PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kalev Vapper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martinez Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santiago has chosen C'est La Vie as his entrance music. Martinez Santiago has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Vapper
vs
Santiago

185 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
19
200 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kalev Vapper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Martinez Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Santiago shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Vapper is staying active underneath Santiago, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Santiago might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Vapper kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Vapper is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Santiago controlling the action here.
Vapper is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Santiago's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Santiago's back!
Santiago is keeping busy.
Santiago should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Vapper doesn't have the hooks in and Santiago manages to turn into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vapper is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Santiago preventing the sweep.
Santiago stands and throws Vapper's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Santiago is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Vapper's shoulder. That is not cool.

Santiago is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Vapper knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Vapper manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Santiago is looking for a kimura but Vapper is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Santiago to get the leverage.
Santiago looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vapper wants to get back to his feet.
Santiago trying to mount his opponent but Vapper defends it.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Santiago has eaten all the pies!
Vapper is trying to get back to full guard.
Santiago thows a huge punch but Vapper dodges it nicely.
Santiago tries to stand and escape but Vapper is controlling the position.
Vapper moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vapper looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vapper will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Vapper shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Santiago counters with a shoot takedown. Vapper fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago won't allow Vapper to sweep him here.
Santiago trying to control but Vapper is working from the bottom.
Santiago preventing the sweep.
Santiago pushes down on Vapper's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Vapper has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Santiago is working away from the top position though.
Santiago passes the guard and advances to mount!
Vapper wants to control but Santiago is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Santiago with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Santiago looking for a guillotine from mount but Vapper is having none of it.
Vapper has given up his back here. Will Santiago look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Vapper rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Vapper wants to improve his position but Santiago is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martinez Santiago 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.

Santiago has his takedown stuffed

and Vapper counters with a single leg into guard. Santiago didn't expect that.
Vapper pushes down on Santiago's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Vapper perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Vapper lands with a punch from half guard.

Vapper decides to stand and escape the position.
Vapper fails with the takedown.
Vapper with a poor takedown

and Santiago counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vapper can't do much from the bottom here.
Martinez Santiago has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vapper is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Santiago is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santiago working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Vapper is trying to control Santiago's posture but Santiago avoids it.
Vapper is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Santiago tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Santiago has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

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.
Santiago taking a breather here.
Vapper can't do much from the bottom here.

Santiago decides to stand up, so the ref orders Vapper to his feet.

Santiago decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Santiago trying to control from half guard but Vapper is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vapper works his way to full guard. Good work.
Santiago must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Vapper keeping moving, preventing Santiago from controlling successfully.

Santiago thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Santiago stopping the sweep attempt from Vapper.

Santiago stands up from Vapper's guard - Santiago perhaps looking for a knockout.
Vapper tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Vapper.
Vapper is looking to take a break and control but Santiago is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Santiago manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Santiago looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santiago is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Vapper's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Vapper's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Martinez Santiago will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Santiago takes a jab right on the kisser.
Santiago looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Vapper misses with a takedown

and Santiago counters with a single leg into guard. Vapper didn't expect that.
Vapper trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Vapper keeping moving, preventing Santiago from controlling successfully.
Santiago stays in close to Vapper's body and controls the position.
Santiago stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vapper swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vapper working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago with a nice head shot there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vapper keeping moving, preventing Santiago from controlling successfully.
Santiago wants to get up but he can't break Vapper's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Santiago shoots in for a double leg but Vapper sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Santiago shoots and misses

and Vapper counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Santiago's guard now.
Kalev Vapper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Martinez Santiago.
Vapper postures up.

Santiago escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vapper gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Santiago not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vapper wants to control from the top but Santiago keeps moving.
Santiago wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Santiago working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vapper doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vapper manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Vapper avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Vapper would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vapper is one step ahead there.
Santiago lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Vapper!
Santiago trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Vapper is working to get back to half guard.

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 landing shots from mount.
Santiago controlling the pace for now.
Vapper wants to control but Santiago is having none of it.
Santiago prevents Vapper from getting the reversal.
Kalev Vapper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Martinez Santiago is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Santiago controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Martinez Santiago comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Santiago 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Martinez Santiago!