PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joe Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derrick Waters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Santiago
vs
Waters

176 cm
25
135 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

176 cm
23
145 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

Conviction

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Santiago!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Derrick Waters!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Waters moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Santiago leaves Waters with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Santiago drops Waters with a left right combo! Santiago follows him down to the ground into side control.

Waters is rocked!

It looks like Derrick Waters has been cut.
Santiago tries to score with some ground and pound. Waters controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Waters is still in real trouble! Can Santiago finish him?

Santiago tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Santiago trying to control the position but Waters is working away.
Santiago working away.
Waters seems to have recovered his senses.

Santiago is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Waters is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Santiago tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Santiago has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago advances nicely into full mount.
Waters is in all sorts of trouble here.
Waters holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Santiago tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Santiago throws some wild stikes that Waters manages to avoid easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Santiago goes for an armbar but Waters turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Waters.

Santiago has his foot on Waters's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Waters works his way back into a safe position though.
Santiago keeping moving, preventing Waters from controlling successfully.
Santiago utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Waters wants to pass the guard but Santiago is keeping the position.
Waters is in close to Santiago's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Santiago controlling the position.
Waters keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Santiago's head.
Waters throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waters is looking to advance position but Santiago has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Santiago with the ground and pound from mount.

Santiago jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Waters is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Waters and Santiago has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Waters tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Santiago wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Santiago stands up.
Waters throws a head kick but Santiago moves out of range.
Waters fails to land the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Santiago as Waters shoots in.
Joe Santiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derrick Waters.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Waters shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Santiago manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Waters pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santiago is keeping the position for now.
Waters looks gassed!

Santiago pushes Waters off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Joe Santiago is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Santiago swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Waters counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Waters wants to pass the guard but Santiago is keeping the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Waters with a flurry of punches that miss.
Waters throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joe Santiago will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Derrick Waters'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.

Santiago bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Waters's head backwards.

Waters closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Santiago to the mat! Santiago manages to get full guard.
Santiago is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Waters prevents Santiago from getting back to his feet.
Waters trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Waters passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Waters tries for a kimura but Santiago is defending well.
Waters is breathing heavily.
Waters lands a nice forearm strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waters in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Waters throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Waters is looking to take a break and control but Santiago is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Santiago takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Santiago manages to get back to half guard.
Santiago is trying to maintain the position but Waters is very close to passing his half guard.
Waters is trying to control the action in half guard but Santiago is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Waters is working for a kimura but Santiago is defending it quite comfortably.
Santiago makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Santiago.

Santiago has his feet on Waters's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Santiago lands with a shot to the body.
Santiago tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Waters was well out of range. Poor timing from Santiago.
Nice sprawl there from Santiago as Waters shoots in.

Waters closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Waters working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Santiago manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waters throwing shots but Santiago is blocking nicely.
Santiago tries to kick Waters off but Waters keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Waters wants to free his trapped foot but Santiago is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santiago is trying to control but can't.
Waters trying to pass the guard but Santiago defending well.
Santiago wants to control but Waters is keeping busy and won't allow it.

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

Waters shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Waters was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago tries to buck Waters off but he can't manage it.
Santiago is trying to escape the mount.
Santiago is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Waters with the ground and pound from mount.
Santiago can't escape the position.
Waters trying to control but Santiago is having none of it.
Santiago keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Santiago is squirming around, avoiding Waters's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derrick Waters showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Derrick Waters's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Santiago stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Santiago wants it to stay on the feet.
Waters shoots in for a double leg but Santiago sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Waters fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Joe Santiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derrick Waters.
Santiago scores with a spinning back kick!
Santiago uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Waters has time to react.
Santiago scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Santiago throws a nice head kick!
Santiago lands a hook that stumbles Waters back into the cage. Santiago follows up with a straight and another hook that land right on the button, dropping Waters to the canvas! Santiago pounces and lands several unanswered shots - Waters has had enough and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Joe Santiago!
Joe Santiago retains his bantamweight title!