PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tomi Santella (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Caluha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santella comes to the cage accompanied by Amazing. Caluha has chosen Its Like That as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Santella
vs
Caluha

170 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
22
159 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

aKua
BADGER MILK!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tomi Santella!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mike Caluha!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santella fails with a takedown attempt.

Caluha looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Santella!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Caluha is landing with some decent strikes but Santella is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Caluha prevents Santella from getting the reversal.
Santella regains half guard.
Santella is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Caluha's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Caluha's back!

Santella looking to break Caluha's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Caluha remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Santella will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Caluha tries to escape but Santella has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Santella has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Caluha has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
I really don't envy Caluha right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caluha is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Caluha trying to get back to his feet but Santella is in full control for now.
Caluha breaks Santella's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Caluha trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Caluha is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Caluha must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Caluha shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Santella is trying to defend but Caluha finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Caluha connects with a nice short shot to Santella's temple.

Santella is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Caluha pulls his head out easily.
Santella is breathing heavily.
Caluha is thwarting Santella's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santella won't allow Caluha to pass to mount.
Santella trying to control from the bottom.
Caluha is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Santella looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Caluha looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Caluha slips a nice elbow through Santella's hands, connecting with Santella's forehead.
Santella taking some punishment here, with Caluha in his half guard.
Caluha trying to mount his opponent but Santella defends it.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Caluha connects with a nice short shot to Santella's temple.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santella is looking for a sweep. Caluha is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Santella wants to control but Caluha is keeping busy.
Santella regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Caluha.

Santella looking for a guillotine here but Caluha defends easily.
Caluha in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Caluha lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Caluha postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Caluha postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

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.
Santella working a defensive guard here.
Caluha forces his way into half guard.
Santella on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Santella is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Caluha pulls his head out easily.
Caluha looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Caluha has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Caluha putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Caluha landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Caluha dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Santella fails with the takedown

and Caluha counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Santella's guard now.
Caluha working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Santella utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Caluha postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Caluha distracts Santella with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Santella is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Caluha defends well.

Santella is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Caluha stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santella swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Caluha avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caluha tries to free his leg and advance position but Santella is retaining full guard.
Caluha passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Caluha working the ground and pound.
Caluha lands a nice forearm strike.
Caluha working the ground and pound.
Caluha working the ground and pound.
Mike Caluha has got the better of the ground game so far.
Santella taking punishment in the form of punches.
Caluha scoring with punches and elbows.
Caluha lands some shots froms side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caluha working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Santella struggling a bit here.
Santella tries to buck Caluha off but Caluha is having none of it.
Santella takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Santella can't do much from the bottom here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Caluha shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Caluha was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Santella is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Caluha looking to finish Santella with some ground and pound. This is bad for Santella!
Santella tries to hold on but Caluha postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caluha postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Santella looks a forlorn figure.
Santella tries to lock up and control but Caluha gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Caluha lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Caluha connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Santella is trying desperately to improve position.
Caluha with shots to the head and body - Santella looks very uncomfortable down there.
Santella takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Caluha sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Caluha lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Caluha thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

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.
Santella wants to control but Caluha is having none of it.
Caluha unloading with bombs!
Santella wants to control but Caluha is having none of it.
Caluha landing strikes from the mount.
Santella is looking to improve his position but Caluha isn't that keen on the idea.
Caluha is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Santella in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Santella tries to hold on but Caluha postures up.
Caluha landing strikes from the mount and Santella is in trouble!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Caluha showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Santella gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Caluha lands a couple of elbows.
Caluha is looking to work some ground and pound but Santella has wrist control.
Caluha working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Santella looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Santella is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Caluha with a nice head shot there.
Santella controls Caluha momentarily but Caluha frees himself.
Caluha pushing down on Santella's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Caluha slips a nice elbow through Santella's hands, connecting with Santella's forehead.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santella is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Santella moves into full guard.
Santella trying to control the position.
Caluha postures up and lands a big shot to Santella's brow.
Santella utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Caluha postures up.

Santella is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Caluha scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two 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.

Caluha avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Caluha passes Santella's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Santella manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Caluha trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Caluha pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santella is keeping the position for now.

Santella working for a triangle but Caluha defends it easily.
Santella preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caluha being controlled here momentarily.
Caluha working some strikes from top position.
Caluha working some strikes from top position.
Santella can't keep his opponent in guard - Caluha advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Santella is trying to maintain the position but Caluha is very close to passing his half guard.
Caluha missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Santella keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Santella trying to control from the bottom.
Tomi Santella has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Santella is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Caluha's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Caluha's back!

Santella patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Santella keeps control of the position as Caluha tries to break free.

Santella is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Caluha knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Caluha for a finish.

Caluha preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Santella.
Santella doesn't have the hooks in and Caluha manages to turn into his guard.
Caluha postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tomi Santella.
Well Caluha 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Caluha!