PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Francesco Santoro (ranked 5841 p4p, 0 weight class) and Freddy Osman (ranked 5938 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Santoro
vs
Osman

186 cm
25
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 London, Francesco Santoro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Freddy Osman!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Sam Margolis and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Osman gets caught napping as Santoro dives in and scores a takedown. Osman manages to retain guard.
Santoro throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Santoro content to stall in guard here.

Santoro gets to his feet. Osman looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Osman tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Santoro defends well and Osman ends up having to push Santoro into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Santoro has closed the distance and engaged Osman in a clinch.
Osman tries to break free but Santoro pushes him back against the cage.
Santoro tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Osman smiles and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santoro swats away the attempt to clinch by Osman.
Osman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Santoro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A counter left hand to the body from Santoro misses its target.
Santoro looks to land a combination but Osman avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santoro shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Osman manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Osman will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Osman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Osman had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Santoro defends it easily.
Osman is trying to keep Santoro in close.
Osman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Santoro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santoro wants to pass the guard but Osman is keeping the position.
Santoro is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Santoro looking to score a takedown here. Osman is defending well but Santoro drives through and ends up in Osman's guard.
Santoro has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Santoro trying to control but Osman is working from the bottom.
Osman working a defensive guard here.
Santoro showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osman preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Santoro controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Osman working a defensive guard here.
Osman wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Santoro is now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Osman is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Santoro not doing much here.
Osman manages to get to full guard.
Santoro content to stall in guard here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Osman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francesco Santoro dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice sprawl there from Santoro as Osman shoots in.

Santoro gets the takedown into side control.
Santoro gets to mount! Osman was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Santoro looking to control and managing it successfully.
Santoro's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Osman is trying to escape the mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santoro trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santoro controlling his opponent.
Santoro looking to ground and pound but Osman is blocking nicely.
Santoro looking to control and managing it successfully.
Osman is looking to improve his position but Santoro isn't that keen on the idea.
Osman wants to hold on but Santoro pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Santoro controlling the pace for now.
Osman tries to hold on but Santoro pushes him away.

Santoro gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Francesco Santoro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Osman tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Santoro swivels and escapes.

Santoro shoots in and bounces Osman off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Santoro stays in close to Osman's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santoro wants to pass the guard but Osman is keeping the position.
Santoro won't allow Osman to sweep him here.
Santoro sitting in guard here, content to control.
Osman is looking to sweep but instead, Santoro has passed into half guard.
Santoro missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Santoro is pressing down on Osman's thigh, looking to free his foot. Osman is holding on for now.

Osman actively working from the bottom here.
Osman is trying to stand back up but Santoro is controlling him
Santoro seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Osman gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Santoro to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Osman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francesco Santoro dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Osman tries to clinch there but Santoro circles away.
Santoro appears to be looking for a big counter.

Osman gets caught napping as Santoro dives in and scores a takedown. Osman manages to retain guard.
Santoro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Osman can do to turn this around?
Osman is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Santoro is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Osman working for a triangle but Santoro defends it easily.
Osman being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Osman looking for a sweep. Not yet Osman, not yet.
Osman working a defensive guard here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Santoro pushing down on Osman's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Osman is looking for a sweep. Santoro is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Santoro is controlling the pace.
Osman tries to get to full guard but Santoro has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Santoro perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Santoro throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Osman's waist but Osman gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Santoro off to one side.
Osman feints the counter takedown.
Osman is looking to land body kicks.
Santoro keeps the fight on the outside.
Osman shoots in for a double leg but Santoro sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Osman is looking to clinch.
Santoro feints and then cracks Osman's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Osman down.
Santoro displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Osman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Santoro's waist but Santoro gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Osman off to one side.
Francesco Santoro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Freddy Osman.

Osman gets caught napping as Santoro dives in and scores a takedown. Osman manages to retain guard.
Osman wants to get back to his feet but Santoro passes into half guard.

Santoro is looking to advance position but Osman won't allow it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Santoro in particular looking to stall.

Santoro stands up from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santoro throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Osman.

It looks like Freddy Osman has been cut.
Osman with a poor takedown

and Santoro counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Santoro breaks from the clinch.
Osman throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Santoro moves into the clinch.
Osman prevents the takedown attempt.

Santoro manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Osman wants to control from the top but Santoro keeps moving.
Freddy Osman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Francesco Santoro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Osman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francesco Santoro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Santoro 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francesco Santoro!