PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Denver Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sammy Edwards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Santiago
vs
Edwards

163 cm
24
193 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

183 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 2 - 4 - 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sammy Edwards!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Mauricio Rocha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago doesn't manage to clinch there - Edwards circles away.
Edwards keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Santiago.
Nice cross by Edwards.
Edwards takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Edwards darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Edwards stalling away here and it's allowed Santiago to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santiago avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Edwards stopping the sweep attempt from Santiago.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards throws an elbow that misses. Santiago uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Edwards's guard. Nice move by Santiago!

Santiago is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Santiago trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Santiago trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Edwards wants to stand up but Santiago is controlling him.

Santiago drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Santiago jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Santiago in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Santiago could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Edwards wants to stand but Santiago is controlling the position.

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

Edwards bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Edwards tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Santiago has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Santiago can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
You can see the frustration on Santiago's face as Edwards controls the position.
Edwards tries to move to mount but Santiago blocks the move with his legs.
Edwards trying to control the position but Santiago is working away.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Edwards shoots in and gets a takedown into Santiago's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago managing to control the position.
Edwards trying to control the position from guard on top but Santiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santiago looking to hit a scissor sweep but Edwards is one step ahead there.
Santiago being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sammy Edwards dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Edwards drives through with a takedown into Santiago's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Santiago is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Edwards throws a big elbow that misses.
Santiago might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Edwards content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edwards looking to sit in guard and control but Santiago gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Santiago postures up in Edwards's guard and throws a big left but Edwards blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards wants to get back to his feet but Santiago passes into half guard.
Santiago sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Edwards defending well though.

Santiago is working for a submission of some sort.
Santiago prevents Edwards from standing back up.
Edwards has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Edwards keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Santiago missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Santiago throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Santiago sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Edwards defending well though.
Santiago missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Edwards wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
No joy there for Santiago, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Edwards is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Edwards circles away from the clinch attempt
and Edwards counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards lands a nice shot that snaps Santiago's head back.
A cross from Edwards lands.
Edwards takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Santiago takes one to the side of the head.
Santiago walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Edwards catches Santiago with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Santiago moves into the clinch.

Edwards turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Edwards manages to end up in side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Edwards looks up at the clock and then as Santiago takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Edwards smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago regains half guard there - taking advantage of Edwards's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Edwards wants to stand up but Santiago manages to regain full guard.
Edwards wants to stand but Santiago has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Edwards is in close to Santiago's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Edwards keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Santiago's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sammy Edwards showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Santiago moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Edwards drives through with a takedown into guard.
Edwards preventing the sweep.
Edwards must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Santiago looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Santiago keeping full guard, as Edwards tries to pass.
Edwards wants to control from the top but Santiago keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Santiago is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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

Edwards shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Santiago regains full guard. Nicely done.
Santiago is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Santiago is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Edwards defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edwards pushes Santiago off looking to stand but Santiago dives back in and keeps control.

Santiago is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Edwards is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Denver Santiago!