PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between CJ Tripp (ranked 1059 p4p, 1334 weight class) and Uniesky Santaban (ranked 172 p4p, 207 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.

Tripp
vs
Santaban

189 cm
32
174
13 - 7 - 0

195 cm
26
182
11 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Fenrir Fightgear - Anno 2013
Concrete Clothing (Laundry Re Stock Coming Soon)

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 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, CJ Tripp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Uniesky Santaban!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Santaban, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tripp misses with a hook. Santaban ducked under it nicely.
Santaban swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Santaban throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Tripp to counter with a crisp jab.
Santaban throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Santaban misses with a low kick.
Tripp throws a series of punches but Santaban moves out of range.
Santaban swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Santaban takes a jab right on the kisser.
Tripp connects with a nice looking jab.
Santaban smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

It looks like CJ Tripp has been cut.
Tripp misses with a head kick.
Santaban swings for the body but Tripp moves out of range.
Tripp lands with a nice body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tripp throws a big shot that misses.
Santaban throws out a counter right but Tripp avoids it with no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santaban has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Tripp.
Santaban has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Santaban steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tripp.
Tripp misses with a few strikes there.
Santaban digs a good body shot into Tripp's ribs.
Tripp connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A slapping body kick lands there for Tripp.
Tripp bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Santaban throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Santaban avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tripp throws a push kick but Santaban slaps the foot to one side.
Santaban just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Santaban, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tripp lands with a good body shot.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A jab from Tripp misses.
Santaban is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Tripp ducks under a wild hook from Santaban.
CJ Tripp seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tripp fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Santaban.
Tripp throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Santaban moves out of range of the body kick.
A combination from Tripp does no damage.
Santaban's jab looks to have found its range, popping Tripp under the eye.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Santaban.
Tripp circles away from the clinch attempt
and Tripp counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tripp getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Tripp cracks Santaban with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Santaban connects with a crisp jab.
Tripp swats away the attempt to clinch by Santaban.
Tripp looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Santaban is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
That kick from Tripp tenderised Santaban's leg. Santaban is trying to keep his angry face on.
Tripp takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Tripp lands a leg kick that knocks Santaban off balance momentarily.
Santaban tries to clinch there but Tripp circles away.
Tripp swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santaban blocks a jab.
Santaban is trying to counter with his kicks.
Tripp lands a nice looking body kick.
Santaban slips under a jab.
Tripp changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Santaban fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santaban on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tripp. Tripp obviously looking to wear him down.
Tripp tries to land a front kick but Santaban steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A nice leg kick from Tripp, right into the meat of the thigh.
Santaban throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Tripp cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tripp throws a half hearted mid kick.
Tripp throws a leg kick but Santaban checks it.
Santaban looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Tripp throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Santaban sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A nice side step and Santaban releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

CJ Tripp dominated that round.
The cut man is working on CJ Tripp's cut.
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.

Tripp avoids the head kick by Santaban.
Santaban misses with a hook.
Santaban takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A jab from Tripp does it's job there.
Tripp moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tripp keeps the fight on the outside.
Santaban takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Santaban throws a shot from downtown. Tripp moves away and avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tripp connects with a leg kick.
Tripp throws a lazy head kick
and Santaban counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Santaban throws a hook to the side of Tripp's head but Tripp sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A jab from Santaban does it's job there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santaban changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Tripp throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Santaban might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Tripp has got the better of the exchanges.
Santaban lands a glancing blow to the side of Tripp's head.
Sloppy strikes from Tripp. Those never looked like landing.
Santaban swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Tripp looks to score with a jab to the body but Santaban is just out of range.
Santaban throws a shot from downtown. Tripp moves away and avoids it.
Tripp lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Santaban's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tripp.
Tripp connects with the punch.
Tripp looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A cross from Tripp lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tripp on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tripp showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Santaban.
Tripp takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Santaban gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Santaban breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tripp lands a jab to the head.
Uniesky Santaban is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Santaban drives through and clinches with Tripp against the cage.
Tripp misses with some punches.
Santaban goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tripp throws a head punch that misses.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tripp getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Tripp scores with a jab to the head.
Tripp throws a wild body kick that Santaban sees coming a mile off.
Tripp on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Santaban throws a low kick but Tripp moves out of range easily.
Tripp lands with a good body shot.
Tripp connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Santaban momentarily.
Tripp with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A clash of legs there as Santaban blocks the low kick.
Santaban scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Tripp moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Tripp plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Tripp is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Santaban can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tripp swings widly with a right hand
and Santaban connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

CJ Tripp's cut is getting worse.
Tripp looks to land a body kick but Santaban moved away.
Tripp throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Santaban counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Santaban missing with a left hand there. Tripp was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tripp waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Santaban.
Santaban looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Tripp throws a head kick that misses
and Santaban counters with a left to the body.
Tripp lands with a kick to the ribs.
Tripp throws a right and a left that Santaban avoids nicely.
Tripp lands a slapping body shot.
CJ Tripp is winning the standup battle so far.
Tripp connects with a leg kick.
Tripp throws a shot from downtown. Santaban moves away and avoids it.
It seemed like Santaban was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that CJ Tripp will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on CJ Tripp's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Tripp avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tripp looks to land a left hand but Santaban moved out of range nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Santaban has had enough of the clinch but Tripp keeps him there for the moment.
Santaban is trying to push Tripp away but Tripp has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Santaban is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Tripp to keep the fight standing.
Still in the clinch, Tripp scores with a nice short uppercut.
Santaban fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santaban wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tripp has him pressed against the cage.

Santaban breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tripp keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Tripp connects with a single shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tripp blocks a jab.
Santaban sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Santaban throws a combination. Tripp tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Tripp scores with a nice body kick.
Tripp looks to score with a jab to the body but Santaban is just out of range.
Tripp lands a nice looking body shot.
Tripp bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Tripp listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Santaban throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tripp tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tripp throws a head kick that Santaban semi-blocks.

Santaban is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Santaban throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tripp.
Santaban is still on wobbly legs! Can Tripp finish him?
Tripp connects with a solid leg kick.
Santaban seems to have recovered his senses.
Tripp misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Santaban.
Despite the aggression on Santaban's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
A low kick lands for Tripp.
Tripp lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Tripp throws a big shot that misses.
Santaban misses with a wild body shot.
Tripp jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Tripp misses with a kick to the body
and Santaban connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Santaban tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tripp swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Santaban moves out of range of the body kick from Tripp.
Tripp takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Santaban connects with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tripp lands a nice looking body kick.
Tripp fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Tripp.
Tripp throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Santaban takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Santaban is looking to clinch.
Donk. Tripp catches Santaban right on the button with a cross.
Tripp throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Santaban tries to clinch there but Tripp circles away.
Tripp fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Tripp throws a leg kick

and Santaban counters with a takedown into side control.

Tripp throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Uniesky Santaban has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
CJ Tripp is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tripp tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Santaban is able to avoid easily.
Tripp scores with a crisp jab that stopped Santaban in his tracks.
Tripp scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Santaban takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Santaban pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tripp throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Tripp jabs at Santaban's body.
Tripp delivers a nice body kick.
Santaban walks forward, straight into a front kick from Tripp.

And that's the end of the fight!
CJ Tripp showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tripp, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... CJ Tripp!
After winning the bout, CJ Tripp thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.