PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brian Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Pookiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Santos
vs
Pookiao

188 cm
24
195 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

182 cm
22
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Brian Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Manny Pookiao!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pookiao fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Santos misses.
Santos stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Santos wants it to stay on the feet.
Santos misses with the combination.
Danga de danga de dang - Santos scores with a four punch combination!
Pookiao closes the distance and clinches up with Santos, looking for a takedown. Pookiao pushes Santos against the cage but Santos circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Brian Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manny Pookiao.
Santos clobbers Pookiao with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Santos lands with a shot to the body.
Santos pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A right-left combo lands from Santos.
Pookiao dodges the punch combination from Santos.

Pookiao closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Santos did well to prevent Pookiao getting side control.
Santos on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Santos tries to get out of the position.
Pookiao seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Pookiao is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Santos is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Pookiao has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pookiao putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Pookiao unloading with bombs!
Santos is breathing heavily.
Santos is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Pookiao pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Pookiao punching from mount but Santos doing a good job of avoiding damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santos is squirming around, avoiding Pookiao's attempts to control the action.
Pookiao scoring with strikes but Santos is staying in there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pookiao landing shots from mount.
Pookiao lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Santos hang on?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Pookiao connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pookiao raining down hammerfists from mount.

Pookiao is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Santos has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Pookiao wants to control the pace but Santos is squirming around nicely.
Pookiao landing punches.

Pookiao is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Santos is surviving well by controlling Pookiao's body position as best he can.
Pookiao landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pookiao sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Pookiao scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Santos?
Pookiao lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Pookiao goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Santos turns into him and now he's in Pookiao's guard.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Pookiao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos is looking to work some ground and pound but Pookiao has wrist control.
Pookiao trying to control the position here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pookiao manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Santos manages to get himself to full guard.
Pookiao works over Santos with some ground and pound from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Pookiao dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Santos!
Santos throws a series of punches but Pookiao avoids them all with ease.
Pookiao 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 Pookiao off to one side.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pookiao.
Santos throws a head kick that misses.
Pookiao showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Santos.
Pookiao fails with a takedown attempt.
Brian Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manny Pookiao.
Pookiao tries to score a power double leg takedown but Santos sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pookiao somewhat.
Santos goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Pookiao closes the distance and clinches up with Santos, looking for a takedown. Pookiao pushes Santos against the cage but Santos circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Santos scores with a one two! Pookiao had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Santos stuffs the takedown.
Danga de danga de dang - Santos scores with a four punch combination!
Santos moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Brian Santos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pookiao looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Santos is fending him off so far but Pookiao persists. Nope, Santos circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Santos pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Pookiao back to the cage. Santos follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Pookiao closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Pookiao lands in his opponent's guard.
Santos manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pookiao manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pookiao seems keen to control Santos's posture.
Santos throws a strike but Pookiao rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Pookiao pushes down on Santos's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two 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.
Pookiao performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Pookiao working the head and body with strikes.
Pookiao thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Pookiao is looking to advance position but Santos won't allow it.
Pookiao missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pookiao is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Pookiao takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Santos pushes Pookiao off but Pookiao dives into side control.
Pookiao has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pookiao with good strikes from the mount here!
Pookiao trying to control but Santos is having none of it.
Pookiao controlling his opponent.
Pookiao punishing his opponent with strikes.
Pookiao controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Pookiao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Pookiao shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Pookiao was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Pookiao lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Pookiao pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Pookiao trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Santos throwing hammer fists to the chest of Pookiao. What's that going to do exactly?
Pookiao postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Santos looks a forlorn figure.
Pookiao trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos is bucking up trying to escape but Pookiao cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Manny Pookiao has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pookiao unloading with bombs!
Pookiao looking to control and managing it successfully.
Pookiao looking to finish Santos with some ground and pound. This is bad for Santos!
Pookiao postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Santos looks a forlorn figure.
Pookiao trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Brian Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pookiao putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Pookiao takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Pookiao looking to finish Santos with some ground and pound. This is bad for Santos!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pookiao looking to control but Santos is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pookiao raining down hammerfists from mount.
Santos taking shots to the head.
Pookiao content just to control the position here.
Pookiao is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Santos can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Santos is in a horrible position here. Pookiao smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
A nice elbow there by Pookiao.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pookiao is in the full mount, landing strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pookiao lands a nice shot to the head.
Pookiao with a couple of short strikes.
Pookiao trying to control but Santos is having none of it.
Pookiao putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pookiao sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Manny Pookiao is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pookiao scores with a couple of good head shots there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Pookiao comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pookiao winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 26:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manny Pookiao!