PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ronaldo De Santa (ranked 4522 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickael Candie (ranked 7690 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.

De Santa
vs
Candie

190 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
26
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ronaldo De Santa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mickael Candie!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Hugh Johnson and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Candie clinches up with De Santa and pushes him back against the cage.
Candie missing with knees to the body.
Candie lands an elbow just above De Santa 's eye.
Candie tries a knee to the head but De Santa blocks it.
Candie misses with a body punch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Candie.

Candie breaks the clinch.

Candie has managed to clinch.
Candie landing knees to the body.
Candie throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but De Santa blocks it with crossed arms.
Candie digs a right hand underneath De Santa's ribcage. De Santa let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A bit of stalling here from Candie.

Candie breaks the clinch.
De Santa has a takedown stuffed.

Candie closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
De Santa tries to break free but Candie pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Santa takes a shot to the head.
Candie lands a shoulder strike.

Candie escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Candie closes the distance and clinches.
De Santa throws a head punch that misses.
Candie leaning against his opponent.
De Santa blocking some punches.
Candie comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Stalling in the clinch from Candie.
Candie throws a head punch that misses.

Candie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mickael Candie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
De Santa closes the distance and clinches up with Candie, looking for a takedown. De Santa pushes Candie against the cage but Candie circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Candie clinches up with De Santa and pushes him back against the cage.

Candie breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
De Santa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Candie but Candie pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronaldo De Santa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Candie throws a big shot that misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from De Santa.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Candie pushes De Santa up against the cage in a clinch.
Candie tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
De Santa tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Candie misses with a hook to the ribs.
Candie digs a right hand underneath De Santa's ribcage. De Santa let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Candie escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Candie clinches up against the cage.
Candie landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
De Santa is breathing heavily.
Candie tries to work over De Santa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Candie tries a body shot but De Santa blocks it.
The referee calls for Candie to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Candie breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
De Santa has a takedown stuffed.

Candie takes the fight into the clinch.
Candie lands a nice elbow.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Candie.

Candie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
De Santa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Candie.
De Santa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Candie.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Candie.

Candie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
De Santa shoots in but no luck this time.
De Santa throws out a leg kick but Candie moves out of range and De Santa only half commits.
De Santa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Candie avoids it really well and circles away.
De Santa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Candie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Candie drives through and clinches with De Santa against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
De Santa can't break the clinch.
Candie content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Candie as the two fighters clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickael Candie dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Candie shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Candie was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Candie throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Candie decides to stand back up.
De Santa's corner calls for a 1-2. De Santa obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

De Santa instigates a clinch.
De Santa is trying to pull guard but Candie has him pressed against the cage.
Candie misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Candie misses with the head strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Candie landing knees to the head.
De Santa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Candie smiles and moves away.
Candie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Santa blocks an elbow strike.

Candie breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Candie darts in looking for a takedown but De Santa gets double underhooks and turns Candie into the cage.

Candie moves into the clinch.
Candie lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of De Santa backwards.
Candie lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
De Santa looking to stall.

Candie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

De Santa closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Candie to the mat! Candie manages to get full guard.
Candie has De Santa pulled in close to control his posture.
De Santa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Candie is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
De Santa trying to control the position from guard on top but Candie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Candie has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. De Santa has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Candie breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Candie throws a series of punches but De Santa avoids them all with ease.
De Santa seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Candie fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Candie tries to score a power double leg takedown but De Santa sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Candie somewhat.
Ronaldo De Santa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mickael Candie.
Candie is breathing heavily.
No luck for Candie with that takedown attempt.
De Santa tries for a takedown but Candie circles away easily
and Candie counters with a flying knee. Nice.
De Santa keeps the fight on the outside.
Candie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
De Santa tries for a takedown. No joy.

Candie breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
De Santa throws a right hand that Candie ducks under and follows up with a left that Candie also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Santa keeps the fight on the outside.
De Santa lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Candie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
No luck for De Santa with that takedown attempt.

De Santa drives through and clinches with Candie against the cage.
Candie holding his opponent close, against the cage.
De Santa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Candie walks away with a smile on his face. De Santa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Candie clinches up with De Santa and pushes him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Candie misses with a shot to the kidneys.

De Santa gets control of Candie's arms and successfully pulls guard. De Santa will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mickael Candie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

De Santa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Candie throws a head kick that half lands.

Candie pushes De Santa up against the cage in a clinch.
Candie scores with a knee to the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Candie struggles to land a body shot inside as De Santa controls his hands.
The referee calls for Candie to work.
De Santa tries to break free but Candie pushes him back against the cage.
Mickael Candie seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Candie is struggling to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
De Santa has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Candie has De Santa pressed against the cage.
Candie stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Candie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

De Santa moves into the clinch.
Candie lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of De Santa backwards.
Candie scores with a shot to the side of De Santa's head.
De Santa wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Candie keeps control of De Santa as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Candie looking to throw knees to the head but De Santa is blocking nicely.
Candie can't find room to land a body shot as De Santa controls the action.
De Santa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Candie escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Candie fails with the takedown.
Candie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Candie has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Candie leaning his opponent against the cage.
De Santa has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Candie after a bit of a struggle.
Candie holding his opponent close, against the cage.
De Santa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Candie just stands there and leans against the cage.
De Santa working hard to break the clinch.
De Santa trying to stall but Candie improves his position.
Candie pushes De Santa back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Candie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
De Santa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Candie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronaldo De Santa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Decent striking displayed by Candie there.
Mickael Candie seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
De Santa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Candie goes for a double leg but De Santa avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as De Santa continues to drive forward.
De Santa takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

De Santa moves into the clinch successfully.
De Santa has a couple of punches blocked by Candie.

De Santa jumps into guard, dragging Candie to the mat.
Candie's corner is telling him to maintain position.

De Santa working for a triangle but Candie defends it easily.
Candie controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Santa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mickael Candie is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Candie controlling from the top position.
De Santa working a defensive guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
De Santa misses with a double jab

and Candie holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ronaldo De Santa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
De Santa swings wildly with an uppercut but Candie uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mickael Candie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Candie 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 26:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 26:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mickael Candie!
A victorious Mickael Candie thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.