PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Oleksandr Petronovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bronn Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bronn Santos has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Petronovich
vs
Santos

175 cm
26
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

183 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Oleksandr Petronovich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bronn Santos!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Illya Tyunina and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Petronovich misses with a jab, cross combination.
Santos fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Petronovich takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Santos tries to clinch

and Petronovich counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Petronovich.

Petronovich gets control of Santos's arms and successfully pulls guard. Petronovich will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Santos trying to control but Petronovich is working from the bottom.
Santos pushes down on Petronovich's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Santos is looking to take a break and control but Petronovich is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Petronovich slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Santos looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petronovich is looking to stand up but Santos isn't so interested in that idea.
Petronovich tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Petronovich is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Santos presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Santos has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Santos wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Petronovich has him pressed against the cage.

Petronovich has Santos pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Petronovich pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Santos tumbling to the mat - Petronovich dives into Santos's guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santos working for a triangle but Petronovich defends it easily.
Petronovich stands and throws Santos's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Petronovich controlling the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Petronovich wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Santos, who protects the arm well.

Petronovich stands up and beckons Santos to his feet.

Petronovich darts in and clinches Santos up against the cage.

Petronovich escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Santos darts in trying to clinch
and Petronovich counters with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Santos, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Santos looks winded!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Petronovich 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. Petronovich gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Petronovich darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Santos is trying to stand back up but Petronovich is controlling him
Petronovich takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santos wants to get back to his feet.

Petronovich is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Santos is just riding it out for now. Petronovich eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oleksandr Petronovich dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Petronovich lands a high kick!
Santos tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Petronovich manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Petronovich misses with a takedown
and Santos counters with a stiff right hand.

Petronovich drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Petronovich controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Petronovich keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Santos's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos keeping full guard, as Petronovich tries to pass.
Petronovich showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Oleksandr Petronovich wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Santos misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petronovich goes for a double leg but Santos avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Santos continues to drive forward.

Petronovich is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Santos can't fight it off and eventually Petronovich manages to take the fight to the floor. Santos looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Santos is breathing heavily.

Santos is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Petronovich is aware though and is defending well.
Petronovich controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Petronovich landing some decent shots from guard.
Petronovich cracks Santos with a solid left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Petronovich works over Santos with some ground and pound from guard.
Petronovich has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Petronovich stays in close to Santos's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santos working for a triangle but Petronovich defends it easily.
Petronovich passes Santos's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Petronovich content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petronovich has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Petronovich stands up out of the half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santos misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oleksandr Petronovich dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes 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.

Sloppy strikes from Petronovich. Those never looked like landing.
No joy there for Petronovich, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Santos gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Santos is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Petronovich is controlling him.
Petronovich throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Petronovich pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santos is keeping the position for now.
Santos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Santos looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Santos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petronovich is working Santos over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Petronovich 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.
Petronovich postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Petronovich controls from within his opponent's guard.
Petronovich is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Santos can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Oleksandr Petronovich wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Petronovich closes the distance and clinches.

Petronovich pulls guard.

Petronovich is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Oleksandr Petronovich overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Petronovich pulls Santos in close to prevent any damage.
Petronovich striking from the bottom.
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!
Petronovich keeping moving, preventing Santos from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Petronovich has his foot on Santos's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Santos works his way back into a safe position though.
Petronovich is controlling Santos's posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Petronovich is on top in guard.
Petronovich looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Petronovich's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Santos looking to control.
Santos can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Petronovich controls the pace.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Petronovich closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Santos's guard.
Bronn Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Oleksandr Petronovich is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Petronovich looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Oleksandr Petronovich showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Petronovich has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oleksandr Petronovich!