PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raul Kyshenko (ranked 3920 p4p, 6948 weight class) and Luis Santos (ranked 513 p4p, 725 weight class). Luis Santos told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Kyshenko
vs
Santos

184 cm
32
220
9 - 8 - 0

190 cm
26
210
6 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Raul Kyshenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Luis Santos!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Aafke Stam and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kyshenko shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Santos napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kyshenko tries to move into full mount but can't pass Santos's legs.
Santos tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kyshenko tries for a kimura but Santos is defending well.

Kyshenko is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Santos knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kyshenko tries for a kimura but Santos is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos is looking to regain half guard here but Kyshenko keeps moving and retains side control.

Kyshenko goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Santos has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kyshenko but great work by Santos.
Santos trying to control the action but Kyshenko is working from the bottom.
Santos happy to just control the position for now.
Santos wants to control but Kyshenko is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos working away.
Kyshenko tries to bench press Santos off him but Santos keeps the position.
Santos wants to control but Kyshenko is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santos staying calm.
Kyshenko is trying to get back to half guard.
Santos is looking to take a break and control but Kyshenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kyshenko haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Kyshenko gets back to half guard.
Kyshenko is staying active underneath Santos, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Santos slows the pace down in half guard.
Santos wants to take a breather but Kyshenko is having none of it.
Kyshenko is trying to control but can't.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Santos content to control rather than advance.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kyshenko with a lazy takedown attempt

and Santos counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Santos gets underhooks to prevent Kyshenko's takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kyshenko blocks an uppercut.
Kyshenko has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Santos after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raul Kyshenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santos lands a left hand.
Santos has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kyshenko avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kyshenko changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Santos fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Santos. No joy for Kyshenko on that attempt.
Santos wants to counter with a clinch but Kyshenko pushes him away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kyshenko.
Kyshenko is breathing heavily.
Santos is not content to let Kyshenko control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Santos seems a little lost for a moment, as Kyshenko dominates the positioning.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Santos dominated that round.
That's time! Kyshenko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kyshenko.
Santos stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Santos wants it to stay on the feet.
Kyshenko closes this distance looking for a takedown but Santos circles away.
And Santos tries to counter it with a takedown but Kyshenko pushes his down on his head and steps out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raul Kyshenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kyshenko closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Santos did well to prevent Kyshenko getting side control.
Raul Kyshenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kyshenko is looking to pass Santos's guard but actually Santos recovers to full guard.

Santos looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Santos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kyshenko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kyshenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kyshenko advances position into side control!
Santos is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kyshenko 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 Santos's shoulder. That is not cool.

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.

Kyshenko thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Santos is pushing Kyshenko's head away, looking to escape. Kyshenko manages to hold on to the position though.
Santos tries to buck Kyshenko off but Kyshenko is having none of it.
Santos tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Kyshenko looking to control but Santos is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kyshenko moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Santos has worked his arm free - good work by Santos!

Kyshenko wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Santos, who protects the arm well.

Kyshenko looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kyshenko has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Kyshenko wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Santos, who protects the arm well.
Santos is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Kyshenko wants to work for an arm triangle but Santos is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kyshenko is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Santos sees it coming and defends easily.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kyshenko trying to control the action but Santos is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Raul Kyshenko will probably get the nod.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kyshenko scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Kyshenko is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kyshenko looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Santos with the active half guard here but Kyshenko passes nicely into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kyshenko swings around for an armbar but Santos sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kyshenko's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kyshenko is trying to keep Santos in close.
Santos controlling from the top position.
Kyshenko keeping moving, preventing Santos from controlling successfully.
Santos is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Santos wants to control from the top but Kyshenko keeps moving.

That's two 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.
Santos looking to pass the guard.

Santos got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kyshenko has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Santos has managed to get both his arms back between Kyshenko's legs - danger averted.

Kyshenko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Santos can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santos trying to control but Kyshenko is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kyshenko shoots in looking for a takedown but Santos manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kyshenko's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kyshenko shoots in for a double leg but Santos sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Santos enables Kyshenko to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Santos manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Kyshenko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santos swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Santos is looking for a triangle but Kyshenko pushes his legs off easily.
Kyshenko engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kyshenko wants to control from the top but Santos keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos keeping full guard, as Kyshenko tries to pass.

Santos looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kyshenko looking to sit in guard and control but Santos gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kyshenko is trying to keep Santos in close.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Santos looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luis Santos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Santos 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29

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