PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Felix Gaeta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gaeta comes to the cage accompanied by B.Y.O.B.. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Gaeta
vs
Santiago

170 cm
24
145 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

176 cm
25
135 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Powerful

Vandal fight Boutique -ACME- *$5 tee!*
Anti Tapout Clothing ACME

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Felix Gaeta!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Santiago!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gaeta dodges the punch combination from Santiago.

Santiago moves into range and clinches up with Gaeta.
Santiago is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Gaeta takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Santiago lands a knee to the body.
Santiago is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Gaeta dodges an elbow strike from Santiago.
Gaeta is trying to break the clinch but Santiago has him pressed against the cage.

Santiago's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gaeta shoots in for a takedown but Santiago shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gaeta on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Gaeta fails with a takedown attempt.
Gaeta is trying hard to land a takedown here. Santiago sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Gaeta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santiago misses with an uppercut.
Santiago throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Santiago lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gaeta shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Santiago as he avoids it easily.

Santiago has closed the distance and engaged Gaeta in a clinch.
Gaeta is working for takedown but Santiago is calmly controlling the position for now.

Santiago breaks from the clinch.

Santiago rushes Gaeta and presses him up against the cage.
Gaeta tries to pull guard but Santiago holds him up against the cage and eventually Gaeta drops back down to his feet.
Santiago trying to control the position but instead, Gaeta has worked for underhooks and has pushed Santiago into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaeta managing to block the knees to the body from Santiago.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gaeta. Santiago does a little dance to reset his feet.
Santiago throws out a loose jab but Gaeta uses good head movement to avoid it.
Santiago keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Santiago moves into range and connects with a jab.

Santiago moves into the clinch.
Santiago prevents a takedown attempt there.

Santiago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gaeta on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Santiago lands a body shot.
A jab from Santiago misses.
Joe Santiago is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gaeta lets loose with a powerful body kick. Santiago will feel that in the morning.
Santiago displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Santiago missing with a left hand there. Gaeta was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gaeta is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gaeta tries for a takedown but Santiago sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gaeta is breathing heavily.

Santiago moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Santiago missing with knees to the body.

Santiago breaks the clinch.
Gaeta gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Santiago throws a nice looking combination but Gaeta bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gaeta clinches but Santiago breaks the clinch

and Santiago counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Santiago trying to land knees to the body.
Gaeta has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Gaeta escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Santiago moves into the clinch.
Santiago scores a nice knee to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Santiago obliges.

Gaeta breaks from the clinch.
Gaeta tries to clinch up.

Santiago darts in and clinches Gaeta up against the cage.
Santiago lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Felix Gaeta has been cut.
Gaeta wants to stall.
Gaeta tries to break the clinch but Santiago is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santiago breaks the clinch.

Gaeta forces Santiago back against the cage and clinches.
Gaeta dodges an elbow strike from Santiago.
Gaeta tries to break free but Santiago pushes him back against the cage.
Gaeta has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Santiago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gaeta misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Santiago moves into range and connects with a jab.
Santiago lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Felix Gaeta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santiago swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Santiago is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gaeta tries to clinch but Santiago moves out of range.

Gaeta clinches.

Santiago escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gaeta shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Santiago as he avoids it easily.

Santiago moves into the clinch.
Gaeta takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gaeta blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Gaeta pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Santiago lands the left hand.
Gaeta takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Gaeta is rocked!
Santiago lands with a jab that stuns his opponent. Gaeta is looking to close the distance but Santiago sees it coming and throws a beautiful knee! Gaeta crumbles to the mat and that's all she wrote! Let's hope Gaeta is OK because that was naaaaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:18 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Knee). Joe Santiago!
Joe Santiago is the new bantamweight champion!