PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Eddie Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Domingo Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santiago is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd517MxUkGw. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Franco
vs
Santiago

181 cm
23
177 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

178 cm
20
175 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eddie Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Domingo Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Franco feints and as Santiago raises his hands in defense, Franco changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Franco accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Santiago manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Franco manages to get himself to full guard.
Santiago wants to stand and escape but instead Franco has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Franco is working Santiago over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Franco throwing strikes but missing.
Santiago is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Franco 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.
Franco preventing the sweep.
Franco connects with a couple of short punches.
Franco won't allow Santiago to sweep him here.
Franco keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Santiago's head.
Santiago manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Franco wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago tries to get up but Franco was controlling his body and he's reversed into guard.
Franco keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Santiago's head.
Franco is in close to Santiago's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Franco stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santiago swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Franco preventing the sweep.
Franco scoring with punches to the head and body.
Franco distracts Santiago with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Santiago wants to sweep here but Franco controlling him for the moment.
Franco postures up and lands a big shot to Santiago's brow.
Franco scoring with punches to the head and body.
Franco slips nicely into half guard.
Franco takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Santiago tries to roll over but Franco keeps him under control.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Franco lands a nice short elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Santiago manages to get to full guard.
Franco lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Franco postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Franco prevents Santiago from getting back to his feet.
Santiago looks gassed!
Franco is in close to Santiago's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Santiago wants to stand and escape but Franco is having none of it.
Franco lands a couple of elbows.
Franco scoring with punches to the head and body.
Franco scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Franco stopping the sweep attempt from Santiago.
Franco slips nicely into half guard.
Santiago is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Franco scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Franco working the head and body with strikes.
Franco lands strikes from half guard.
Franco working Santiago over with strikes.
Franco working Santiago over with strikes.
Franco scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Franco landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ground and pound from Franco.
Franco lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Franco is nestled in close to Santiago, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Franco scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Santiago wants to get back to full guard.
Santiago is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Franco working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Franco drops an elbow to the side of Santiago's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Santiago is trying to stand.
Santiago is trying to get back to full guard.
Santiago taking some punishment here, with Franco in his half guard.
Franco slips a nice elbow through Santiago's hands, connecting with Santiago's forehead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franco lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Santiago gets back to full guard.
Franco cracks Santiago with a solid left hand.
Franco scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Franco won't allow Santiago to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franco is in close to Santiago's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Franco cracks Santiago with a solid left hand.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Franco's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Franco scoring with punches to the head and body.
Franco missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddie Franco 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.

Santiago throws a solid leg kick but Franco takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Santiago.

Franco closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Franco lands in his opponent's guard.
Franco keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Santiago's head.
Santiago is looking to stand up but Franco isn't so interested in that idea.
Franco content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Franco works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Santiago regains full guard. Nicely done.
Santiago is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Franco forces his way into half guard.
Franco slips a nice elbow through Santiago's hands, connecting with Santiago's forehead.
Franco lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Franco lands a nice short elbow.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago is trying to get back to full guard.
Franco works his foot free and advances to mount.
Franco breaks from Santiago's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Franco has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Santiago's face.
Santiago really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Franco looking to finish Santiago with some ground and pound. This is bad for Santiago!
Franco lands a big elbow.
Franco pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Santiago is working to get back to half guard.
Franco lands a heavy elbow.
Santiago is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Franco fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Santiago taking shots to the head.
Santiago working to try and regain half guard.
Franco lands with some strikes.
Franco landing strikes from the mount and Santiago is in trouble!
Franco unloads with some shots from mount but Santiago bucks and avoids them well.
Franco looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Franco thowing shots but they're missing.
Franco lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Santiago hang on?
Santiago is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago gets back to half guard.
Franco seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Santiago slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Franco working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Santiago's head.
Franco stands up over Santiago, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Franco postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Franco missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Santiago wants to get back to his feet but Franco is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Franco postures up and lands a big shot to Santiago's brow.
Franco cracks Santiago with a solid left hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Franco accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Santiago wants to get back to his feet but Franco is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Eddie Franco overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Franco lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Santiago looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Franco postures up and lands a big shot to Santiago's brow.
Franco prevents Santiago from getting back to his feet.
Santiago wants to sweep but no luck.
Franco connects with a couple of short punches.
Franco loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Santiago wants to sweep here but Franco controlling him for the moment.
Franco lands a couple of elbows.
Franco lands a couple of digs.
Franco throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Santiago wants to stand and escape but Franco is having none of it.
Franco is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Franco is working Santiago over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddie Franco dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Santiago leaves Franco with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Santiago misses with a takedown

and Franco counters with a takedown into side control.
Franco connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Santiago some visible discomfort.
Santiago is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Franco off and has taken his back!
Santiago avoiding Franco 's attempts to control his hands.
Santiago punches the canvas rather than the man.

Franco is in a bad position with Santiago working for a choke. Franco manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.
Franco sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Santiago's guard.
Santiago wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Santiago makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Santiago fails in his attempt to clinch.
Santiago tries for a takedown but Franco circles away easily

and Franco counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Santiago's guard now.
Franco pushes down on Santiago's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Santiago taking some punishment here, with Franco in his half guard.
Santiago wants to get back to full guard.
Santiago moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Santiago wants to stand and escape but Franco is having none of it.
Santiago lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Franco!

Santiago goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Franco turns into him and now he's in Santiago's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco distracts Santiago with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Santiago wants to stand up but Franco is controlling him.
Santiago looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Franco stops Santiago from standing up.
Franco content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Franco advances position into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santiago wants to get back to his feet but Franco drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Franco works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Franco cracks Santiago with a big right hand but Santiago just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Santiago tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Franco wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Santiago takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Franco working the ground and pound.
Franco in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Franco landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Franco throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Santiago is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Santiago is trying to stand up here but Franco is controlling him well.
Santiago won't allow Franco to pass to mount.
Franco takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Santiago avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Franco.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Franco is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Santiago gets full guard.
Santiago wants to stand but Franco is controlling the position.
Franco working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Franco scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Santiago lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Franco!
Santiago is looking to stand but Santiago has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Eddie Franco is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Santiago stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Domingo Santiago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Domingo Santiago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Santiago gets caught napping as Franco dives in and scores a takedown. Santiago manages to retain guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eddie Franco showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Franco, 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eddie Franco!