PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lucas Santana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Murilo Ferreira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Santana
vs
Ferreira

190 cm
18
187 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

188 cm
21
184 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lucas Santana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Murilo Ferreira!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Seu Braga and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ferreira tries to clinch there but Santana circles away.
Ferreira looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Santana moves into the clinch.

Santana pulls guard.
Santana is trying to keep Ferreira in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ferreira won't allow Santana to sweep him here.
Santana is pulling down on Ferreira's head. It's preventing any offense from Ferreira, at least for the moment.
Ferreira sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santana wants to stand up but Ferreira is controlling him.
Santana is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santana postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Ferreira to stand up.
Ferreira shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Santana misses with a takedown

and Ferreira counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ferreira perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ferreira tries to stand and escape but Santana is controlling the position.
Santana is trying to maintain the position but Ferreira is very close to passing his half guard.
Santana is looking to improve his position.
Ferreira trying to control the action but Santana is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santana missing with punches from the bottom.
Santana tries to roll over but Ferreira keeps him under control.
Santana has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ferreira is working away from the top position though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Santana shoots and misses

and Ferreira holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Santana pulls Ferreira into guard.

Santana looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferreira wants to stand but Santana is controlling his posture from full guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Santana manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Ferreira tries to clinch up but Santana circles away and keeps his distance.
Santana misses with a takedown attempt - Ferreira sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucas Santana. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ferreira closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Santana wants a takedown but no success here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ferreira pulls Santana into guard.
Santana being controlled here momentarily.
Ferreira keeping moving, preventing Santana from controlling successfully.
Santana looking to pass the guard.
Santana wants to control from the top but Ferreira keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Murilo Ferreira will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ferreira looks for a takedown but Santana sprawls well.
Santana misses with a takedown

and Ferreira counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ferreira.
Ferreira looking to sit in guard and control but Santana gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ferreira is trying to control the position but Santana postures up.
Santana stopping the sweep attempt from Ferreira.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santana scoring with punches to the head and body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santana slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Santana trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ferreira working a defensive guard here.
Santana trying to control but Ferreira is working from the bottom.
Ferreira controls Santana momentarily but Santana frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Santana shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ferreira but Ferreira pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Santana drives through and clinches with Ferreira against the cage.
Santana tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ferreira smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucas Santana. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ferreira has his takedown stuffed

and Santana counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ferreira!
Ferreira wants to control but Santana is having none of it.
Ferreira is squirming around, avoiding Santana's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana lands a heavy elbow.

Santana swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Ferreira is now in Santana's guard. A big mistake from Santana there, giving up the dominant position!
Santana is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Santana wants to hit a switch here but Ferreira passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Santana there!
Santana keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four 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.
Ferreira looking to control and managing it successfully.
Santana keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ferreira controlling the pace for now.
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 Lucas Santana will probably get the nod.
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!

Santana shoots in and bounces Ferreira off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Santana loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Santana drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ferreira looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ferreira looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ferreira!
Santana tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ferreira wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santana is working hard here to advance position.
Ferreira wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santana keeps working.
Santana being controlled for a moment.
Santana tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ferreira wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ferreira is staying tight to Santana's torso, preventing him from escaping.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Santana doesn't manage to clinch there - Ferreira circles away.
Santana tries to clinch there but Ferreira circles away.
Lucas Santana is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ferreira tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Santana swivels and escapes.
Lucas Santana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santana has his takedown stuffed

and Ferreira counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Santana's guard now.
Santana looking for a sweep. Not yet Santana, not yet.

Ferreira stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Santana fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana has his takedown stuffed

and Ferreira counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Santana's guard now.
Santana tries to strike from the bottom.

Santana working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ferreira doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ferreira manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ferreira controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Santana trying to strike off his back.
Santana is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferreira trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Santana wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Santana leaves Ferreira with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Santana shoots and misses

and Ferreira counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucas Santana. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santana manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Santana won't allow Ferreira to pass to mount.
Ferreira takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ferreira keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Murilo Ferreira comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ferreira 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Murilo Ferreira!