PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bernardo Mikixi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dexter Santaros (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Mikixi
vs
Santaros

184 cm
21
265 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

194 cm
21
240 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Excellent grappler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Valhalla Fight Wear

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Bernardo Mikixi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dexter Santaros!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Paul Gruel and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santaros rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mikixi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A shot to the body from Santaros misses
and Mikixi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mikixi slips under a jab from Santaros.
Santaros throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Mikixi counter with a right hand.
We've been informed that Santaros has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Santaros digs a good body shot into Mikixi's ribs.
Santaros rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mikixi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mikixi is looking to counter punch.
Santaros misses with a body shot
and Mikixi counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santaros lands with a hook. Mikixi tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Santaros throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Santaros misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mikixi.
Santaros throws a hook but Mikixi avoids it easily.
Mikixi is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikixi dodges the punch combination from Santaros.
A little feinted left hand from Mikixi on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Dexter Santaros seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santaros throws a hook but Mikixi blocks it.
Santaros tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mikixi was well out of range. Poor timing from Santaros.
Santaros cracks Mikixi with an open hand slap.
Santaros swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Mikixi counters with a stiff right hand.
Santaros is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mikixi.
A swing and a miss from Santaros.
It looked like Mikixi wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Santaros throws a hook but Mikixi blocks it.
Mikixi staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Santaros misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Mikixi misses its target.
Nice shot by Santaros.
Santaros misses with a body shot.
Mikixi takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A telegraphed right hand from Santaros misses the target.
Mikixi swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Mikixi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mikixi was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Santaros thuds his right hand into Mikixi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mikixi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Santaros.
Mikixi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Santaros catches Mikixi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santaros throws a looping overhand right but Mikixi ducks down to avoid it.
Santaros throws a hook to the side of Mikixi's head but Mikixi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Santaros misses with a hook. Mikixi ducked under it nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Mikixi misses the target.
Mikixi takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Santaros misses with a body shot.
A counter left hand to the body from Mikixi misses its target.
Santaros throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mikixi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Santaros digs a good hook to Mikixi's body.
Mikixi staying out of range there.

Santaros darts in and clinches Mikixi up against the cage.

Santaros breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santaros just misses with a punch to the body.
Santaros throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Mikixi to counter with a crisp jab.
Santaros waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mikixi.
Mikixi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Santaros swings away with a body shot that misses
and Mikixi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Santaros moves into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mikixi can't get the takedown.
A short left from Santaros.
Santaros cracks Mikixi with a nice body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Santaros fails to land.
Santaros misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mikixi is looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Santaros dominated that round.
That's time! Mikixi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Santaros tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mikixi was well out of range. Poor timing from Santaros.
A little feinted left hand from Mikixi on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Santaros has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Santaros misses with a right hand
enabling Mikixi to counter with a crisp jab.
Mikixi blocks a jab.
Santaros throws a low kick but it's checked well by Mikixi.
Santaros digs a good body shot into Mikixi's ribs.
Santaros cracks Mikixi with an open hand slap.
Santaros misses with a right hand
and Mikixi counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mikixi dodges the punch combination from Santaros.
Santaros lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Mikixi backs up against the cage.

It looks like Bernardo Mikixi has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santaros misses with a body shot.

Santaros closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Santaros lands in his opponent's guard.
Mikixi wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Santaros manages to pass to side control.
Mikixi tries to get to full guard but Santaros has control of the leg.

Mikixi looking for submissions off his back.
Mikixi looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mikixi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Santaros.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santaros wants to pass the guard but Mikixi is defending well.
Santaros wants to take a breather but Mikixi is having none of it.
Mikixi wants to get back to full guard.
Mikixi is looking to escape.
Santaros trying to control from half guard but Mikixi is working away.
Mikixi looks like he's trying to stand up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A jab from Santaros misses.
Santaros misses with a lunging right hand
and Mikixi counters with a left to the body.
Santaros throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Santaros misses with a looping left.
Mikixi was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Donk. Santaros catches Mikixi right on the button with a cross.
Mikixi shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Santaros throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mikixi takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Santaros throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Mikixi stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Dexter Santaros seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mikixi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Santaros.
Santaros throws a hook but Mikixi avoids it easily.
Mikixi is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Santaros throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Santaros falls off balance throwing a combination
and Mikixi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Santaros. Mikixi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mikixi throwing a counter right hand but Santaros manages to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Santaros tries to close the distance and clinch but Mikixi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A quick step to the side and Mikixi tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Santaros keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Santaros showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bernardo Mikixi's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Santaros swings for the body but Mikixi moves out of range.
Santaros swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Santaros takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Santaros shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mikixi's guard.
Mikixi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mikixi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mikixi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Santaros is aware though and is defending well.
Santaros is in close to Mikixi's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mikixi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Santaros trying to control but Mikixi is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikixi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Santaros working some strikes from top position.
Mikixi keeping full guard, as Santaros tries to pass.

Mikixi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Santaros stands up over Mikixi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Santaros won't allow Mikixi to get back to his feet.

Santaros thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Mikixi wants to stand and escape but Santaros is having none of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Santaros misses with a hook
and Mikixi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Good shot there by Santaros.
Santaros bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Mikixi's head backwards.
Mikixi defending well as Santaros loads up on a big left hand.
Santaros throws a big shot that misses.
Mikixi has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Santaros finds it's way round the side to connect with Mikixi's head.
Santaros tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Good shot there by Santaros.
Santaros falls off balance throwing a combination
and Mikixi counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santaros swings for the body but Mikixi moves out of range.
Santaros swings widly with a right hand
and Mikixi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Santaros swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mikixi throwing a counter right hand but Santaros manages to avoid it.
Santaros tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mikixi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mikixi appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Santaros misses with a hook. Mikixi ducked under it nicely.
A quick step to the side and Mikixi tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mikixi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Santaros.
Santaros throws a right hand that misses
and Mikixi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santaros looks to land a left hand but Mikixi moved out of range nicely.
Mikixi moves away from the strike by Santaros.
Mikixi appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Santaros looks to throw the jab but Mikixi is out of range.
It looked like Mikixi wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Santaros misses with an uppercut.
A big left from Santaros misses.
Dexter Santaros is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Santaros lands with a nice body punch.
Santaros looks to score with a jab to the body but Mikixi is just out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice defenses there by Mikixi.
It looked like Mikixi wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Mikixi has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Santaros finds it's way round the side to connect with Mikixi's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dexter Santaros comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Santaros has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dexter Santaros!