PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Denver Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Maconha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Santiago
vs
Maconha

163 cm
24
193 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

180 cm
23
187 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Denver Santiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Igor Maconha!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Matheus Silva and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Santiago misses.
Maconha feints the counter takedown.
Santiago tries to clinch but Maconha moves out of range.
Santiago takes a swing at Maconha's ribcage but misses.

Maconha changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Santiago looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Santiago manages to get back to half guard.
Santiago is looking for a sweep. Maconha is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Santiago trying to hold on to Maconha's head to control him but Maconha postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maconha prevents Santiago from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Maconha's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Maconha's back!

Maconha is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Santiago gets his way!

Santiago working for the choke.

Santiago looking for the RNC.
Santiago could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Maconha tries to roll but Santiago sticks to his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santiago is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Maconha defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Maconha showing good submission defense here.

Maconha showing good submission defense here.
Maconha tries to roll but Santiago sticks to his back.
Maconha covering up well under a series of strikes from Santiago.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maconha trying to control the action but Santiago just sinks the hooks in.
Maconha can't escape the position.
Santiago wants to control the position but Maconha frees himself and scrambles - Santiago manages to regain control in side control.

Santiago is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Maconha has escaped the position, nice work there.
Maconha is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Maconha defending against the ground and pound.

Santiago stands up.
Santiago throws an overhand right that lands on Maconha's shoulder, as Maconha tries to avoid the shot.

Maconha gets the takedown into side control.
Santiago tries to bench press Maconha off him but Maconha keeps the position.
Santiago is not content to let Maconha control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Santiago struggling a bit here.
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 Denver Santiago will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Santiago tries to clinch there but Maconha circles away.
A countering left hand to the body from Maconha misses.
Santiago tries to clinch but Maconha moves out of range.
Santiago bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Maconha's head backwards.

Santiago gets caught napping as Maconha dives in and scores a takedown. Santiago manages to retain guard.
Santiago looking for a sweep. Not yet Santiago, not yet.
Maconha trying to control but Santiago is working from the bottom.
Santiago has control of Maconha's left arm, preventing Maconha from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maconha throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maconha wants to pass the guard but Santiago is keeping the position.
Santiago is adopting a defensive guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Maconha stopping the sweep attempt from Santiago.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Maconha shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Maconha is looking to take a break and control but Santiago is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is trying to control but can't.

Santiago is defending against the submission attempts here by Maconha.
Santiago trying to control but Maconha postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Maconha working over Santiago with some ground and pound. Santiago looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Maconha stops Santiago from getting back to his feet.

Maconha is working for a submission of some sort.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Maconha wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Santiago gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Maconha tries to work over Santiago's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Santiago manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Maconha throwing strikes from guard but Santiago blocks nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Santiago controlling Maconha's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Maconha showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Maconha tries to clinch up but Santiago circles away and keeps his distance.
Santiago tries to counter by clinching up but Maconha breaks away and moves out of range.
Igor Maconha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santiago tries to clinch but Maconha moves out of range.
Maconha throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Santiago tries to counter by clinching up but Maconha breaks away and moves out of range.

Santiago gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Santiago's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Santiago tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Santiago scores with a nice head shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maconha tries to move into range but Santiago moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Santiago moves into the clinch successfully.

Maconha turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Maconha manages to end up in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santiago manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Igor Maconha has got the better of the ground game so far.
Santiago trying to hold on to Maconha's head to control him but Maconha postures up.
Santiago is looking to improve his position.
Santiago blocking the ground and pound attempt from Maconha.
Well, if Maconha is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Maconha prevents Santiago from standing back up.
Maconha stalling away here and it's allowed Santiago to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Santiago working a defensive guard here.
Santiago looking for a sweep. Not yet Santiago, not yet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Santiago tries to close the distance and clinch but Maconha swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago swats away the attempt to clinch by Maconha.
Santiago throws a big shot that misses.
Santiago throws out a loose jab but Maconha uses good head movement to avoid it.

Santiago gets caught napping as Maconha dives in and scores a takedown. Santiago manages to retain guard.
Santiago is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Maconha controlling from the top position.
Maconha preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maconha wants to stand and escape but instead Santiago has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Santiago stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Maconha misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Santiago clinches up against the cage.

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 Denver Santiago.
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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Denver Santiago!
Igor Maconha was interviewed post fight and said 'Kkkkkkk'.