PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Eddy Santanna (ranked 4843 p4p, 7855 weight class) and Chris Makoniko (ranked 545 p4p, 0 weight class). Chris Makoniko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Santanna
vs
Makoniko

180 cm
25
170
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
175
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

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 The Island, Eddy Santanna!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Chris Makoniko!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Dirk Anderson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Makoniko gets a takedown into half guard.
Santanna is looking for a sweep. Makoniko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Santanna is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Makoniko pulls his head out easily.
Makoniko is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Santanna tries to roll over but Makoniko keeps him under control.
Makoniko takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Makoniko winds up and cracks Santanna with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Makoniko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Makoniko is just content to waste time from the top position. Santanna takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makoniko looking to pass the guard.
Makoniko distracts Santanna with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Makoniko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Makoniko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Santanna. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makoniko trying to control the position from guard on top but Santanna is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Makoniko lands a couple of digs.
Santanna is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Santanna keeping moving, preventing Makoniko from controlling successfully.
Santanna not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Santanna keeping moving, preventing Makoniko from controlling successfully.
Makoniko sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Santanna's guard.
Makoniko is just content to waste time from the top position. Santanna takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Santanna preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Santanna lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Santanna stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Makoniko swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santanna trying to control but Makoniko is working from the bottom.
Makoniko trying to control the position.

Santanna gets to his feet. Makoniko looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Makoniko takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Makoniko is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Santanna's half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Makoniko wants to control but Santanna is keeping him busy.
Makoniko looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Makoniko trying to control from half guard but Santanna is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makoniko scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Makoniko trying to control from half guard but Santanna is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Makoniko lands a nice short elbow.
Makoniko looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Makoniko wants to control but Santanna is keeping him busy.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Makoniko lands a nice short elbow.
Santanna gets full guard.
Santanna keeping moving, preventing Makoniko from controlling successfully.
Santanna working a defensive guard here.
Makoniko postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makoniko lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Makoniko looking to sit in guard and control but Santanna gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Makoniko trying to keep a closed guard but Santanna is proving a slippery customer.
Santanna pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Makoniko is keeping the position for now.
Makoniko is trying to control the position but Santanna postures up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Makoniko can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Santanna trying to control the position from guard on top but Makoniko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Chris Makoniko will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Makoniko drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Makoniko trying to control the position from guard on top but Santanna is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Makoniko looking to sit in guard and control but Santanna gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Makoniko is trying to keep Santanna in close.
Makoniko wants to improve his position but instead Santanna has moved into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makoniko is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makoniko is trying to get back to full guard.
Makoniko trying to control here.
Santanna trying to control from half guard but Makoniko is working away.
Santanna misses with a head shot. Makoniko uses the momentum to regain guard.
Makoniko trying to keep a closed guard but Santanna is proving a slippery customer.
Santanna working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Santanna postures up.
Santanna is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Santanna trying to control the position from guard on top but Makoniko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Makoniko looking to control but Santanna passes into half guard.
Makoniko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Eddy Santanna overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makoniko wants to control but Santanna passes into side.
Makoniko looking for a sweep but Santanna has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Makoniko tries to hold on but Santanna pushes him away.
Santanna trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Makoniko is trying to escape the mount.
Makoniko is squirming around, avoiding Santanna's attempts to control the action.
Makoniko regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makoniko wants to improve his position but Santanna is controlling well.
Santanna is thwarting Makoniko's attempts to control the position.
Makoniko is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Santanna is staying active.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santanna not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Santanna missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Makoniko wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddy Santanna dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Makoniko closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Makoniko lands in his opponent's guard.
Santanna trying to keep a closed guard but Makoniko is proving a slippery customer.
Makoniko lands a couple of digs.
Makoniko cracks Santanna with a solid left hand.

Santanna escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Makoniko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Makoniko looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makoniko keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Santanna's head.
Santanna working a defensive guard here.
Makoniko is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makoniko lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Makoniko trying to control the position from guard on top but Santanna is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Makoniko looking to sit in guard and control but Santanna gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Makoniko 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.
Santanna landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makoniko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Makoniko wants to control but Santanna passes easily into half guard.
Santanna trying to control the action but Makoniko is working from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Santanna in particular looking to stall.
Makoniko is staying active underneath Santanna, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makoniko wants to control but Santanna passes into side.
Santanna throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Makoniko can't do much from the bottom here.
Santanna is looking to take a break and control but Makoniko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Santanna tries to advance to mount but Makoniko denies him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Santanna throwing strikes but Makoniko manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Makoniko trying to control the action but Santanna is working from the bottom.
Santanna is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Makoniko wants to control but Santanna is keeping him busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Makoniko scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Santanna to see if he's OK.
Makoniko trying to control the action but Santanna is working from the bottom.
Makoniko is working Santanna over with some ground and pound from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Chris Makoniko.
I think Makoniko has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eddy Santanna!
Eddy Santanna made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'I guarantee you'll see me around, I guarantee.'.