
Weaver landing strikes from the mount and Santana is in trouble!
Santana wants to control but Weaver is having none of it.
Santana can't escape the position.
Weaver trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Weaver takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weaver unloading with bombs!
Santana tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Santana is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Weaver scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Santana?
Santana is trying to escape the mount.
Weaver with shots to the head and body - Santana looks very uncomfortable down there.

Weaver is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Some wild striking there from Weaver.
Weaver lands a nice looking kick to the body. Santana takes a step back to recover.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santana is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Weaver.
Weaver throws a leg kick which misses Santana's front leg but catches the back leg as Santana tries to avoid it.
Weaver scores with a leg kick.
Weaver throws a head kick that half lands.
Santana with a lazy takedown attempt
and Weaver makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Santana with a poor takedown

and Weaver holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Santana. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Weaver pulls Santana into guard.

Santana is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Weaver is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Weaver has escaped and now he's on top!
Weaver trying to control the position from guard on top but Santana is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Weaver avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Weaver with a flurry of punches that miss.

Weaver decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Santana, up you get!
Weaver takes a swing at Santana's ribcage but misses.
Weaver waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Santana.
Weaver jabs at Santana's body.
Santana with a lazy takedown attempt
and Weaver counters with a head kick. That will keep Santana thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Weaver lands a head kick!
Santana shoots and misses
and Weaver connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santana doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Weaver counters with a body kick that stops Santana in his tracks momentarily.
Santana tries for a takedown but Weaver circles away easily
and Weaver counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Santana is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Weaver moves into the clinch successfully.
Weaver fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Santana is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Weaver gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters are battling for position here. Santana manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Santana is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gabriel Santana has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
David Weaver is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Weaver wants to pass the guard but Santana is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Weaver comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Weaver has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Weaver!