PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pedro Santana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raz Zar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raz Zar is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Santana
vs
Zar

180 cm
19
207 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

190 cm
24
210 lbs
2 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

WIN Nutritional

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pedro Santana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raz Zar!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Santana is defended easily by Zar.
Zar with a lazy takedown attempt

and Santana counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zar won't be happy with that.
Zar is looking to regain half guard here but Santana keeps moving and retains side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
You can see the frustration on Zar's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Santana postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Santana happy to just control the position for now.
Zar tries to buck Santana off but Santana is having none of it.
Zar can't do much from the bottom here.
Zar is trying to escape the position but Santana is controlling the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Zar is looking to reverse the position.
Zar looks gassed!

Santana is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Zar knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Santana shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Zar is trying to defend but Santana finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Santana takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Zar gets full guard.
Zar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zar is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Santana thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zar looking for a sweep. Not yet Zar, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santana is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Santana throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zar works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zar is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Santana scores a takedown into full mount!
Zar is in all sorts of trouble here.

Santana is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Zar is surviving well by controlling Santana's body position as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zar tries to lock up and control but Santana gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Santana tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Santana trying to control but Zar is having none of it.
Santana sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Santana avoids the attempt from Zar to control.
Zar working to try and regain half guard.

That's four 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.

Santana with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Santana can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zar is looking to escape.
Zar is in all sorts of trouble here.
Santana tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Zar 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pedro Santana dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zar shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Santana tries to hold on but Zar pushes him away.

Zar goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Santana turns into him and now he's in Zar's guard.
Santana showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Pedro Santana just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Santana has his takedown stuffed

and Zar counters with a shoot takedown. Santana fights it but they end up in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zar trying to control the position from guard on top but Santana is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santana working a defensive guard here.
Santana is pulling down on Zar's head to control his posture.

Zar got a little sloppy there for a moment and Santana has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zar has managed to get both his arms back between Santana's legs - danger averted.
Zar wants to control from the top but Santana keeps moving.

Santana is looking for a triangle but Zar pushes his legs off easily.
Zar must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Zar drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zar jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two 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.
Santana is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Zar feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Zar controls from within his opponent's guard.

Zar drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Santana manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Zar has Santana in his guard.
Santana throwing strikes from guard but Zar blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Zar is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zar working a defensive guard but Santana passes into half guard.
Santana content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four 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.
Zar wants to control but Santana is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Santana wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zar keeps working.
Santana trying to control the pace.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Pedro Santana just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Zar shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Santana counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Pedro Santana overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zar gets full guard.
Santana showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Zar pulls Santana in to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Pedro Santana will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Zar misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pedro Santana is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Santana shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Zar manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Zar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santana controlling from the top position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santana in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zar is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Zar looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Zar trying to control from Santana's half guard. Santana has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's two 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.
Santana is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Santana stalling.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zar manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Santana drops back, looking for a kneebar! Zar looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Zar looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Zar!
Santana is not content to let Zar control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Santana's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Zar trying to control the position but Santana is working away.
You can see the frustration on Santana's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Santana is trying to get back to half guard.

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.
Zar trying to control the position but Santana is working away.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zar tries for a takedown but Santana circles away easily

and Santana counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zar won't be happy with that.
Raz Zar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zar is not content to let Santana control the position.
You can see the frustration on Zar's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Pedro Santana is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zar is looking for a sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pedro Santana showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Santana 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pedro Santana!