PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Yates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnny Yates has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Yates
vs
Santiago

190 cm
22
141 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

176 cm
22
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

S.W.A.T.

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Johnny Yates!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yates darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Yates wants to pass the guard but Santiago is defending well.
Santiago tries to get to full guard but Yates has control of the leg.

Yates is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Santiago has managed to free his arm - good work.
Yates trying to pass the guard but Santiago defending well.

Yates wants to work for an arm triangle but Santiago is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Yates will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Yates is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Yates is trying to work for a kimura but Santiago is defending well.
Santiago wants to control but Yates is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Yates fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Yates shoots for a double leg takedown but Santiago sprawls well. He's pushed Yates's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Santiago scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Yates is breathing heavily.
Santiago performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Yates flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Santiago is tying to control. Yates wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Yates tries to roll over but Santiago keeps him under control.
Santiago controlling the action here.
Santiago sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Yates defending well though.
Santiago wants to take a breather but Yates is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago trying to control the pace.
Yates is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Santiago just misses with a punch to the body.
Santiago moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Santiago misses with a takedown

and Yates counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Yates has gone for a leg lock! Santiago slips out almost immediately though and dives into Yates's guard.
Santiago scoring with some ground and pound.

Yates throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Santiago advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yates flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Yates is looking to improve his position.
Yates works his way to full guard. Good work.

Yates escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Santiago gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Santiago won't allow Yates to sweep him here.

Yates looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Yates working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Santiago has passed into half guard!
Yates is refusing to be controlled, as Santiago sits in half guard.
Santiago scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Yates is not content to let Santiago control the position.
Santiago content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yates is looking for a sweep. Santiago is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Yates looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Santiago trying to control the action but Yates is working from the bottom.
Yates is looking to improve his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Yates shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Santiago's guard.
Yates throws a big right hand that misses.
Santiago wants to sweep but no luck.

Santiago scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Yates shoots in for a double leg but Santiago sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Yates. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santiago is looking to clinch but Yates is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Johnny Yates will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Santiago drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Yates tries to buck Santiago off but Santiago is having none of it.
Santiago moves into full mount!
Yates is arching his back trying to strike from the bottom but Santiago turns him over and now has his back.
Santiago looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Santiago struggling to keep hold of the position.
Yates is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Santiago scores with punches from the back.
Can Yates hold on?! Santiago is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Santiago scores with punches to the body.
Yates is keeping busy.

Yates is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Santiago gets his way!
Santiago trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Yates doesn't escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yates defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Yates breaks Santiago's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Santiago is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Yates is trying to get back to full guard.
Joe Santiago has got the better of the ground game so far.
Santiago is keen to just control but Yates is a slippery customer.
Yates wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Yates closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Yates thows a huge punch but Santiago dodges it nicely.
Santiago blocking the ground and pound attempt from Yates.
Yates tries to pass the half guard into mount. Santiago knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Yates throwing shots but Santiago is blocking nicely.
Yates working the head and body with strikes.

Yates is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Santiago actively working from the bottom here.
Yates thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Santiago with a lazy takedown attempt

and Yates counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Yates moves nicely into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yates scoring with punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago gets back to half guard.
Yates looks to land a strike but Santiago avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Yates has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Yates throwing strikes from guard but Santiago blocks nicely.
Santiago is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Santiago 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.
Santiago prevents Yates from improving his position.
Yates gets full guard.
Yates manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Santiago manages to get himself to full guard.
Santiago working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Yates.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santiago uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Yates shoots and misses

and Santiago counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Yates looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Yates tries to roll over but Santiago keeps him under control.
Yates tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Yates throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Yates is pressing down on Santiago's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Yates can't keep his opponent in guard - Santiago advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Yates looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yates trying to get back to full guard but Santiago takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Santiago punching from mount but Yates doing a good job of avoiding damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Santiago showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Santiago gets caught flat footed, as Yates shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yates tries to free his leg and advance position but Santiago is retaining full guard.
Yates missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Yates with a flurry of punches that miss.
Yates wants to pass the guard but Santiago is keeping the position.
Yates working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Santiago has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yates can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Yates trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Santiago misses with a takedown attempt

and Yates counters with a takedown into side control.
Santiago prevents Yates from improving position.
Yates working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Yates tries for a kimura but Santiago is defending well.
The strikes coming from Yates are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago manages to work his way to half guard, despite Yates's best efforts.
Santiago slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Santiago wants to stand but Yates is controlling the position.
Yates pushes down on Santiago's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Santiago is defending against the submission attempts here by Yates.
Yates slips a nice elbow through Santiago's hands, connecting with Santiago's forehead.

Yates is trying to work for a kimura but Santiago is defending well.
Yates thows a huge punch but Santiago dodges it nicely.

Yates is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yates tries to pass to full mount but Santiago defends it.
Santiago slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Yates drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Santiago dives on top into guard.

Santiago stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Santiago darts in trying to clinch

and Yates counters with a takedown into side control.

Yates tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Yates has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Yates sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Santiago is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yates sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Santiago is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Yates misses with the ground and pound.
Santiago manages to get back to half guard.
Santiago missing with punches from the bottom.
Santiago won't allow Yates to pass to mount.
Yates thows a huge punch but Santiago dodges it nicely.
Yates scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Yates has his takedown stuffed

and Santiago counters with a shoot takedown. Yates fights it but they end up in guard.
Santiago passes Yates's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Santiago works his way into full mount!
Yates tries to reverse the position but Santiago maintains control.
Santiago looking to control and managing it successfully.
Yates sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yates wants to get back to full guard.
Yates gets full guard.
Yates tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Yates looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Yates is striking from the bottom but Santiago uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Yates is staying active underneath Santiago, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Yates really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Yates manages to get to full guard.

Yates is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yates looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Yates throws his legs up looking for a submission but Santiago uses it to pass to side control.

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 Johnny Yates.
I think Yates has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Joe Santiago!