PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Kolpakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Santana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Kolpakov might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Alisa - Aerobica. Nikolai Kolpakov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kolpakov
vs
Santana

178 cm
27
150 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

173 cm
20
158 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Kolpakov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Antonio Santana!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksandr Martynov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Santana rushes Kolpakov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Santana.
Santana continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Santana goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kolpakov prevents it.
A frustrated look appears on Kolpakov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Santana works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kolpakov stops a takedown attempt from Santana.
Kolpakov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The referee calls for Santana to work.
Santana keeps control of Kolpakov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kolpakov is trying to break free.
Santana keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kolpakov's efforts to push away.
Santana trying to control the position but instead, Kolpakov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Santana into the cage.

Kolpakov breaks from the clinch.
Santana uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kolpakov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santana gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kolpakov.

Santana rushes Kolpakov and presses him up against the cage.
Santana prevents Kolpakov from breaking the clinch.
Santana pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Santana tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kolpakov avoids it.
Santana misses with a knee to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Kolpakov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kolpakov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Santana throws an elbow but it misses.
Santana throws a knee to the head but misses.

Kolpakov breaks from the clinch.

Santana closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kolpakov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Santana lands a right hand.
Kolpakov is trying to break the clinch but Santana has him pressed against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Santana takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kolpakov misses with a punch to the body.
Santana taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kolpakov has had enough of the clinch but Santana keeps him there for the moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santana keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kolpakov's efforts to push away.
The referee calls for Santana to work.
Santana throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kolpakov blocks it with crossed arms.
Kolpakov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kolpakov is trying to force a seperation but Santana has the dominant position.
Kolpakov working hard to break the clinch.
Kolpakov wants to break free but Santana has control.
Kolpakov is trying to push Santana away but Santana has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Santana taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Santana lands with a light punch inside.
Kolpakov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Santana pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Santana tries to land knees in the clinch but Kolpakov avoids the damage to the body.
Santana is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kolpakov is trying to push Santana away but Santana has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Our sources have told us that Kolpakov has been working on his elbows in the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kolpakov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kolpakov keeps the fight on the outside.
Kolpakov tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Santana is able to avoid easily.
Kolpakov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kolpakov with a nice cross.
Santana uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kolpakov.
Santana looks to land a body kick but Kolpakov moved away.
Kolpakov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kolpakov blocks a head kick by Santana.
Kolpakov punishes Santana's body with a nice straight punch.
Kolpakov missing with a left hand there. Santana was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kolpakov throws a hook but Santana avoids it easily.
Kolpakov throws a looping overhand right but Santana ducks down to avoid it.
Santana slips a jab from Kolpakov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kolpakov thows a body shot but no joy.
Santana scores with a leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kolpakov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kolpakov misses with an uppercut
and Santana counters with a good low kick that Kolpakov was not able to check.
Kolpakov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Santana is looking to land body kicks.
Santana misses with a body kick.
Kolpakov cracks Santana with a right hand to the side of the head.
Santana doesn't manage to clinch there - Kolpakov circles away.
Kolpakov misses with a looping right.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A head kick misses from Santana.
Kolpakov misses the jab.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kolpakov.
Santana slips a jab from Kolpakov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Kolpakov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Good exchange - Kolpakov coming out on top.
Santana throws a big shot that misses.
A slapping body kick lands there for Kolpakov.

Santana fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kolpakov, pushing him back against the cage.
Kolpakov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Santana trying to land knees to the body.
Santana misses with a knee strike.
Santana has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. So far he's outscoring his opponent in the clinch so it seems to have been worthwhile.
Santana has Kolpakov pressed against the cage, preventing Kolpakov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Santana wants a takedown.
Kolpakov is trying to break the clinch but Santana is controlling him.
Kolpakov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Santana has him pressed against the cage.
Kolpakov is trying to break the clinch but Santana is controlling him.
Kolpakov tries to break free but Santana pushes him back against the cage.

Kolpakov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kolpakov tries a head kick but it misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kolpakov. Santana does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kolpakov throws a predictable looking body shot
and Santana counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Kolpakov is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kolpakov throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Kolpakov lands a nice looking body kick.
Santana throws a head kick that half lands.

Santana rushes Kolpakov and presses him up against the cage.
Santana slowing the pace effectively.
Kolpakov blocks a body shot from Santana.
Kolpakov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Santana scores a nice knee to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Kolpakov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Santana is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kolpakov tries to break free but Santana pushes him back against the cage.
Santana lands a knee to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santana lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Santana keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kolpakov's efforts to push away.
Kolpakov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kolpakov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kolpakov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kolpakov working hard to break the clinch.
Kolpakov wants to get back to striking at distance but Santana won't allow it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Santana.
Santana is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kolpakov is defending well for now.
Kolpakov has had enough of the clinch but Santana keeps him there for the moment.
Kolpakov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Santana has Kolpakov pressed against the cage, preventing Kolpakov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kolpakov tries to break free but Santana pushes him back against the cage.
Santana landing knees to the head.
Kolpakov wants to get back to striking at distance but Santana won't allow it.
Santana looking to throw knees to the head but Kolpakov is blocking nicely.
Santana tries to land knees in the clinch but Kolpakov avoids the damage to the body.
Santana tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Santana tries to land knees in the clinch but Kolpakov avoids the damage to the body.
Kolpakov tries to break the clinch but Santana is controlling the position.
Santana stalling the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kolpakov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Santana works on Kolpakov's body with a couple of short punches.
Santana leaning his opponent against the cage.
Santana landing knees to the head.
Santana pressing his opponent against the cage.
Santana lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kolpakov is trying to break free.
Santana utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kolpakov wants to get back to striking at distance but Santana won't allow it.
Santana lands with a light punch inside.
Santana blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kolpakov wants to break free but Santana has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Santana.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
With the fighters up against the cage, Santana throws an elbow but misses.
Santana missing with knees to the body.
Kolpakov is trying to break free.
Kolpakov is trying to break the clinch but Santana is controlling him.
Santana has Kolpakov pushed against the cage.
Santana lands a shoulder strike.
Kolpakov presses Santana against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Santana lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kolpakov stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kolpakov tries to break the clinch but Santana is controlling the position.
Santana effectively controlling the action here.
Santana lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Santana misses with a knee to the head.
Santana keeps control of Kolpakov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kolpakov tries to break free but Santana pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Santana showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kolpakov looks to throw the jab but Santana is out of range.
Santana throws a sloppy head kick and Kolpakov moves out of range easily.
A solid body kick from Santana.
Nikolai Kolpakov is winning the standup battle so far.
Kolpakov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Santana walks into a straight right hand from Kolpakov.
Santana goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Kolpakov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kolpakov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kolpakov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Santana needs to keep his hands up - Kolpakov had a free shot at his head there.
Kolpakov digs a good body shot into Santana's ribs.
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!
A slow jab from Kolpakov misses its intended target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Santana looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kolpakov tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Santana is able to avoid easily.
Kolpakov throws a leg kick but Santana sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Nikolai Kolpakov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Kolpakov misses.
Kolpakov takes a swing at Santana's ribcage but misses.
Kolpakov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Santana manages to avoid it.
Santana slips a straight right by Kolpakov.
Kolpakov throws a lazy right hand but Santana sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Santana avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kolpakov is trying to push Santana away but Santana has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kolpakov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A short uppercut from Santana.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Santana obliges.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kolpakov can't break the clinch.
Kolpakov managing to block the knees to the body from Santana.
Kolpakov tries to break free but Santana pushes him back against the cage.
Kolpakov can't break the clinch.

Kolpakov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kolpakov looks to score with a jab to the body but Santana is just out of range.
Santana misses with a head kick.
Kolpakov blocks a head kick by Santana.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A lazy left from Kolpakov finds it's target.
A swing and a miss from Kolpakov.
Kolpakov misses with an uppercut.
Santana scores with a kick to the midsection.
Kolpakov throws an overhand right that lands on Santana's shoulder, as Santana tries to avoid the shot.
Santana plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kolpakov slips under a jab from Santana.
Kolpakov misses with an uppercut. Santana saw that one coming.
Kolpakov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kolpakov misses with an uppercut.
Nice straight punches there by Kolpakov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kolpakov.
Santana tries to clinch up.
Kolpakov misses with a leg kick.
Santana throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kolpakov misses with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Santana scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Santana is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Kolpakov's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santana decides to stand back up.
Santana sizes up Kolpakov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kolpakov thows a body shot but no joy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santana tries to clinch there but Kolpakov circles away.
Santana cracks the inside of Kolpakov's front leg.

Santana forces Kolpakov back against the cage and clinches.
Santana pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kolpakov is looking to break free of the clinch but Santana has double underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kolpakov tries to break the clinch but Santana is controlling the position.
Santana lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kolpakov tries to break the clinch but Santana is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Antonio Santana just about did enough to take it.
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.

Santana misses with a head kick.
Santana keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kolpakov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Santana checks it well.
Kolpakov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Santana moves away.
Kolpakov takes a swing at Santana's ribcage but misses.
Santana takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Santana thows a body shot but no joy.

Santana takes the fight into the clinch.
Santana looking to slow down the pace here.
Kolpakov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Santana using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kolpakov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Santana leaning against his opponent.
Kolpakov is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kolpakov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kolpakov is trying to break free.
A frustrated look appears on Kolpakov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Santana is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kolpakov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Kolpakov breaks the clinch.
A head kick misses from Santana.
Santana wants to clinch up but Kolpakov keeps it at a distance.
Santana throws a body kick that misses.
Kolpakov keeps the fight on the outside.
Kolpakov misses with a lunging right hand

and Santana counters by clinching up.
Antonio Santana seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Santana keeps control of Kolpakov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Santana connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kolpakov's face.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santana lands a body shot.
Santana lands with a right to the head.
Santana keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kolpakov's efforts to push away.
Kolpakov wants to break free but Santana has control.
Kolpakov is looking to break free of the clinch but Santana has double underhooks.
Kolpakov has had enough of the clinch but Santana keeps him there for the moment.
Kolpakov working hard to break the clinch.
Santana lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kolpakov takes an elbow to the forehead.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kolpakov lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Santana.
Santana keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kolpakov's efforts to push away.
Santana unloads a knee to the mid-section.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Kolpakov is trying to break free.
A knee to the head by Santana.

Kolpakov is rocked!
Nice elbow from Santana.
Oh Kolpakov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kolpakov takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Santana lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Santana lands a good knee to the midsection. Kolpakov won't want to take too many of those.
Good body shot from Santana.
Knees in the clinch landing for Santana.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Santana.
A short uppercut from Santana.
Santana unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kolpakov is looking to break free of the clinch but Santana has double underhooks.
Kolpakov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kolpakov wants to break free but Santana has control.
Santana lands an elbow inside.
Santana lands with a short shot to the head.
Kolpakov tries to break free but Santana pushes him back against the cage.
Nice elbow from Santana.
Santana has the Thai clinch. He lands a big knee to the head that stumbles Kolpakov - he's in trouble! Another big knee to the head from Santana, and another! Kolpakov is out on his feet - the ref jumps in to save him and ends the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). Antonio Santana!
Antonio Santana is the new featherweight champion!
A victorious Antonio Santana thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.