PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sanouk Fairtex (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fairtex's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, W.A.S.P - Crazy. Santos has chosen Mala vida as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Fairtex
vs
Santos

170 cm
21
145 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

182 cm
23
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sanouk Fairtex!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Santos!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Paulo Santos and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Fairtex.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Fairtex has managed to clinch.
Santos tries to land knees in the clinch but Fairtex avoids the damage to the body.
Fairtex lands a nice elbow.
Santos tries for a takedown. No joy.
A knee to the head by Fairtex.
Santos tries to break free but Fairtex pushes him back against the cage.
Santos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Fairtex walks away with a smile on his face. Santos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Santos tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fairtex was well out of range. Poor timing from Santos.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Fairtex!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Santos tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Fairtex smiles and moves away.
Sanouk Fairtex has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Santos.
Fairtex with a hook.
Santos shoots in for a double leg but Fairtex sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Fairtex lands the left hand.
Santos tries to clinch up but Fairtex circles away and keeps his distance.
Fairtex throws a nice looking combination but Santos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Fairtex stalks Santos and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Santos's face. Santos staggers backwards, shaken.
Fairtex looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Santos closes the distance and clinches up with Fairtex, looking for a takedown. Santos pushes Fairtex against the cage but Fairtex circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Fairtex drives through and clinches with Santos against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Fairtex.
A short right from Fairtex.
Fairtex landing knees to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fairtex lands a nice elbow.
Santos takes a shot to the head.
A short left from Fairtex.
Santos takes an elbow to the temple.
Santos takes an elbow to the forehead.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Fairtex lands an elbow inside that Santos shrugs off.
Fairtex lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Fairtex lands a knee to the head.
Fairtex tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Fairtex tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Santos tries to land knees in the clinch but Fairtex avoids the damage to the body.
Fairtex lands a knee to the head.
Fairtex comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Santos looks gassed!
Fairtex lands a hook to the side of the head.
Fairtex tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Fairtex.
Santos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Fairtex walks away with a smile on his face. Santos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Fairtex.

Fairtex has managed to clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Fairtex obliges.
Santos tries to score a body lock takedown but Fairtex shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Fairtex with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A knee to the head by Fairtex.
Santos with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Fairtex managing to block the knees to the body from Santos.
Fairtex connects with a knee to the head.
Santos takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex scores with a knee to the head.
Fairtex lands an elbow inside that Santos shrugs off.
Fairtex lands with a short shot to the head.
Santos takes a knee right on the jaw!
Fairtex lands an elbow that stopped Santos in his tracks for a moment.
Santos tries to pull guard but Fairtex won't allow it.
Santos goes for a takedown in the clinch but Fairtex prevents it.
Fairtex tries to land a knee to the head but Santos blocks with his arms.
Santos is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Fairtex crunches a lovely knee into Santos's ribcage.
Fairtex scores a nice knee to the body.
Fairtex lands a shoulder strike.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Fairtex comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Santos has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Fairtex uses from the top position.
Fairtex chips away with some ground and pound.
Fairtex trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Santos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fairtex can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Santos keeping full guard, as Fairtex tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos keeping moving, preventing Fairtex from controlling successfully.
Santos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Santos working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fairtex doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fairtex manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Fairtex trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Fairtex connects with a crisp jab.
Fairtex scores with a nice body kick.
Fairtex darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Fairtex swinging wildly here.

Fairtex gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four 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.
Santos takes an elbow to the forehead.
Fairtex looking to throw knees to the head but Santos is blocking nicely.
Fairtex crunches a lovely knee into Santos's ribcage.
Santos takes an elbow to the forehead.
Fairtex is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Fairtex is pressed up against the cage. Santos has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Fairtex down to the mat. Fairtex avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Santos walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Sanouk Fairtex seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fairtex lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Fairtex works over Santos's head and body with a nice combination.
Fairtex connects with a jab.
Santos stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Fairtex.
Santos tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Santos drops his hands momentarily and Fairtex takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
No luck for Santos with that takedown attempt.
Fairtex moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Fairtex.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santos takes one to the side of the head.
Fairtex lands a nice shot to the body.
Fairtex lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sanouk Fairtex dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Fairtex feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Santos's calf.
A punch lands to the side of Santos 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Santos takes the fight into the clinch.
Fairtex lands a nice uppercut.
Fairtex is pressed up against the cage. Santos has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Fairtex down to the mat. Fairtex avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Fairtex lands an overhand right.
Fairtex buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Fairtex misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Fairtex fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Santos, pushing him back against the cage.
Fairtex scores a nice knee to the body.
Santos drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Fairtex gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Fairtex is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Fairtex lands a damaging elbow.
Fairtex connects with a nasty looking knee right to Santos's face.
Fairtex gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Fairtex lands an uppercut.
Fairtex connects with a nasty looking knee right to Santos's face.
Fairtex lands a knee to the body.
Fairtex trying to control the position but instead, Santos has worked for underhooks and has pushed Fairtex into the cage.
Fairtex scores with a knee to the head.
Fairtex utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fairtex using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Fairtex lands a body punch in the clinch.
Fairtex lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Fairtex utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Santos is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Fairtex gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sanouk Fairtex has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Santos.
Fairtex lands an elbow that stopped Santos in his tracks for a moment.
Fairtex crunches a lovely knee into Santos's ribcage.
Fairtex lands a knee to the head.
Santos tries a knee to the head but Fairtex blocks it.
Fairtex slows down the pace here.
Fairtex gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Santos using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Fairtex has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Fairtex lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Fairtex lands a nice knee to the body.
Santos has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Fairtex avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Fairtex leaning his opponent against the cage.
Santos has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Fairtex avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Fairtex creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Santos's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Santos on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Fairtex is struggling to control the position.
Knees to the body from Santos.
Fairtex lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Fairtex lands a damaging elbow.
Fairtex throws a head punch that misses.
Santos tries to pull guard but Fairtex holds him up against the cage and eventually Santos drops back down to his feet.
Santos tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Fairtex smiles and moves away.
Fairtex cracks Santos with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Fairtex.
Santos tries to clinch up but Fairtex circles away and keeps his distance.
Fairtex connects with a looping right hand.
Fairtex throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Santos on the side of the head.
Fairtex plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Fairtex moves into the clinch.
Fairtex lands an elbow just above Santos 's eye.
Fairtex lands an elbow just above Santos 's eye.
Fairtex prevents a body shot from Santos.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex landing knees to the body.
Santos takes an elbow to the forehead.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Fairtex creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Fairtex throws an elbow but it misses.
Fairtex scores with a shot to the side of Santos's head.
Fairtex connects with a knee to the head.
Fairtex lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Santos is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Fairtex lands a knee to the head.
Santos tries to score a body lock takedown but Fairtex shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Fairtex presses Santos against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Fairtex misses with a knee strike.
Santos tries for a takedown. No joy.
Santos avoids a wild elbow strike from Fairtex.
Fairtex lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Fairtex avoiding damage as Santos throws knees to the body.
Fairtex stalling in the clinch but Santos improves position.
Fairtex unloads a knee to the mid-section. Santos lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Santos throws a punch but it's blocked by Fairtex.
Fairtex misses with an elbow over the top.
Fairtex prevents a body shot from Santos.
Fairtex lands a nice elbow.
Santos fails to pull guard.
Fairtex landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Fairtex with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos takes an elbow to the forehead.
Santos goes for a takedown in the clinch but Fairtex prevents it.
Fairtex lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Fairtex blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sanouk Fairtex has scored more points in the clinch so far.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Fairtex creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Stalling in the clinch from Fairtex.
A head punch on the inside from Fairtex fails to land.
Fairtex comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Fairtex lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Fairtex looking to slow down the pace here.
Santos looking for a takedown.
Fairtex prevents the takedown attempt.
Santos has Fairtex pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Fairtex manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Fairtex unloads a knee to the mid-section. Santos lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Fairtex gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Santos.
Fairtex makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fairtex cracks Santos with a nice body shot.
Santos misses with a knee strike.
Fairtex with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Fairtex.
Fairtex tries to land knees in the clinch but Santos avoids the damage to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sanouk Fairtex dominated that second round.
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. And we move into the final round!

Horrible takedown by Santos or perhaps it was just good defense by Fairtex which made him look bad.
A right-left combo lands from Fairtex.
Fairtex dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Santos. That did some damage!
Fairtex changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Santos throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fairtex's waist but Fairtex gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Santos off to one side.
Fairtex displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Santos takes one on the button.

Fairtex closes the distance and clinches.
Fairtex lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Santos is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Fairtex is defending well for now.
Fairtex lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Fairtex obliges.
Santos goes for a takedown attempt but Fairtex pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sanouk Fairtex has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Santos.
Fairtex with a hook.
A jab from Fairtex finds it's way through Santos's defenses.
Fairtex throws a series of punches but Santos avoids them all with ease.
Santos has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Fairtex lands with a straight right. Santos didn't see that one coming.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Fairtex.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fairtex buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Santos closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Fairtex throws a quick inside leg kick.

Fairtex clinches with his opponent.
Fairtex lands a nice elbow.
Santos trying to land knees to the body.
Fairtex lands with a short shot to the head.
Fairtex connects with a nasty looking knee right to Santos's face.
Santos jumps guard but Fairtex stands there with Santos around his waist. Santos gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Fairtex creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Santos's defenses.
Fairtex lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Fairtex tries a knee to the head but Santos blocks it.
Fairtex landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Fairtex stops a takedown attempt from Santos.
Fairtex with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Santos avoiding damage as Fairtex throws knees to the body.
Fairtex misses with a knee to the head.
Santos goes for a takedown in the clinch but Fairtex prevents it.
Fairtex lands with a light punch inside.
Fairtex's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Fairtex is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Santos can do to turn this around?
Fairtex lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos crunches a lovely knee into Fairtex's ribcage.
Fairtex lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Santos.
Fairtex throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Fairtex looking to throw knees to the head but Santos is blocking nicely.
Santos blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Santos drops down looking for an ankle pick but Fairtex pulls his leg out and moves away.
Fairtex jabs Santos right on the nose. Santos blinks but takes it well.

Fairtex darts in and clinches Santos up against the cage.
Fairtex lands a damaging elbow.
Fairtex utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Santos is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Fairtex pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Fairtex with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Fairtex using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Fairtex lands an elbow that stopped Santos in his tracks for a moment.
Santos wants a takedown but no success here.
Fairtex lands a damaging elbow.
Fairtex stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Santos tries to land a knee to the head but Fairtex blocks with his arms.
Fairtex lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Santos takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Fairtex scores with a knee to the head.
Fairtex utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Fairtex keeps control of Santos as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Fairtex tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Santos's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Santos tries to land knees in the clinch but Fairtex avoids the damage to the body.
Santos tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Fairtex lands a nice knee to the body.
A short left from Fairtex.
Fairtex gets underhooks to prevent Santos's takedown attempt.
Fairtex with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Fairtex creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Santos's defenses.
Santos is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Fairtex gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Fairtex gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Fairtex.
Fairtex throws a knee to the head but misses.
Santos managing to block the knees to the body from Fairtex.
A nice left hand lands by Fairtex.
Fairtex lands an elbow inside.
Fairtex looking to throw knees to the head but Santos is blocking nicely.
Fairtex is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
With the fighters up against the cage, Fairtex throws an elbow but misses.

Santos works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Rafael Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santos thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Santos stops Fairtex from standing up.
Fairtex keeping moving, preventing Santos from controlling successfully.
Fairtex might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Fairtex is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Fairtex kicks Santos off and gets to his feet.
Santos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Fairtex sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Santos somewhat.
Fairtex thumps Santos with a low kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sanouk Fairtex showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Fairtex, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sanouk Fairtex!