PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joe Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Santiago
vs
Henderson

176 cm
25
135 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

169 cm
22
138 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 7 - 3 - 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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Henderson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Henderson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Santiago misses with a hook. Henderson ducked under it nicely.
Santiago throws a lazy right hand but Henderson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Henderson closes the distance and clinches.
Knees to the body from Santiago.
Santiago lands a nice knee to the body.
Henderson looks gassed!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santiago slowing the pace effectively.
Santiago lands an elbow that stopped Henderson in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Joe Henderson has been cut.
Santiago unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Santiago gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Santiago with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Nice elbow from Santiago.
Santiago lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Santiago.
Santiago with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Santiago slowing the pace effectively.
Santiago landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago has Henderson pressed against the cage.
Santiago landing knees to the body.
Santiago taking a breather.

Santiago breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Santiago moves into range and clinches up with Henderson.
Santiago unloads a knee to the mid-section. Henderson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Santiago scores a nice knee to the body.

Santiago pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Santiago scores with a nice right hand.
Santiago takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Joe Henderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A cross from Santiago lands.
Henderson walks into a stiff left hand from Santiago.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Santiago gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Santiago using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santiago breaks from the clinch.
Santiago cracks Henderson with a right hand to the side of the head.
Santiago digs a good hook to Henderson's body.

Santiago gets a clinch.
Santiago is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Santiago escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Henderson looks for a takedown but Santiago sprawls well.

Santiago closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Santiago unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Santiago with a knee to the head.

Santiago escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Good exchange - Santiago coming out on top.
Santiago throws a series of strikes that have Henderson backpedaling.
Santiago is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Santiago lands a lovely overhand right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Santiago pinned against the cage. Santiago gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Henderson shoots for a double leg takedown but Santiago sprawls well. He's pushed Henderson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Joe Santiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Henderson.

Santiago moves into the clinch successfully.
Henderson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Santiago prevents it.
Santiago slows down the pace here.
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 landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Santiago breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Santiago throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Santiago clinches with his opponent.
Henderson takes a knee to the side of the body.
Santiago lands a knee to the body.

Santiago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Santiago with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Santiago to score with a decent uppercut.
Santiago lands a nice looking body shot.
Henderson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Santiago gets a clinch.
Santiago crunches a lovely knee into Henderson's ribcage.

Santiago breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Santiago lands a nice shot that snaps Henderson's head back.
Henderson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Santiago instigates a clinch.

Santiago breaks the clinch.
Santiago is looking to clinch but Henderson is avoiding it.
Santiago lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Henderson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Santiago thuds his right hand into Henderson's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Santiago looks to land a right hand but Henderson moved out of range.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Santiago as he avoids it easily.
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 Joe Henderson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Santiago drives through and clinches with Henderson against the cage.

Santiago's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Santiago gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Santiago manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Henderson swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Santiago landing strikes, looking to finish!

Santiago is standing up, even though he is in mount.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Henderson.
Santiago misses the jab.
Joe Santiago is winning the standup battle so far.
Santiago scores with a jab. Henderson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Henderson is breathing heavily.
Santiago ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Santiago has Henderson up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago pressing his opponent against the cage.
Santiago putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Henderson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Santiago is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Santiago with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Santiago is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Santiago escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A decent looking cross lands there for Santiago.
Henderson dives in and grabs Santiago's left leg, looking for a takedown. Santiago pushes down on Henderson's head and hops out.
Santiago lands a with a good body shot.
Santiago scores with a spinning back kick!

Santiago rushes Henderson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Henderson tries to circle away but Santiago has him pinned against the cage.

Santiago manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Santiago. No joy for Henderson on that attempt.
Joe Santiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Henderson.
Nice shot by Santiago.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santiago moves into range and clinches up with Henderson.
Santiago prevents a takedown attempt there.
Santiago landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Santiago landing knees to the head.
Santiago using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Henderson takes an elbow to the temple.
Henderson tries to break free but Santiago pushes him back against the cage.
Santiago stalls.
Santiago connects with a nasty looking knee right to Henderson's face.
Santiago lands an elbow inside.
Santiago presses Henderson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Knees in the clinch landing for Santiago.

Santiago breaks from the clinch.
Henderson shoots in looking for a takedown. Santiago tries to sprawl out of it but Henderson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Santiago manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago stuns Henderson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Henderson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Santiago is fending him off so far but Henderson persists. Nope, Santiago circles away and we're back to standing.
Santiago connects with a looping right hand.
Henderson takes a jab right on the kisser.
Santiago cracks Henderson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Henderson closes the distance looking to clinch

and Santiago counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Henderson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Santiago fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Henderson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Santiago has Henderson up against the cage in a clinch.
Santiago is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santiago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Henderson has his takedown stuffed
and Santiago counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Santiago cracks Henderson with a right hand to the side of the head.
Joe Santiago is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Santiago misses with a hook.
Santiago lands with a straight right. Henderson didn't see that one coming.
Santiago connects with a single shot there.

Santiago closes the distance and clinches.
Santiago is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Santiago unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Henderson tries a body shot but Santiago blocks it.
Santiago lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Santiago stops a takedown attempt from Henderson.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Santiago breaks the clinch.
Santiago throws an overhand right that lands on Henderson's shoulder, as Henderson tries to avoid the shot.

Henderson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Santiago sprawls well initially but Henderson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santiago is pressing down on Henderson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Henderson won't allow Santiago to get back to his feet.
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 Joe Henderson's cut.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Henderson feints and as Santiago raises his hands in defense, Henderson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Santiago has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Henderson should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Santiago has tightened it up now! Henderson should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Joe Santiago!