PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Correa Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keith Horton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Horton has chosen Dire Straits - Walk Of Life as his entrance music. Keith Horton is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Santiago
vs
Horton

190 cm
25
235 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

194 cm
23
280 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Correa Santiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Keith Horton!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Horton paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Santiago tries to close the distance and clinch up but Horton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Santiago is looking to clinch.
Horton misses the shot to the body.
Horton looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Santiago is fending him off so far but Horton persists. Nope, Santiago circles away and we're back to standing.
Santiago closes this distance looking for a takedown but Horton circles away.
Santiago tries to clinch up.
A left and a right from Santiago both land. Nice combination.
Santiago wants to clinch.
Santiago fails with an attempt to clinch.
Santiago wants to clinch.
Santiago moves in looking to clinch but Horton pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Horton darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Horton thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Santiago's head.
Santiago gets full guard.
Horton thows a big elbow that misses.
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.
Santiago looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Santiago has momentary wrist control but Horton slips an elbow through the middle.

Santiago is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Horton is aware though and is defending well.
Horton must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Santiago looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Horton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Horton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Santiago is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Horton defends well.
Santiago is breathing heavily.
Horton trying to control the position from guard on top but Santiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago working a defensive guard here.
Santiago utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Horton trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Santiago manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Santiago stopping the sweep attempt from Horton.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Horton fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Santiago clinches.
Horton wants a takedown.
Correa Santiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keith Horton.
Horton is pressed up against the cage. Santiago has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Horton down to the mat. Horton avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Santiago moves out of range as Horton strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago misses with a takedown attempt

and Horton decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Santiago's guard.
Horton lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Santiago is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Horton passes Santiago's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Horton in particular looking to stall.
Horton working Santiago over with strikes.
Horton working over Santiago with some ground and pound. Santiago looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ground and pound from Horton.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Horton slips a nice elbow through Santiago's hands, connecting with Santiago's forehead.
Santiago is looking to improve his position.

Horton is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Santiago has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horton is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Santiago looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Santiago is trying to get back to full guard.
Horton is trying to control. Santiago wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Santiago manages to get to full guard.
Horton lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Horton dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Horton is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Santiago's half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Horton in particular looking to stall.
Santiago moves into full guard.
Santiago can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Horton controls the pace.

Santiago throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Horton landing some decent shots from guard.
Horton is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Santiago has his foot on Horton's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Horton works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Horton controls the pace.
Horton is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Horton scoring with some ground and pound.

Santiago looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Horton trying to control the position from guard on top but Santiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Horton is working Santiago over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Keith Horton has got the better of the ground game so far.
Santiago can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Horton controls the pace.
Horton scoring with punches to the head and body.
Horton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horton scoring with some ground and pound.
Horton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santiago is keeping the position for now.
Santiago has momentary wrist control but Horton slips an elbow through the middle.

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

Horton drops back looking for a leg! Santiago is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Santiago manages to kick Horton off! Horton jumps back into Santiago's guard.
Horton lands a couple of elbows.
Horton keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Santiago's head.
Santiago looking to hit a scissor sweep but Horton is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Horton got a little sloppy there for a moment and Santiago has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Horton has managed to get both his arms back between Santiago's legs - danger averted.
Horton controls from within his opponent's guard.
Horton wants to pass the guard but Santiago is keeping the position.
Santiago keeping moving, preventing Horton from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Santiago darts in trying to clinch

and Horton counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is trying to keep Horton in close.
Horton content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Santiago keeping moving, preventing Horton from controlling successfully.
Horton working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Santiago's head.
Horton throwing strikes from guard but Santiago blocks nicely.
Santiago tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Horton postures up.
Horton content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Horton bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Santiago trying to remain calm as Horton controls from the top position.
Santiago is not content to let Horton control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Horton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! 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.

Santiago tries to clinch

and Horton counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Santiago!

Horton is working for a guillotine from mount but Santiago frees his head quite easily.
Santiago wants to get back to his feet.
Santiago is looking to improve his position but Horton isn't that keen on the idea.
A nice elbow there by Horton.
Santiago really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Horton dominating with strikes here.
Horton avoids the attempt from Santiago to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Horton landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago taking shots to the head.
Horton lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Horton with a couple of short strikes.
Santiago can't escape the position.
Santiago tries to hold on but Horton postures up.
Santiago is desperately trying to improve his position but Horton has a good base and remains in mount.
Horton looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Santiago wants to hold on but Horton pushes him away.
Santiago is bucking up trying to escape but Horton cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Santiago tries to hold on but Horton pushes him away.
Horton landing punches.
Santiago really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horton takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Horton is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Santiago can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Santiago is desperately trying to improve his position but Horton has a good base and remains in mount.
Horton wants to control the pace but Santiago is squirming around nicely.
Santiago bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Santiago has gone for a leg lock! Horton slips out almost immediately though and dives into Santiago's guard.
Horton is in close to Santiago's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santiago throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Santiago has momentary wrist control but Horton slips an elbow through the middle.
Horton trying to control but Santiago is working from the bottom.

Santiago looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Santiago has momentary wrist control but Horton slips an elbow through the middle.

Horton thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Santiago is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Correa Santiago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Santiago wants to sweep here but Horton controlling him for the moment.
Horton looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Horton trying to control but Santiago is working from the bottom.
Keith Horton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Santiago being controlled here, momentarily.
Horton throwing strikes but missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keith Horton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Horton winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keith Horton!