PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Correa Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James has chosen Rocky Balboa as his entrance music. Correa Santiago could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to John James's chin.

Santiago
vs
James

190 cm
25
235 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

225 cm
18
265 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Correa Santiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, John James!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Chad Campbell and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.
Santiago tries to clinch up.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Santiago.

Santiago takes the fight into the clinch.
James wants to get back to striking at distance but Santiago won't allow it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Santiago.
Santiago's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
James gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Santiago.

Santiago manages to pull guard.
Santiago might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Santiago is looking for a triangle but James pushes his legs off easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Santiago looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
James must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
James wants to stand but Santiago is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James scoring with punches to the head and body.

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

Santiago is looking for a triangle but James pushes his legs off easily.
Santiago has momentary wrist control but James slips an elbow through the middle.
James has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Santiago is proving hard to escape from.
James looks gassed!
James postures up.
Santiago throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

James avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Santiago had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. James defends it easily.

Santiago is looking for a triangle but James pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James postures up in Santiago's guard and throws a big left but Santiago blocks it.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Santiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Santiago is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
James works over Santiago with some ground and pound from guard.
James landing some decent shots from guard.
James postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Santiago has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but James can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
James content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Santiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

James got a little sloppy there for a moment and Santiago has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, James has managed to get both his arms back between Santiago's legs - danger averted.
James postures up in Santiago's guard and throws a big left but Santiago blocks it.
James lands a couple of digs.

Santiago is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
James working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Santiago's head.
James trying to control but Santiago is working from the bottom.
James with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Santiago looking to hit a scissor sweep but James is one step ahead there.
James wants to control from the top but Santiago keeps moving.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
James postures up and lands a big shot to Santiago's brow.

Santiago working for a triangle but James defends it easily.

James thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santiago looking to control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as James accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Santiago is trying to keep James in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Correa Santiago dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Santiago tries to clinch there but James circles away.
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Santiago tries to clinch but James moves out of range.

Santiago clinches up with James and pushes him back against the cage.

Santiago tightens his grip and picks James up, before dumping him to the ground. James manages to land in guard.
Santiago 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.
Santiago stops James from standing up.
Santiago trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James wants to stand up but Santiago is controlling him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago trying to control but James is working from the bottom.

Santiago drops back looking for a leg! James is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and James manages to kick Santiago off! Santiago jumps back into James's guard.
Santiago pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. James is keeping the position for now.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
James throws a nice looking combination but Santiago bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Santiago keeps the fight on the outside.
James misses with a two punch combination.
Santiago throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Santiago wants to clinch.
James throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Santiago counters by clinching up.
Santiago is working for takedown but James is calmly controlling the position for now.
Santiago misses with a knee strike.
James is trying to break the clinch but Santiago has him pressed against the cage.
Santiago scores with a shot to the side of James's head.
Santiago wants a takedown but no success here.
James has Santiago pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Santiago manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Santiago fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Correa Santiago. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Santiago.
Santiago fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Santiago is looking to control James's arms but James gets an underhook and turns him. Now Santiago has his back to the cage.
James goes for a takedown in the clinch but Santiago prevents it.
Santiago misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from James.
Santiago is trying to stall.
James tries to break the clinch but Santiago is controlling the position.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Santiago just misses with a elbow thrown towards James's brow.
Santiago has James pressed against the cage, preventing James from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
James working hard to break the clinch.
Santiago drops to a knee looking for a takedown but James gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
James wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Santiago has him pressed against the cage.
Santiago is pressed up against the cage. James has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Santiago down to the mat. Santiago avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Santiago shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. James is trying to defend but Santiago finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Santiago trying to control the action but James is working from the bottom.

Santiago is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, James has managed to free his arm - good work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Santiago is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, James has managed to free his arm - good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Correa Santiago dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

James chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Santiago can pounce on him.
James is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Santiago tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Santiago rushes James and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Santiago lands a knee to the head.
James avoids a wild elbow strike from Santiago.
Santiago is working for takedown but James is calmly controlling the position for now.

Santiago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Some wild striking there from James.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santiago wants to clinch.
Santiago tries to clinch but fails miserably
and James counters with a nice uppercut.
Santiago moves in looking to clinch but James pushes him off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Santiago scores with a crisp jab that stopped James in his tracks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James misses the shot to the body.

Santiago closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Santiago is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. James knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Santiago tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Santiago has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Santiago is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to buck Santiago off.
Santiago advances to mount.
James is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

James defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Santiago.
Santiago looking to finish with strikes here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santiago swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and James is now in Santiago's guard. A big mistake from Santiago there, giving up the dominant position!

Santiago throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
James stopping the sweep attempt from Santiago.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Santiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Santiago is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and James defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

James drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and James jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Santiago utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
James postures up in Santiago's guard and throws a big left but Santiago blocks it.

Santiago had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. James defends it easily.
James trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
John James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James throws a big right hand that misses.
Santiago working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from James.

Santiago is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! James rolls with it to try and escape but Santiago cranks on the arm and James is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Correa Santiago!