PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raoul Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stev Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raoul Santiago has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Santiago
vs
Armstrong

195 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

189 cm
18
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 New York, Raoul Santiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stev Armstrong!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, David Schapiro and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Santiago changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Armstrong tries to avoid it but Santiago manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Armstrong to the ground. Armstrong escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Santiago looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Armstrong!
Santiago misses with a head shot.

Santiago is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Armstrong can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Armstrong is squirming around, avoiding Santiago's attempts to control the action.
Armstrong holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Santiago tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Armstrong tries to reverse the position but Santiago maintains control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Armstrong has given up his back here.
Armstrong is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Santiago looking for the RNC.
Santiago controlling from the back.
Armstrong rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Armstrong wants to improve his position but Santiago is controlling well.
Santiago is looking to stall here but Armstrong recovers full guard.
Santiago trying to control the position from guard on top but Armstrong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago preventing the sweep.

Armstrong is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Santiago defends well.
Santiago trying to control but Armstrong is working from the bottom.
Santiago stopping the sweep attempt from Armstrong.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Raoul Santiago wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Santiago shoots in looking for a takedown. Armstrong tries to sprawl out of it but Santiago keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Armstrong manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raoul Santiago. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Armstrong tries to keep at a distance but Santiago has taken the fight into the clinch.
Armstrong looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Armstrong has Santiago pushed against the cage.

Armstrong is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Santiago can't fight it off and eventually Armstrong manages to take the fight to the floor. Santiago looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Armstrong tries to stand but Santiago is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Raoul Santiago will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Armstrong throws a nice looking combination but Santiago bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Santiago shoots in and drives through. Armstrong sprawls well.

Armstrong closes the distance and clinches.
Santiago stops a takedown attempt from Armstrong.
Armstrong tries to break the clinch but Santiago is controlling the position.
Santiago tries to score a body lock takedown but Armstrong shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Armstrong has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Santiago avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Santiago stops a takedown attempt from Armstrong.
Raoul Santiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stev Armstrong.
Still in the clinch, Armstrong scores with a nice short uppercut.
Armstrong looking to throw knees to the head but Santiago is blocking nicely.
Armstrong is breathing heavily.
Armstrong looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Santiago pulls guard effortlessly.
Santiago is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Armstrong chips away with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santiago is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Armstrong is aware though and is defending well.
Armstrong won't allow Santiago to sweep him here.
Armstrong throws and elbow that misses. Santiago uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Armstrong's guard. Nice move by Santiago!
Santiago trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Santiago missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago tries to free his leg and advance position but Armstrong is retaining full guard.
Armstrong controls Santiago momentarily but Santiago frees himself.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Stev Armstrong wasn't active enough on the ground.
Santiago throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Armstrong's waist but Armstrong gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Santiago off to one side.
Armstrong tries to bum rush Santiago with a series of wild strikes but Santiago uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Santiago shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Armstrong is trying to defend but Santiago finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santiago seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Armstrong does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Raoul Santiago overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is trying to get back to full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Armstrong can do anything to dispel that myth.
Armstrong moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Armstrong is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Santiago slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Santiago stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Armstrong does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Armstrong is looking to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Armstrong displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Santiago.
Armstrong tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santiago paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Santiago lands a jab.
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 Raoul Santiago 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. This is the final round!

Armstrong throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Santiago tries to clinch but Armstrong moves out of range.
Armstrong throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Santiago.
Armstrong slaps away a takedown attempt from Santiago, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Santiago avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Armstrong tries to clinch up.
Santiago checks a low kick from Armstrong.
No luck for Santiago with that takedown attempt.
Stev Armstrong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santiago lands a head kick. Armstrong smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Armstrong pushes Santiago up against the cage in a clinch.

Santiago's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A slapping leg kick lands for Santiago.

Armstrong rushes Santiago and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Armstrong decides to pull guard.
Santiago pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Armstrong is keeping the position for now.
Armstrong has his hands on Santiago's head, controlling the position.
Santiago loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Stev Armstrong has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Santiago.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raoul Santiago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santiago shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Armstrong has closed the distance and engaged Santiago in a clinch.
Armstrong has Santiago pressed against the cage.

Santiago is trying to trip Armstrong. He has hold of a leg but Armstrong is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Santiago persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Armstrong pushes Santiago off and gets back to his feet.
Santiago misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is looking to clinch.

Armstrong closes the distance and pushes Santiago back into the cage.
Santiago wants a takedown but no success here.
Armstrong lands a shot to the body.
Santiago is looking to control Armstrong's arms but Armstrong gets an underhook and turns him. Now Santiago has his back to the cage.

Armstrong has picked Santiago up - he's going for a ride! Armstrong dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Armstrong is trying to control. Santiago wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Santiago trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong content to control rather than advance.
Armstrong looks to land a strike but Santiago avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Santiago working a defensive guard but Armstrong passes into half guard.
Armstrong seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Santiago does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice strikes from Armstrong there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Santiago looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Santiago is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stev Armstrong comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Santiago has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Raoul Santiago!