PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joao Santos (ranked 3011 p4p, 2657 weight class) and Petchuangtong Sitsongrit (ranked 304 p4p, 273 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Petchuangtong Sitsongrit was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Santos
vs
Sitsongrit

180 cm
19
165
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
20
155
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conquest Nutrition™ (160Q) $97

NARCOS
Pulling Guard

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Joao Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Petchuangtong Sitsongrit!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Damien Edna and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos is looking to clinch but Sitsongrit is avoiding it.
Santos misses with a hook. Sitsongrit ducked under it nicely.
Santos misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sitsongrit.
Sitsongrit tries a quick counter leg kick but Santos is wise to it.
Santos definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Santos scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sitsongrit in his tracks.
Santos ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sitsongrit moves away.
Santos throws the left hand but Sitsongrit avoids the punch easily.
Sitsongrit now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Santos tries for a takedown but Sitsongrit circles away easily
and Sitsongrit counters with a left to the body.

Santos rushes Sitsongrit and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Santos fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joao Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sitsongrit throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Santos has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Sitsongrit is trying to keep an underhook but Santos manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Sitsongrit is holding on to half guard well.
Sitsongrit is not content to let Santos control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sitsongrit regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Santos.

Santos drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sitsongrit manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Santos has Sitsongrit in his guard.

Santos is pulling down on Sitsongrit's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Santos continues to stall.
Santos lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sitsongrit being controlled here, momentarily.
Sitsongrit looking to hit a scissor sweep but Santos is one step ahead there.
Santos throws an elbow that misses. Sitsongrit uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Santos's guard. Nice move by Sitsongrit!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santos is looking for a triangle here but Sitsongrit uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Santos sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Sitsongrit stalling.
Santos trying to control but Sitsongrit postures up.

That's four 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.
Sitsongrit prevents Santos from improving his position.
Santos wants to control but Sitsongrit is keeping busy.
Santos has his hands clasped together around Sitsongrit's back. He's all about the action.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Santos punching from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joao Santos will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Santos keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sitsongrit.
Santos lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Santos tries for a takedown but Sitsongrit circles away easily
and Sitsongrit counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sitsongrit avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sitsongrit misses with a leg kick

and Santos counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Santos trying to control but Sitsongrit is working from the bottom.
Santos showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sitsongrit preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Santos accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Sitsongrit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santos content to stall in guard here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Santos throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Santos misses with a shot to the body
and Sitsongrit counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Santos misses with an uppercut. Sitsongrit saw that one coming.
Sitsongrit flicks out a counter leg kick but Santos steps away.
Santos stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sitsongrit scores with a leg kick.
Santos tries for a takedown but Sitsongrit circles away easily
and Sitsongrit counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Sitsongrit.
Sitsongrit uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Santos.
Santos tries for a takedown but Sitsongrit sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joao Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santos misses with a takedown
and Sitsongrit counters with a head kick.
Sitsongrit moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sitsongrit circles away from the clinch attempt
and Sitsongrit counters with a low kick, right behind Santos 's knee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sitsongrit staying out of range there.
Santos rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Sitsongrit counters with a good low kick that Santos was not able to check.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sitsongrit lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Santos.
Sitsongrit swings wildly with an uppercut but Santos uses good head movement to avoid it.
Santos tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sitsongrit's elbow.
Sitsongrit lands with a right to the head.
Santos tries for a takedown but Sitsongrit manages to get underhooks.
Sitsongrit prevents the takedown attempt.
Santos tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sitsongrit lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short right from Sitsongrit on the inside.
Sitsongrit cracks Santos with a nice body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Santos is looking for a takedown.
Santos tries to pull guard but Sitsongrit holds him up against the cage and eventually Santos drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sitsongrit pushes Santos back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sitsongrit lands an uppercut.
Sitsongrit lands a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Santos is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sitsongrit to keep the fight standing.
Sitsongrit blocks a body shot from Santos.
Santos blocks an uppercut.
Santos goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sitsongrit cracks Santos with a nice body shot.
Sitsongrit lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sitsongrit has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Santos tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Santos misses with some punches.
Santos blocking some punches.
A right hook to the body lands for Sitsongrit.
Sitsongrit lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Santos backwards.
Sitsongrit working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Santos.
Sitsongrit makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sitsongrit lands a right hand that snaps the head of Santos backwards.
Santos tries to pull guard but Sitsongrit won't allow it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Petchuangtong Sitsongrit showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sitsongrit clinches.
Santos can't get the takedown.
Santos wants to take the fight to the mat but Sitsongrit manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Sitsongrit lands an uppercut.
Sitsongrit lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Santos blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Santos throws a punch but it's blocked by Sitsongrit.

Santos wants the takedown. Sitsongrit is fighting it off but Santos persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Sitsongrit's guard against the cage.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Sitsongrit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sitsongrit pulls Santos in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sitsongrit is keeping the position for now.
Sitsongrit avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos postures up in Sitsongrit's guard and throws a big left but Sitsongrit blocks it.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Sitsongrit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Santos accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Petchuangtong Sitsongrit seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Santos darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Joao Santos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Santos throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Sitsongrit to regain full guard.
Santos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sitsongrit swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Sitsongrit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santos throws a strike but Sitsongrit rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santos seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Santos thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

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

Santos is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sitsongrit defends well.
Santos has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Santos is looking for a triangle but Sitsongrit pushes his legs off easily.
Santos controlling the position.
Santos looking to control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Santos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sitsongrit is one step ahead there.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sitsongrit ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sitsongrit lands a jab to the nose.

It looks like Joao Santos has been cut.
Joao Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santos uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Sitsongrit feints and then cracks Santos's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Santos down.
Santos misses with an uppercut
and Santos takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Santos swings widly with a right hand
and Sitsongrit counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Santos gets tackled into the cage by Sitsongrit. Sitsongrit maintains the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Sitsongrit.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Santos tries to work over Sitsongrit's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Santos's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Santos is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sitsongrit is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joao Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santos is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sitsongrit to keep the fight standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sitsongrit prevents a takedown attempt there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Petchuangtong Sitsongrit comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sitsongrit 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Petchuangtong Sitsongrit!
A very excited looking Petchuangtong Sitsongrit made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.