PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lane Craig (ranked 5035 p4p, 472 weight class) and DJ Santos (ranked 5681 p4p, 487 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Craig
vs
Santos

175 cm
25
166 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Woodshins' Ship

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lane Craig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, DJ Santos!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Columbo Gatti and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos tries to clinch but Craig moves away
and Craig counters with a straight right hand.
Santos wants to clinch but Craig slips to the side
and Craig connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Craig scores with a crisp jab that stopped Santos in his tracks.
A slapping leg kick lands for Craig.
Santos tries to clinch but Craig is having none of it.
Santos takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nice uppercut lands for Craig. That snapped Santos's head back.
Santos closes the distance and clinches up with Craig, looking for a takedown. Santos pushes Craig against the cage but Craig circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Craig misses with a kick to the body

so Santos counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Craig not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Craig is working an open guard so Santos takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Santos uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Craig.
Craig lands with a right hand.
Craig turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Craig definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
A solid leg kick lands there for Santos.
Craig cracks Santos with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craig on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Craig lands a right hook to the body.
Craig stuns Santos with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nice shot lands for Craig.
Santos moves forwards but Craig connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Santos tries to clinch there but Craig circles away.
Santos fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Santos tries to clinch up.
Craig buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Santos gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Santos is working for takedown but Craig is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lane Craig has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of DJ Santos.
Craig lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Craig breaks the clinch.
Santos moves out of range of the body kick.
Santos misses with a takedown attempt
and Craig connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Craig is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Santos looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Craig pinned against the cage. Craig gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lane Craig is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Craig lands the left hand.
Santos blocks a leg kick.

Santos drives through with a takedown into guard.
Craig avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Santos has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Santos throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Craig works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Craig looking for a sweep. Not yet Craig, not yet.
Craig keeping full guard, as Santos tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lane Craig dominated that 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.

Jab from Craig.
DJ Santos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Craig slaps away a takedown attempt from Santos, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Craig throws a leg kick that misses.
Santos closes the distance but Craig moves to the side
and Craig connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Santos fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Craig sprawls well initially but Santos persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Santos prevents Craig from improving his position.
Craig has hold of Santos's hands but Santos slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Craig tries to get to full guard but Santos has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos wants to pass the guard but Craig is defending well.

Santos gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Santos fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Craig tries to keep at a distance but Santos has taken the fight into the clinch.
Craig lands a body punch in the clinch.

Santos escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Craig.
Santos is breathing heavily.
Santos misses with a double jab.
A low kick from Craig misses

and Santos counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Santos.
Santos looking to pass the guard.
Santos throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Craig works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Craig knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Santos on the ground.
Craig controls Santos momentarily but Santos frees himself.

Craig is working an open guard so Santos takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Craig moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

DJ Santos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Santos on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Craig throws out a powerful jab.
Craig lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Santos tries to clinch up but Craig circles away and keeps his distance.
Craig swats away the attempt to clinch by Santos.
Craig misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Santos feints the counter takedown.
Craig's corner calls for a 1-2. Craig obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Santos has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos shoots for a double leg takedown but Craig sprawls well. He's pushed Santos's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jab from Craig.
Santos with a poor takedown
enabling Craig to counter with a crisp jab.
Lane Craig has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of DJ Santos.
Craig throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Santos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd cheers as Craig lands an impressive looking overhand right. Santos doesn't seem phased though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craig jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Craig cracks a nice hook into Santos's ribs.
Santos on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Craig. Craig obviously looking to wear him down.
Craig uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Santos has time to react.
Santos tries to clinch up
and Craig counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Santos is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Santos is rocked!
Today's fight clock is brought to you by... OOOH that's a huge shot by Craig! Santos is in big trouble here - the ref steps in to save him and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Lane Craig!
Lane Craig really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Woodshins' Ship logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.