PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Santo Luvic (ranked 7711 p4p, 455 weight class) and Gato Wali (ranked 6776 p4p, 433 weight class). Santo Luvic has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Luvic
vs
Wali

175 cm
18
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
145 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Annihilation Apparel
Pit Bull Development

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Santo Luvic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gato Wali!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Frank Dennis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luvic throws a leg kick that is checked

and Wali counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wali tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Luvic trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wali prevents Luvic from improving his position.
Luvic wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luvic trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Wali trying to control the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wali shoots in and drives through. Luvic sprawls well.
Luvic throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Wali's waist but Wali gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Luvic off to one side.
Wali looks for a takedown but Luvic sprawls well.
Luvic throws a head kick but Wali moves out of range.
Luvic shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Wali sprawls well. Wali wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Luvic gets slowly back to his feet.
Luvic shoots and misses
and Wali counters with a one-two to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santo Luvic. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Luvic closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Wali's guard.
Luvic throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wali is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Wali looking to control.
Luvic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wali trying to strike off his back.
Luvic postures up in Wali's guard and throws a big left but Wali blocks it.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Wali is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wali looks winded!
Luvic looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luvic has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Wali is proving hard to escape from.

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

Wali shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Luvic keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Luvic wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Luvic punching from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wali stops Luvic from getting back to his feet.
Luvic trying to control here.
Wali is trying to control. Luvic wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Luvic trying to hold on to Wali's head to control him but Wali postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Luvic stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Luvic wants it to stay on the feet.
Luvic wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wali stuffs the takedown attempt from Luvic. Luvic gets slowly back to his feet.
Wali doesn't manage to clinch there - Luvic circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gato Wali dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Wali tries to sprawl but Luvic drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Wali looking for subs from the bottom but Luvic mounts him!
Luvic looking to control but Wali is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Wali stops Luvic from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Wali keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luvic tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wali swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Santo Luvic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Luvic punishing his opponent with strikes.
Luvic punishing his opponent with strikes.
Luvic raining down hammerfists from mount.
Luvic controlling the pace for now.
Luvic postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Wali looks a forlorn figure.
Luvic raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luvic controlling from the full mount.
Luvic wants to control the pace but Wali is squirming around nicely.
Luvic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Wali can do to turn this around?
Wali avoids a strike by Luvic and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Luvic's guard! Fantastic escape!
Luvic controls Wali momentarily but Wali frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wali wants to control from the top but Luvic keeps moving.
Wali looking to pass the guard.
Wali throwing strikes from guard but Luvic blocks nicely.
Wali is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

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.
Luvic is trying to control the position but Wali postures up.
Wali wants to get up but he can't break Luvic's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Wali keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wali looks to score with a jab to the body but Luvic is just out of range.
Luvic seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Wali tries to score a power double leg takedown but Luvic sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Wali somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santo Luvic dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Luvic closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Luvic lands in his opponent's guard.
Wali 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.
Luvic wants to pass the guard but Wali is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luvic trying to control but Wali is working from the bottom.
Luvic throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wali works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wali wants to hit a switch here but Luvic passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Wali there!
Luvic landing punches.
Luvic manages to capitalize on a mistake by Wali to take his back!
Luvic scores with punches and elbows.

Luvic working for a choke but Wali reverses nicely into Luvic 's guard.
Wali slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luvic wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Luvic manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Wali manages to get himself to full guard.

Luvic trying to control but Wali is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luvic looking to pass the guard.
Wali striking off his back but it's not causing Luvic any problems.

Wali is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wali takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Luvic stops Wali from standing up.
Wali keeping full guard, as Luvic tries to pass.

That's four 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.
Luvic is pushing down on Wali's leg trying to pass to half guard. Wali is fighting to maintain full guard but Luvic has managed to sneak the leg through.
Wali wants to improve his position but Luvic is controlling well.
Wali is trying to stand back up but Luvic is controlling him
Luvic wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wali keeps working.
Luvic passes to side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wali gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Santo Luvic showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Luvic 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Santo Luvic!
Gato Wali was interviewed post fight and said 'Not over yet. We are coming back better than today.'.