PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joe Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saul Clemente (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Santiago
vs
Clemente

176 cm
24
135 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

170 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Grappling Pro Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Santiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Saul Clemente!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clemente misses with a takedown attempt - Santiago sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Clemente tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santiago paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Clemente tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Santiago swivels and escapes.
Santiago ducks under a wild hook from Clemente.
Clemente misses with a series of wild punches.
Clemente throws a right hand that Santiago ducks under and follows up with a left that Santiago also avoids with ease.
Santiago fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clemente throws a series of punches but Santiago avoids them all with ease.
Santiago circles away from the clinch attempt

and Santiago holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago lands a knee to the body.
Santiago putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Clemente in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Santiago scores a nice knee to the body.
Clemente looks gassed!
Santiago landing knees to the head.

It looks like Saul Clemente has been cut.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Santiago scores with a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Santiago obliges.
Santiago lands a good knee to the midsection. Clemente won't want to take too many of those.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Santiago tries a knee to the head but Clemente blocks it.
Santiago putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Clemente in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Santiago landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Santiago.
Santiago landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Santiago connects with a nasty looking knee right to Clemente's face.
Santiago lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Santiago landing knees to the head.
Santiago working Clemente over with knees to the body.
Santiago working Clemente over with knees to the body.
Santiago missing with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Santiago.
Santiago really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Santiago lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago landing knees to the head.
Santiago putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Clemente in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Clemente wants to break the clinch but can't.
Clemente scores with a knee to the head.
Santiago unloads a knee to the mid-section. Clemente lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A shot in the inside from Santiago.
Santiago with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Santiago.
Santiago misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Clemente.
Clemente tries to score a body lock takedown but Santiago shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Joe Santiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saul Clemente.
Clemente takes a knee right on the jaw!
A head punch on the inside from Clemente fails to land.
A short body shot lands from Santiago as the two fighters clinch.
Santiago is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Santiago with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Santiago trying to land knees to the body.
Clemente is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Clemente takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clemente blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Clemente is trying to drag Santiago to the mat but Santiago just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Santiago scores a nice knee to the body.
Santiago lands a knee to the head.
Santiago throws an elbow that misses.
Santiago with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Clemente tries to break free but Santiago pushes him back against the cage.
Santiago tries to land knees in the clinch but Clemente avoids the damage to the body.
Santiago missing with knees to the body.
Santiago tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Clemente avoids it.

Clemente breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Clemente misses with a double jab

and Santiago counters by clinching up.
Santiago throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Clemente managing to block the knees to the body from Santiago.
Santiago with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Clemente throws a knee to the head but misses.
Clemente misses with a punch on the inside.
Santiago gets underhooks to prevent Clemente's takedown attempt.
Clemente avoiding damage as Santiago throws knees to the body.
Santiago working Clemente over with knees to the body.
Santiago with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Santiago tries to land knees in the clinch but Clemente avoids the damage to the body.
Clemente is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Santiago pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Santiago scores a nice knee to the body.
Santiago misses with a knee to the head.
Santiago using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Clemente has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Santiago trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Clemente tries a body shot but Santiago blocks it.
Clemente takes a knee right on the jaw!
Santiago misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Clemente.
Clemente with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Clemente blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Santiago dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Saul Clemente's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Clemente misses with a straight left.
Santiago keeps the fight on the outside.
Santiago displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Clemente throws out the jab.
Clemente tries to clinch up but Santiago circles away and keeps his distance.

Santiago has Clemente up against the cage in a clinch.
Santiago tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Clemente avoids it.
Santiago throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Clemente blocks it with crossed arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santiago lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Santiago lands a knee to the body.
Clemente with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Santiago lands a damaging elbow.
Santiago is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Santiago connects with a nasty looking knee right to Clemente's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago connects with a nasty looking knee right to Clemente's face.
Santiago missing with knees to the body.
Santiago trying to land knees to the body.
Santiago misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Clemente.
Santiago landing knees to the head.
Clemente has Santiago pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Santiago manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Santiago connects with a knee to the head.
Santiago misses with a knee to the head.
Santiago tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Clemente avoids it.
Santiago working aggressively here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Santiago using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Clemente has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Clemente breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Clemente scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Santiago doesn't manage to clinch there - Clemente circles away.
Clemente tries to clinch
and Santiago counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two 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.

Santiago moves into the clinch.
Clemente wants to break the clinch but can't.
Clemente takes a knee to the side of the body.
A knee to the head by Santiago.
Santiago lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Clemente.
Santiago working Clemente over with knees to the body.
Clemente tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Santiago avoids it.
Santiago lands a nice knee to the body.
Santiago landing knees to the body.
Santiago misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Clemente.
Santiago lands a knee to the head.
Santiago misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Clemente.
Clemente is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Clemente with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Santiago lands with a left to the head.
Santiago tries to land a knee to the head but Clemente blocks with his arms.
Santiago missing with knees to the body.
Santiago lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clemente managing to block the knees to the body from Santiago.

Clemente breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Santiago moves into the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Santiago obliges.
Clemente tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Santiago scores a nice knee to the body.
Santiago with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Santiago lands a good knee to the midsection. Clemente won't want to take too many of those.
Santiago missing with knees to the body.
Clemente blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Santiago tries a knee to the head but Clemente blocks it.
Santiago misses with a knee strike.
Clemente avoiding damage as Santiago throws knees to the body.
Clemente avoiding damage as Santiago throws knees to the body.
Santiago avoids a wild elbow strike from Clemente.
Santiago misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Clemente.
Clemente lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

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.
Clemente with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Clemente jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Santiago walks away with a smile on his face. Clemente gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Clemente pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Santiago wants to clinch up but Clemente keeps it at a distance.
Santiago is looking to clinch.
Santiago bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Santiago scores with a jab to the jaw.
Santiago tries to clinch up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fight stays on the outside here - Santiago looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Santiago fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Clemente, pushing him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Santiago dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Saul Clemente's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Santiago steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Clemente.
Santiago wants to clinch up but Clemente keeps it at a distance.
Clemente with a poor takedown

and Santiago holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Santiago lands a nice elbow.
Santiago lands a nice knee to the body.
Santiago utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Clemente takes a knee right on the jaw!
Joe Santiago has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Santiago connects with a nasty looking knee right to Clemente's face.
Santiago lands a shot to the body.
Santiago connects with a knee to the head.
Santiago putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Clemente in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Santiago crunches a lovely knee into Clemente's ribcage.
Santiago scores a nice knee to the body.
Santiago lands a knee to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santiago misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Clemente.
Santiago looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clemente tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Santiago smiles and moves away.
Saul Clemente is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Santiago wants to clinch up but Clemente keeps it at a distance.

Santiago gets a takedown into half guard.
Santiago is looking to advance position but Clemente won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Santiago decides to stand up.
Clemente throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Santiago moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Clemente in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Clemente managing to block the knees to the body from Santiago.
Clemente trying to control the position but instead, Santiago has worked for underhooks and has pushed Clemente into the cage.
Santiago lands a nice knee to the body.
Clemente misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Santiago.
Knees to the body from Santiago.
Knees to the body from Santiago.
Santiago lands an elbow just above Clemente 's eye.
Knees to the body from Santiago.
Santiago tries to land a knee to the head but Clemente blocks with his arms.
Santiago misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Clemente.
Clemente has Santiago pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Santiago manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Joe Santiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saul Clemente.
Santiago trying to land knees to the body.
Clemente wants to break the clinch but can't.
Santiago scores with a knee to the head.
Clemente on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clemente on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Santiago lands a good knee to the midsection. Clemente won't want to take too many of those.
Santiago tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Clemente is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Clemente misses with a knee to the head.
Clemente has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Santiago avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Santiago working Clemente over with knees to the body.
Santiago trying to land knees to the body.
Clemente blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Clemente blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Santiago missing with knees to the body.
Santiago gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Clemente managing to block the knees to the body from Santiago.
Clemente has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Clemente managing to block the knees to the body from Santiago.
Clemente managing to block the knees to the body from Santiago.
Clemente throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Santiago blocks it with crossed arms.
Santiago throws a knee to the head but misses.
Joe Santiago is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Clemente is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Clemente tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Santiago lands an elbow just above Clemente 's eye.
Santiago with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Santiago lands a knee to the head.
Santiago lands a knee to the body.
Clemente tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Santiago lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Santiago lands a nice knee to the body.
Santiago lands a knee to the body.
Clemente takes a knee right on the jaw!
Clemente tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Saul Clemente has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Santiago.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Santiago showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Santiago has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:25
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:26
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:25

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