PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Noakes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rui Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Noakes
vs
Santos

179 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 2 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Aaron Noakes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 1, fighting out of London, Rui Santos!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, William Gold and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Noakes checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Noakes connects with a body shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Noakes.
Santos tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Noakes fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Santos to the ground. Noakes is now in Santos's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Noakes stops Santos from standing up.
Noakes slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Noakes prevents Santos from getting back to his feet.
Noakes is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Noakes is fighting to break Santos's control of his arms but Santos is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Aaron Noakes wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Santos shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Noakes shoots in and gets a takedown into Santos's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santos is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Noakes is controlling him.
Santos keeping full guard, as Noakes tries to pass.
Santos tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Noakes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Santos keeping moving, preventing Noakes from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Aaron Noakes just wasn't active enough.
Santos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Noakes swivels and escapes.
Santos looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noakes shoots in looking for a takedown. Santos tries to sprawl out of it but Noakes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Santos manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Noakes with a hook.
Noakes misses with a body kick.
Noakes with a poor takedown
and Santos counters with a nice body kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Noakes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Noakes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Santos pinned against the cage. Santos gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Noakes instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos misses with a knee to the head.
Santos tries to land a knee to the head but Noakes blocks with his arms.
Noakes lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Santos's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Noakes fails to land the takedown.

Santos clinches up against the cage.
Noakes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Santos walks away with a smile on his face. Noakes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Santos tries to clinch there but Noakes circles away.

Noakes darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noakes wants to control but Santos is keeping him busy.
Santos is looking to escape.
Noakes lands strikes from half guard.
Santos is pressing down on Noakes's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Noakes wants to pass the guard but Santos is keeping the position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Santos seems keen to control Noakes's posture.
Noakes working some strikes from top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Noakes passes Santos's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Noakes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santos keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Noakes throws a nice looking combination but Santos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Noakes has a takedown stuffed.
Santos throws a head kick that misses.
Noakes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Santos looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Noakes is fending him off so far but Santos persists. Nope, Noakes circles away and we're back to standing.
Santos lands a head kick!
Noakes slaps away a takedown attempt from Santos, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Santos is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Noakes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Noakes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Noakes shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Santos's guard.
Noakes slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

Santos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Noakes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noakes slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Noakes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santos swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Aaron Noakes.

Noakes closes the distance and clinches.
Noakes tries to pull guard but Santos holds him up against the cage and eventually Noakes drops back down to his feet.
Stalling in the clinch from Noakes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noakes is looking to take this one to the mat.
A nice right hand lands inside from Noakes.

Santos breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Aaron Noakes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Noakes blocks a head kick by Santos.
Noakes with a poor takedown

and Santos counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Noakes fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Santos trying to land knees to the body.
Santos scores with a knee to the head.
Noakes wants to take the fight to the mat but Santos manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Noakes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Santos lands an elbow inside.
Noakes takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos tries to break free but Noakes pushes him back against the cage.
Noakes has Santos pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Santos manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Noakes blocks the elbow strike.

Noakes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Noakes pushes Santos up against the cage in a clinch.
Santos pushes Noakes back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Santos lands a knee to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knees in the clinch landing for Santos.
Santos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Noakes.
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 Aaron Noakes will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Noakes throws a sloppy head kick

and Santos counters by moving into the clinch.
Noakes wants to get back to striking at distance but Santos won't allow it.
Noakes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Santos putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Noakes in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Santos missing with knees to the body.
Santos with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Santos stops a takedown attempt from Noakes.
Santos has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Noakes manages to break the clinch.
Santos motions for Noakes to come forward. Santos throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Noakes misses with a takedown attempt - Santos sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Noakes shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Santos is trying to defend but Noakes finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noakes wants to take a breather but Santos is having none of it.
Santos tries to get to full guard but Noakes has control of the leg.
Noakes is trying to control. Santos wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Santos is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Noakes's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Noakes's back!
Santos wants to control but Noakes is keeping busy.
Noakes trying to control the hands but Santos breaks the grip.
Santos trying to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Noakes wants to escape the position.
Noakes looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Noakes is trying to break free.
Will Santos go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Noakes's body.
Noakes trying to control the action but Santos just sinks the hooks in.
Rui Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Noakes prevents Santos from getting a body triangle.
Noakes rolls, trying to escape but Santos keeps control of the position.
Noakes breaks Santos's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noakes preventing the sweep.

Rui Santos has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Noakes scores with a takedown into Santos's guard.
Noakes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Santos is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Noakes is aware though and is defending well.

Santos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Noakes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Santos wants to stand up but Noakes is controlling him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Noakes makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Aaron Noakes.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Noakes, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Aaron Noakes!