PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Carlos Santiago was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Miller
vs
Santiago

190 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

194 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Miller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carlos Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Cecil Peabody and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Miller rushes Santiago and presses him up against the cage.

Santiago breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Santiago throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
No luck for Miller with that takedown attempt.
Santiago clinches but Miller breaks the clinch

so Miller counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Santiago is looking for a triangle but Miller pushes his legs off easily.
Santiago really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Miller. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Santiago is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Miller is controlling him.
Miller trying to control but Santiago is working from the bottom.
Santiago wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago wants to stand up but Miller is controlling him.

Miller drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Santiago dives on top into guard.
Santiago is looking to stand up but Miller won't let him.
Santiago sitting in guard here, content to control.
Santiago wanted to stand there but Miller had control of the position.
Miller keeping moving, preventing Santiago from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Miller looking for a guillotine here but Santiago defends easily.
Miller controls Santiago momentarily but Santiago frees himself.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Santiago wants to stand and escape but instead Miller has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Santiago wants to stand up but Miller is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago looking for a sweep. Not yet Santiago, not yet.
Miller throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Santiago wants to sweep but no luck.
Miller thows a big elbow that misses.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Santiago tries for a takedown but Miller circles away easily

and Miller counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Santiago looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is in trouble now - Miller has advanced to mount!
Miller punching from mount but Santiago doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Miller avoids the attempt from Santiago to control.
Santiago sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Miller blocks the strikes from Santiago.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Miller dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Santiago gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Miller to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Santiago has his feet on Miller's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Miller with a lazy takedown attempt

and Santiago counters with a single leg into guard. Miller didn't expect that.
Santiago keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Miller's head.

Miller escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Santiago gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Santiago stands and steps away. Miller gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller shoots and misses

and Santiago counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Santiago is working for a kimura but Miller is defending it quite comfortably.
Santiago trying to control the pace.
Santiago lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is controlling the pace.

Miller actively working from the bottom here.
Miller throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Santiago is pressing down on Miller's thigh, looking to free his foot. Miller is holding on for now.
Santiago looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller is trying to get back to full guard.
Santiago is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Santiago is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santiago drops an elbow to the side of Miller's head.

Santiago is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Miller on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

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.

Santiago is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Miller defends it well.
Santiago is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Miller manages to get to full guard.
Santiago would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Miller is looking for a triangle but Santiago pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Santiago showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Santiago throws a right and a left that both miss.
Santiago tries to clinch up.

Santiago shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Santiago showed some decent athleticism there.
Miller has hold of Santiago's hands but Santiago slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Miller slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Miller is working an open guard so Santiago takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller tries for a takedown but Santiago circles away easily

and Santiago counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Miller!
Santiago postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Miller looks a forlorn figure.
Miller is trying desperately to improve position.
Santiago blocks Miller's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Santiago landing strikes from the mount.

Santiago working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller working to try and regain half guard.

Santiago goes for an armbar but Miller turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Miller.
Miller prevents Santiago from getting back to his feet.
Miller throwing strikes from guard but Santiago blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is looking to stand up but Miller isn't so interested in that idea.

Santiago uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Miller has his takedown stuffed

and Santiago decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Miller's guard.
Carlos Santiago has got the better of the ground game so far.

Miller is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Santiago postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Miller is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Santiago, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller stops Santiago from standing up.
Santiago looking for a sweep. Not yet Santiago, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carlos Santiago comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Santiago has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

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