PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Stuart Efron (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Efron
vs
Santiago

170 cm
24
130 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

176 cm
27
135 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Powerful

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Stuart Efron!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Santiago!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Efron connects with a nice looking jab.
Stuart Efron seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Efron looks to land a right hand but Santiago moved out of range.
Santiago misses with a double jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Efron looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Efron circles away from the clinch attempt.
Efron lands a nice hook to Santiago's body. Santiago takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Santiago is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
No joy there for Efron, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Santiago pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Santiago wants to clinch.
Santiago is looking to clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Efron misses the target.
Santiago fails with a takedown attempt.
The fighters circle momentarily. Efron darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Efron takes a swing at Santiago's ribcage but misses.
Efron wants to clinch but Santiago slips to the side

and Santiago holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Efron tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Efron wants a takedown.
Efron stalls.

Efron breaks from the clinch.
Santiago moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Santiago gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Efron wants to get back to striking at distance but Santiago won't allow it.

Santiago has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Efron is trying to keep an underhook but Santiago manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Efron is looking to improve his position.
Efron trying to control here.
Santiago takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santiago is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Efron is trying to control but can't.
Efron wants to improve his position but Santiago is controlling well.
Efron is working hard here to advance position.

Efron is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Santiago pulls his head out easily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Efron throws a hook but Santiago avoids it easily.
Efron slips a jab and a cross from Santiago.
The fight stays on the outside here - Santiago looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Efron closes the distance and clinches.
Santiago has Efron pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Efron manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A head punch on the inside from Efron fails to land.
Santiago drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stuart Efron has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Santiago.
Efron has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Santiago is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Santiago gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Santiago is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Efron is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Santiago is working for a kimura but Efron is defending it quite comfortably.
Santiago looks gassed!
Santiago is pressing down on Efron's thigh, looking to free his foot. Efron is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Efron is looking to improve his position.
Santiago seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Efron does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Santiago looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Santiago is thwarting Efron's attempts to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Efron misses with a double jab

and Santiago counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Santiago drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Santiago fails to pull the fight into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joe Santiago will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Santiago clinches.
Efron stops a takedown attempt from Santiago.
Efron manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Santiago is trying to drag Efron to the mat but Efron just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Efron gets control of Santiago's arms and successfully pulls guard. Efron will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Efron looking to hit a scissor sweep but Santiago is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santiago is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Santiago avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Efron manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Efron content just to control the position here.
Efron prevents Santiago from getting the reversal.
Santiago's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Efron trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Efron takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Santiago is trying desperately to improve position.
Santiago sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Efron trying to control from half guard but Santiago is working away.
Efron not doing much here.
Santiago is trying to maintain the position but Efron is very close to passing his half guard.
Efron trying to control the action but Santiago is working from the bottom.
Santiago is looking to control Efron's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Santiago avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Efron fails to land with a series of punches.
Efron misses with a double jab.
Efron throws a left and a right that both miss
and Santiago counters with a three punch combo that has Efron backing up. Efron nods at Santiago to acknowledge the strikes.
Efron looks to land a combination but Santiago avoids it well.
Santiago tries to clinch there but Efron circles away.

Efron has taken the fight to the clinch.
Santiago lands an elbow inside.
Santiago prevents Efron from breaking the clinch.
Efron avoids a wild elbow strike from Santiago.
Efron is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Santiago gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Efron struggles to land a body shot inside as Santiago controls his hands.

That's four 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.
Santiago has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Efron is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Stuart Efron has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Santiago.
Efron looking to slow down the pace here.
Nice elbow from Santiago.
Efron gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Santiago.
Santiago is breathing heavily.
Santiago goes for a takedown attempt but Efron pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Santiago takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Efron looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Efron throws the left hand but Santiago avoids the punch easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Santiago wants to clinch.
Santiago lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Efron circles away quickly and effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stuart Efron dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Efron throws a looping overhand right but Santiago ducks down to avoid it.
Santiago cracks Efron with a right hand to the side of the head.
Efron pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Santiago lands a two punch combo.
Efron fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Santiago avoids it really well and circles away.
Some wild striking there from Efron.
Santiago swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Efron to counter with a crisp jab.
Efron rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Santiago moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Efron swats away the attempt to clinch by Santiago.

Santiago feints and as Efron raises his hands in defense, Santiago changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santiago stands up and waves to Efron to follow him.
Santiago wants to clinch up but Efron keeps it at a distance.
Santiago tries to clinch there but Efron circles away.
Santiago is looking to clinch.
Santiago takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Santiago is looking to clinch but Efron is avoiding it.
No joy there for Efron, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Efron throws a combination that misses
and Santiago counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Santiago throws a hook but Efron avoids it easily.
Santiago tries to clinch there but Efron circles away.
Efron misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Efron keeps the fight on the outside.
Santiago tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Efron counters with a stiff right hand.
Santiago tries to clinch but Efron moves out of range.
Efron misses with a straight right.
Efron avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Efron throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Santiago tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Efron paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Santiago fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Santiago takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Efron throws a right hand that Santiago ducks under and follows up with a left that Santiago also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Efron misses with a body shot

and Santiago counters with a single leg into guard. Efron didn't expect that.
Santiago pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Efron is keeping the position for now.
Santiago wants to get up but he can't break Efron's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Efron is looking for a triangle but Santiago pushes his legs off easily.

Efron working for a triangle but Santiago defends it easily.
Santiago controls from within his opponent's guard.

Efron is looking to sinch up a triangle. Santiago throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Efron's body to avoid the submission. Efron has instead reached around Santiago's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Efron arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Stuart Efron!