PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Max Powers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santos has chosen Mala vida as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Powers
vs
Santos

167 cm
24
145 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

182 cm
23
145 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Max Powers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Santos!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Felipe Paraventi and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Powers misses with the combination.
Powers looks to land a left hand but Santos moved out of range nicely.
Santos ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Max Powers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Powers misses with a straight right.
Powers keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Santos shoots in but no luck this time.
Santos tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Powers paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Powers misses with a straight right.
Santos gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Santos takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Santos slips a jab and a cross from Powers.

Powers throws a left that rocks Santos and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Powers dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Santos regain composure!

Santos is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Powers working the ground and pound.
Santos is still in real trouble! Can Powers finish him?
Santos tries to bench press Powers off him but Powers keeps the position.
Santos takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Santos on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Santos wants to control but Powers postures up.
Santos takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Santos seems to have recovered his senses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos is working to avoid the ground and pound but Powers connects with a decent elbow.
Powers working away.
Powers is working Santos over with some ground and pound from side control.
Powers throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Powers throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Powers works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santos is looking to reverse the position.
Santos is working to avoid the ground and pound but Powers connects with a decent elbow.
Santos is being controlled here.
Powers scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Santos to see if he's OK.
Powers lands a few punches from side control.
Santos is trying to control Powers's posture but Powers avoids it.
Santos is looking for a sweep.
Santos looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Santos is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Powers lands an elbow.
Powers trying to control the action but Santos is working from the bottom.
Powers looks up at the clock and then as Santos takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Powers smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Powers looks up at the clock and then as Santos takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Powers smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Santos can't do much from the bottom here.
Santos is working to avoid the ground and pound but Powers connects with a decent elbow.
Powers in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers lands some shots froms side control.
Powers in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Powers scoring with punches from side control.
Powers working the ground and pound from side control.

Powers stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Santos tries for a takedown but Powers sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Santos.
Max Powers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Santos.
Powers is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Powers uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Jab, jab by Powers - just one landing.
Santos fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Powers displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Powers misses.
A cross from Powers lands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Powers shoots in but Santos avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Powers swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Santos slips a jab and a cross from Powers.
Santos walks into a left hand.
Santos is trying desperately to land a takedown but Powers is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Santos.
Powers swats away the attempt to clinch by Santos.
Santos takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Powers misses with a wild body shot.
Powers fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Powers looks to land a right hand but Santos moved out of range.
No joy there for Powers, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Good leg kick by Santos there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Powers throws out a loose jab but Santos uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Powers dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Santos is looking to clinch but Powers is avoiding it.
Powers connects with a body shot.
Powers throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Santos's waist but Santos gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Powers off to one side.
Powers throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Santos.
Santos avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Powers throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Santos shoots in looking for a takedown. Powers tries to sprawl out of it but Santos keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Powers manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Horrible takedown by Santos or perhaps it was just good defense by Powers which made him look bad.
Max Powers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Santos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Powers is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Powers fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Santos avoids it really well and circles away.
Santos fails with the takedown
and Powers counters with a series of strikes. Santos will be more careful next time no doubt.
Max Powers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Santos.
Powers misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powers stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Powers wants it to stay on the feet.
Santos drops his hands momentarily and Powers takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Santos wants to clinch but Powers slips to the side
letting Powers counter with a right hand.
Santos tries to clinch
and Powers counters with a stiff right hand.
Powers scores with a one two! Santos had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Santos gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Santos slips a straight right by Powers.
The crowd cheers as Powers lands an impressive looking overhand right. Santos doesn't seem phased though.
Santos misses with a takedown attempt
and Powers counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Santos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Powers swivels and escapes.
Good shot there by Powers.
Powers scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Santos is defended easily by Powers.
Powers fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Powers wants it to stay on the feet.
Santos on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Powers smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A right-left combo lands from Powers.
Santos takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Santos has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Santos slips under a jab.
Santos avoids the body shot from Powers.
Powers swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Santos moves into range and clinches up with Powers.

Santos pulls Powers into guard.
Powers trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Santos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Powers postures up and lands a big shot to Santos's brow.
Santos throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Santos looking for a sweep. Not yet Santos, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Powers postures up and lands a big shot to Santos's brow.

Santos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Powers working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Santos's head.
Powers postures up.
Santos keeping moving, preventing Powers from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Powers misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Santos shoots in for a double leg but Powers sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Santos takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Powers lands a jab to the head.
Santos slips a jab and a cross from Powers.
Santos closes the distance looking to clinch
and Powers counters with a stiff right hand.

Santos gets a clinch.
Powers tries to circle away but Santos has him pinned against the cage.
Powers on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Santos trying to control the position but instead, Powers has worked for underhooks and has pushed Santos into the cage.
Powers has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Powers lands with a light punch inside.

Santos gets control of Powers's arms and successfully pulls guard. Santos will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Santos wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Powers is now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Powers dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Powers lands the left hand.
Santos gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Powers counters with a stiff right hand.
A left and a right from Powers both land. Nice combination.
Santos looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Powers tries to bum rush Santos with a series of wild strikes but Santos uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Powers keeps the fight on the outside.
Powers lands a lovely overhand right.
Powers circles away from the clinch attempt.
Santos looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Santos has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Santos needs to keep his hands up - Powers had a free shot at his head there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Powers scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Powers lands a nice shot that snaps Santos's head back.
Powers connects with the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powers misses with a wild body shot.
Santos feints and then cracks Powers's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Powers down.
Powers fails to land with a series of punches.
Powers is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Santos can do to turn this around?
Powers dips to his left and cracks Santos with an uppercut!
Max Powers is winning the standup battle so far.
Santos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Santos defending well as Powers loads up on a big left hand.
Powers swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Santos fails with the takedown
and Powers counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Max Powers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Santos.
Santos goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Powers ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Powers throws a sloppy head kick

and Santos counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Santos.
Powers on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Powers breaks the clinch.
Some bone on bone action there as Santos checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Santos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos throws a wild body kick that Powers sees coming a mile off.
Powers lands a jab-cross combination.
Santos throws a sloppy head kick and Powers moves out of range easily.
Santos tries to close the distance and clinch but Powers swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice shot by Powers.
Powers looks to land a left hand but Santos moved out of range nicely.
Santos takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Santos throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Powers cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Powers lands a two punch combo.
Santos shoots in and drives through. Powers sprawls well.
Santos throws a nice looking combination but Powers bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Powers is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Santos has his takedown stuffed
and Santos takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Santos will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Santos misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Santos counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Santos missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Santos throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Powers is trying to stand back up but Santos is controlling him

Santos is looking for a kimura but Powers is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Santos to get the leverage.
Rafael Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powers wants to get back to his feet.
Santos not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Santos missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Powers might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Powers closes this distance looking for a takedown but Santos circles away.
Santos tries to clinch up but Powers circles away and keeps his distance.
Santos ducks under a wild hook from Powers.
Santos throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Powers's head.
Santos lands with a nice combination. Powers backs away looking to recover.
Santos misses with a double jab.
Powers lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Max Powers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Santos lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Santos.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Max Powers.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Powers, 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:26
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:26
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Powers!