PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lipe Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Santos II (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Santos
vs
Santos II

185 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 3 - 1

191 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Lipe Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rafael Santos II!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos II throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Santos moves in looking to clinch but Santos II pushes him off.
A head kick by Santos misses

and Santos II counters by moving into the clinch.
Santos II connects with a nasty looking knee right to Santos's face.
Santos goes for a takedown attempt but Santos II pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Santos tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Santos II counters with a stiff right hand.

Santos II closes the distance and clinches.

Santos II breaks from the clinch.
Santos tries to clinch but Santos II moves away

and Santos II counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Santos II with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Santos changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Santos II fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Santos shoots in for a takedown but Santos II shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lipe Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santos clinches but Santos II breaks the clinch

and Santos II holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Santos II pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Santos II fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Santos, pushing him back against the cage.
Santos II landing knees to the head.
Santos II misses with a knee to the head.
Santos tries to break the clinch but Santos II is controlling the position.
Santos II throws a knee to the head but misses.

Santos II breaks the clinch.
Santos II circles away from the clinch attempt

and Santos II holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Santos II connects with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos II throws a knee to the head but misses.
Santos II looking to throw knees to the head but Santos is blocking nicely.

Santos ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Santos no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Santos II wants to control from the top but Santos keeps moving.
Santos II looks gassed!
Santos looking to control.

Santos II stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Santos II throws a head kick that misses.
Santos II avoids the head kick by Santos.
Santos throws a lazy head kick
and Santos II counters with a stiff right hand.
Santos II throws a head kick that half lands.
Santos tries to clinch
and Santos II counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Santos II moves into the clinch successfully.
Santos II connects with a knee to the head.
Santos II connects with a nasty looking knee right to Santos's face.

Santos breaks from the clinch.
A head kick misses from Santos II.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santos moves into the clinch successfully.
Santos II lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Santos has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Santos II avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Santos II lands a knee to the head.

Santos II manages to break the clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Some wild striking there from Santos.
Santos shoots in and drives through. Santos II sprawls well.
Santos II lands a head kick. Santos smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Santos shoots in but Santos II avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Santos II drives through and clinches with Santos against the cage.
Santos changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Santos II fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Santos II lands with a slapping head kick.
Lipe Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santos II throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Santos closes the distance but Santos II moves to the side
and Santos II counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos wants to clinch

and Santos II counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Santos II.
Santos takes a knee right on the jaw!
Santos II throws a knee to the head but misses.

Santos II breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Santos wants to clinch

and Santos II holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Santos II prevents the takedown attempt.

Santos II pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Santos II rushes Santos and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Santos II is looking to break free of the clinch but Santos has double underhooks.
Santos tries to score a body lock takedown but Santos II shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Santos II breaks the clinch.

Santos II moves into range and clinches up with Santos.
Santos II tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Santos tries to pull guard but Santos II won't allow it.
Santos II keeps control of Santos as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Santos II using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Santos has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Santos keeps control of Santos II as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Santos II tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Santos II with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Santos II misses with a knee to the head.

Santos II escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Santos closes the distance and clinches.

Santos II pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Santos II keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Santos takes a kick to the side of the head.
Santos clinches but Santos II breaks the clinch
and Santos II counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Santos II avoids the head kick by Santos.
Good leg kick by Santos II there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Santos II has closed the distance and engaged Santos in a clinch.
Santos II connects with a knee to the head.
Santos II connects with a knee to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santos II with a knee to the head.
Santos jumps guard but Santos II stands there with Santos around his waist. Santos gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Santos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Santos II just stands there and leans against the cage.

Santos turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Santos with the ground and pound but Santos II regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Santos II dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Santos misses with a takedown attempt
and Santos II counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Santos is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Santos tries to clinch but Santos II moves away

and Santos II counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Santos II.

Santos II breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Santos looks for a takedown but Santos II sprawls well.
Santos takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Santos II instigates a clinch.
Santos II throws a knee to the head but misses.
Santos tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Santos II smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lipe Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santos II throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Santos II tests Santos's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lipe Santos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Santos tries to clinch

and Santos II counters by clinching up.
Santos II throws a knee to the head but misses.

Santos II pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Santos wants to clinch but Santos II slips to the side

and Santos II moves into the clinch.
Santos II throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Santos blocks it with crossed arms.
Santos jumps guard but Santos II stands there with Santos around his waist. Santos gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Santos II escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos II tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Santos II landing knees to the head.
Santos II with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Santos II scores with a knee to the head.

Santos II breaks the clinch.
Santos looks to land a combination but Santos II avoids it well.
Santos II throws a head kick but Santos moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Santos II. No joy for Santos on that attempt.
A left and a right from Santos II both land. Nice combination.
Santos clinches but Santos II breaks the clinch
and Santos II counters with a head kick. That will keep Santos thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Santos II stuffs the takedown attempt from Santos. Santos gets slowly back to his feet.
A good leg kick by Santos II.

Santos II closes the distance and clinches.
Santos fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Santos II escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Santos tries to clinch
and Santos II makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Santos tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Santos II counters with a head kick. That will keep Santos thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santos II clinches up with Santos and pushes him back against the cage.
Santos II lands a knee to the head.
Santos landing knees to the head.
Santos II tries to break the clinch but Santos is controlling the position.
Santos II with a knee to the head.
Santos II misses with a knee strike.
Santos with a knee to the head.

Santos II breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Santos II circles away from the clinch attempt
and Santos II counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Santos is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Santos II gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Santos II tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Santos II manages to break the clinch.
Santos misses with a series of wild punches.
Santos pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Santos II drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Santos's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Santos II is controlling him well.
Santos tries to improve position but can't.
Santos II moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Santos tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santos is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Santos tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Santos II has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Santos wants to hold on but Santos II pushes him away.
Santos II prevents Santos from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Santos II 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Santos misses with a double jab.

Santos II pushes Santos up against the cage in a clinch.

Santos II escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Santos tries to clinch up
and Santos II counters with a head kick. That will keep Santos thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Santos II forces Santos back against the cage and clinches.
Santos II using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Santos has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Santos II tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Santos jumps into guard, dragging Santos II to the mat.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Santos is on top in guard.
Santos throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Santos II works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos II is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santos controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Santos II working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Santos.
Santos trying to stand up but can't free himself from Santos II's guard.
Santos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Santos wants to control from the top but Santos II keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Santos II thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Santos if he has to take too many more of those.
Santos II throws a sloppy head kick and Santos moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Santos clinches but Santos II breaks the clinch
and Santos II counters with a good low kick that Santos was not able to check.
Santos II scores with a head kick.

Santos II gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Santos II tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rafael Santos II seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Santos fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Santos II breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Santos II lands with a kick to the temple. Santos shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Santos II shoots in and drives through. Santos sprawls well.

Santos II tries to keep at a distance but Santos has taken the fight into the clinch.
Santos fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Santos II with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Santos tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Santos pulls Santos II into guard.
Santos tries to strike from the bottom.
Santos II won't allow Santos to sweep him here.
Santos II is looking to work some ground and pound but Santos has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos trying to keep a closed guard but Santos II is proving a slippery customer.
Santos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Santos II is one step ahead there.
Santos is trying to hold Santos II in close to prevent damage but Santos II has managed to pass into half guard.
Santos is trying to maintain the position but Santos II is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Santos II prevents Santos from improving his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Santos tries to bum rush Santos II with a series of wild strikes but Santos II uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Santos II lands a head kick!
A nice leg kick lands there from Santos II.

Santos II gets a clinch.
Santos wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lipe Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Santos II breaks from the clinch.
Santos tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Santos II counters with a nice low kick that buckles Santos's knee momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Santos closes the distance but Santos II moves to the side

and Santos II counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Santos II.
Santos lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Santos is trying to drag Santos II to the mat but Santos II just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Lipe Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rafael Santos II is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Santos II with an attempt at a knee that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Santos II comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Santos II winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Santos II!