PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Melvin Manhoef (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santiago has chosen Ludacris - Get Back as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Ricardo Santiago is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Manhoef
vs
Santiago

175 cm
29
200 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

190 cm
22
195 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
KO power

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Hellbent, Inc.™
Crimson Supplements($50 159 Recovery)

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 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Melvin Manhoef!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ricardo Santiago!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manhoef is looking to slow Santiago down with leg kicks.
Manhoef takes a swing at Santiago's ribcage but misses.
Santiago connects with a body shot.
Manhoef fails with an attempt to clinch.
Manhoef defending well as Santiago loads up on a big left hand.
Manhoef turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Melvin Manhoef seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manhoef throws a big shot that misses.
Manhoef throws a quick inside leg kick.
Manhoef thows a leg kick but Santiago checks it
and Santiago counters with a low kick, right behind Manhoef 's knee.
Santiago missing with a left hand there. Manhoef was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Manhoef moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Santiago tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Manhoef buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Manhoef looks to land a body kick but Santiago moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago lands a head shot.
Santiago misses the shot to the body.
Santiago lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Manhoef throws a jab but it's blocked by Santiago.
Manhoef swats away the attempt to clinch by Santiago.
A telegraphed right hand from Manhoef misses the target.
Santiago throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Santiago fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Manhoef manages to avoid it.
Manhoef throws out a loose jab but Santiago uses good head movement to avoid it.
Manhoef throws a leg kick that is checked
and Santiago counters with a stiff right hand.
Santiago swats away the attempt to clinch by Manhoef.
Santiago avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's two 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.
Santiago misses with a double jab.
Santiago throws a low kick but Manhoef avoids it.
Santiago digs a good body shot into Manhoef's ribs.
Manhoef tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Santiago tries to close the distance and clinch but Manhoef swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Manhoef takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Santiago checks a low kick from Manhoef.
Santiago throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Santiago swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Manhoef throws the kick towards the body but Santiago avoids it.
Manhoef fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Santiago is out of range.
Manhoef takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Santiago looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Santiago avoids the head kick by Manhoef.
Manhoef throws a push kick but Santiago slaps the foot to one side.
Manhoef walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Manhoef thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Santiago if he has to take too many more of those.
Manhoef turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Manhoef misses with a body kick.
Santiago bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Manhoef's head backwards.
Manhoef swings for the body but Santiago moves out of range.
Manhoef looks to throw a body kick
and Santiago counters with a nice uppercut.
Manhoef pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Santiago counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Manhoef doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Santiago throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Manhoef stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Santiago.

Santiago takes the fight into the clinch.
Santiago works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Santiago lands with a short shot to the head.
Santiago tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Manhoef is trying to push Santiago away but Santiago has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Santiago presses Manhoef against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Santiago prevents Manhoef from breaking the clinch.
Manhoef misses with a punch to the body.
Manhoef avoids the elbow strike from Santiago, against the cage.
Santiago content to slow the pace in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Santiago 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 big shot that misses.
Manhoef throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Manhoef throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Santiago keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Manhoef.
Santiago lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Manhoef.
Manhoef keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Santiago has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Manhoef throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Manhoef ducks under a wild hook from Santiago.
Santiago takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Manhoef misses with a right hand
and Santiago counters with an inside leg kick.
Nice straight punches there by Santiago. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Santiago.
Manhoef thows a body shot but no joy.
Santiago is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Santiago there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Santiago's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Santiago moves in looking to clinch but Manhoef pushes him off.
Santiago finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Manhoef pivots, looking for a leg kick but Santiago is out of range and Manhoef settles back down.
Santiago blocks a head kick by Manhoef.
Manhoef takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Santiago lands with a shot to the body.
Santiago uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Santiago throws a body punch but Manhoef moves out of range.
Santiago throws a nice outside leg kick.
Manhoef misses with the body kick
and Manhoef takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice jab there from Santiago.
Ricardo Santiago seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Manhoef misses with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago tries to clinch there but Manhoef circles away.
Manhoef throws a front kick aimed at Santiago's knee but Santiago avoids it well.
Santiago misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Santiago has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Manhoef.
Santiago misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Manhoef swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Santiago counters with a right hand to the body.
Santiago throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Manhoef sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Manhoef walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Santiago rushes Manhoef and presses him up against the cage.
Manhoef tries to break free but Santiago pushes him back against the cage.
Manhoef tries to stall but Santiago uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The referee calls for Santiago to work.

Manhoef breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef connects with an inside leg kick.
Manhoef on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Manhoef throws a body kick the misses

and Santiago counters by clinching up.
Manhoef is trying to break free.
Santiago stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Manhoef gets through Santiago's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Santiago works on Manhoef's body with a couple of short punches.
Manhoef struggles to land a body shot inside as Santiago controls his hands.
Manhoef tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Santiago avoids it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Santiago.
Santiago working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Santiago breaks from the clinch.
Manhoef finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Manhoef throws a low kick, looking for Santiago's leg but Santiago calmly moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Santiago. Manhoef shrugs it off though.
Manhoef throws a combination that misses
and Santiago counters with a low kick, right behind Manhoef 's knee.

Santiago takes the fight into the clinch.
Manhoef is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Santiago's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Manhoef misses with a body punch.

Santiago breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Santiago looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Manhoef connects with a solid leg kick.
Santiago throws a leg kick
and Manhoef counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Manhoef throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Manhoef misses with the body kick

and Santiago moves into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santiago managing to block the knees to the body from Manhoef.
Santiago is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Santiago 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! This is the final round!

Manhoef tries a low kick but Santiago avoids it.
Nice jab there from Santiago.
Santiago lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Manhoef throws a low kick but Santiago moves out of range easily.
Santiago lands with a slapping head kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Manhoef misses the target.
Santiago on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Manhoef. Manhoef obviously looking to wear him down.
Santiago blocks a head kick by Manhoef.
Nice body kick from Santiago.
Santiago swats away the attempt to clinch by Manhoef.
An inside leg kick from Manhoef misses.
Manhoef misses with a kick to the body
letting Santiago counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhoef tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Santiago darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nice body punch from Manhoef.
Manhoef throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Santiago with a nice cross.
Manhoef throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Manhoef throws a sloppy head kick
and Santiago counters with a straight right hand.
Santiago throws a lazy right hand but Manhoef sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A right-left combo lands from Santiago.
Santiago tries to clinch up.
Manhoef dips to his left and cracks Santiago with an uppercut!
Manhoef on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Melvin Manhoef has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A lazy left from Santiago finds it's target.
Manhoef throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Santiago counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Manhoef throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Manhoef avoids a kick to the body.
Manhoef pivots, looking for a leg kick but Santiago is out of range and Manhoef settles back down.
Manhoef throws a head kick that misses.
Santiago misses with a wild body shot.
Santiago misses the shot to the body.
Manhoef throws a low kick but it's checked well by Santiago.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Manhoef with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Manhoef misses with an uppercut
and Santiago counters with a left to the body.
Manhoef misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef tries a head kick but it misses.
Manhoef blocks the body kick.
Manhoef throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Manhoef looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Manhoef throws a leg kick but Santiago sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Manhoef misses with a right hand
and Santiago counters with a leg kick.
Santiago scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Santiago lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Manhoef at a distance.
Santiago goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Santiago swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ricardo Santiago is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A bone on bone clash there as Santiago blocks the leg kick.
Manhoef takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Santiago throws a front kick that sends Manhoef stumbling back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Santiago uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Manhoef.
Santiago thumps Manhoef with a low kick.
Manhoef throws a half hearted mid kick.
Santiago jabs at Manhoef's body.
Manhoef lands with a kick to the ribs.
Manhoef is looking to score with low kicks.
Manhoef pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A clash of legs there as Santiago blocks the low kick.
Manhoef throws a leg kick but Santiago checks it.
Santiago dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Manhoef. That did some damage!

Santiago has Manhoef up against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Santiago comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Santiago has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Santiago!