PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lacasa Palau (ranked 5391 p4p, 5597 weight class) and Vitorio Santos (ranked 617 p4p, 633 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Palau
vs
Santos

183 cm
18
185
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
185
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Lacasa Palau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vitorio Santos!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Palau changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Santos looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Santos can't do much from the bottom here.
Santos tries to bench press Palau off him but Palau keeps the position.
Santos is still trying to improve position.
Palau wants to stand but Santos is controlling his arm.
Santos is trying to control Palau's posture but Palau avoids it.
Palau misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Santos manages to get back to half guard.

Santos looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Palau with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos missing with punches from the bottom.
Palau wants to pass the guard but Santos is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santos is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Palau pulls his head out easily.
Santos trying to control but Palau postures up.
Santos moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Santos keeping moving, preventing Palau from controlling successfully.
Palau trying to stand up but can't free himself from Santos's guard.
Santos throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Palau is pushing down on Santos's leg trying to pass to half guard. Santos is fighting to maintain full guard but Palau has managed to sneak the leg through.
Palau knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Santos on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Santos wants to get back to full guard.

Santos looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palau not doing much here.

Santos actively working from the bottom here.
Palau content to control rather than advance.
Palau looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Santos looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Palau is trying to work for a kimura but Santos is defending well.

Santos actively working from the bottom here.
Palau is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Santos reverses the position - he's now on top in Palau's guard.
Palau trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Santos wants to stand and escape but instead Palau has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Santos is looking for a triangle but Palau pushes his legs off easily.

Santos escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Palau gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Palau drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Palau jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palau would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Santos being controlled here, momentarily.

Santos is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Palau advances to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Palau tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Santos tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Santos looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lacasa Palau dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Santos is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Palau's half guard.

Santos is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Palau is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Santos is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Santos is working for a submission of some sort.
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.
Palau slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Palau throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Palau is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Lacasa Palau overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Palau keeping moving, preventing Santos from controlling successfully.

Palau is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Santos is aware though and is defending well.
Palau lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Palau looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santos had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Palau defends it easily.

Palau got a little sloppy there for a moment and Santos has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Palau has managed to get both his arms back between Santos's legs - danger averted.
Palau throwing strikes but missing.

Santos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Palau seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Santos is looking for a triangle but Palau pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Palau avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Palau stands and throws Santos's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Santos is trying to improve his position.
Santos manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Santos is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Santos is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Palau sees it coming and defends easily.
Palau wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santos is looking for a kimura but Palau is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Santos to get the leverage.

Santos is looking for a kimura but Palau is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Santos to get the leverage.
Palau trying to hold on to Santos's head to control him but Santos postures up.
Palau makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Palau.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Santos accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Palau is looking for a triangle but Santos pushes his legs off easily.
Santos tries to free his leg and advance position but Palau is retaining full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Palau looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Santos postures up in Palau's guard and throws a big left but Palau blocks it.

Santos avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Vitorio Santos will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Palau fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Santos sprawls well initially but Palau persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Well, if Palau is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Santos looking for submissions off his back.
Palau throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Santos is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Palau pulls his head out easily.
Palau is trying to control the action in half guard but Santos is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos wants to get back to his feet.
Palau prevents Santos from improving his position.
Well, if Palau is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Palau throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Palau slows the pace down in half guard.
Santos avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Palau.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Santos trying to control from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Palau 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.
Palau looking to pass the guard.
Palau is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Santos can do to turn this around?
Palau stays in close to Santos's body and controls the position.
Palau throws a big elbow that misses.

Palau has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Santos to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Palau is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Santos pulls down on the head and he's put Palau to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Vitorio Santos!
Vitorio Santos seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.