PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nelso Mandinga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Mandinga
vs
Santos

185 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
186 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nelso Mandinga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rafael Santos!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Vladimir Khabensky and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mandinga swinging wildly here.
Santos has his takedown stuffed
and Mandinga counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mandinga will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A chopping leg kick lands by Santos.
Mandinga misses with a looping right.

Oooooh!!! Mandinga has knocked Santos down with a huge combo! Mandinga steps away and waves a wobbly Santos back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

It looks like Rafael Santos has been cut.
Santos looks gassed!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Santos.

Mandinga instigates a clinch.
Mandinga wants to break the clinch but can't.
Santos is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mandinga pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Santos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mandinga just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nelso Mandinga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Santos.
Mandinga has had enough of the clinch but Santos keeps him there for the moment.

Mandinga pulls Santos into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos is fighting to break Mandinga's control of his arms but Mandinga is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Mandinga is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Mandinga is trying to force a seperation but Santos has the dominant position.
Santos has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mandinga is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mandinga can't break the clinch.
Santos wants to stall.
Santos tries to throw a body punch but Mandinga avoids it by throwing Santos back against the cage.
Mandinga is looking to break free of the clinch but Santos has double underhooks.

Mandinga jumps guard.
Mandinga has his hands on Santos's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mandinga has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Mandinga pushes Santos off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Mandinga moves into the clinch.
Santos fails to pull guard.
Mandinga working hard to break the clinch.
Santos tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mandinga avoids it.

Mandinga manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Santos wants to control from the top but Mandinga keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mandinga manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Santos manages to get himself to full guard.

Mandinga stands and steps away. Santos gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Mandinga closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mandinga lands in his opponent's guard.

Mandinga stands up and waves to Santos to follow him.
A clash of legs there as Mandinga blocks the low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mandinga feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Santoss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Rafael Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mandinga swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Santos counters with a takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mandinga manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Mandinga stands up and beckons Santos to join him on the feet.

Mandinga takes the fight into the clinch.
Mandinga throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Santoss head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mandinga is looking to break free of the clinch but Santos has double underhooks.
Santos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mandinga walks away with a smile on his face. Santos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Mandinga moves into the clinch successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nelso Mandinga dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Santos's cut.
That's time! Mandinga's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mandinga uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Santos misses with a takedown
and Mandinga counters with a left and a right that stings Santos.

Mandinga closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mandinga tries to circle away but Santos has him pinned against the cage.
Santos prevents Mandinga from breaking the clinch.
Santos can't get the takedown.
Santos blocks an elbow strike from Mandinga.

Mandinga has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Santos uses from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santos wants to stand but Mandinga has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Santos is breathing heavily.
Mandinga is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mandinga pushes Santos off and gets back to his feet.
Mandinga fails to land with a series of punches.
Santos darts in trying to clinch

and Mandinga counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mandinga.

Mandinga stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mandinga throws a series of punches but Santos moves out of range.

Mandinga has taken the fight to the clinch.
Mandinga gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Santos.
Nelso Mandinga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Santos.

Mandinga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Santos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Mandinga darts in and clinches Santos up against the cage.
Santos is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Mandinga manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santos tries to keep at a distance but Mandinga has taken the fight into the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Mandinga.

Mandinga manages to break the clinch.
Mandinga misses with a jab, cross combination.
Santos swings away with a body shot that misses

and Mandinga counters with a takedown into side control.
Santos taking a bit of punishment here - Mandinga scoring with strikes.
Santos tries to improve position but can't.

Mandinga stands up and beckons Santos to his feet.
Mandinga throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Santos counters with a good, hard body kick but Mandinga shrugs it off.
Mandinga throws a left and a right that both miss
and Mandinga takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Mandinga counters with a single leg into guard. Santos didn't expect that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santos wants to sweep here but Mandinga controlling him for the moment.
Santos is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Mandinga decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Santos, up you get!

Santos gets tackled into the cage by Mandinga. Mandinga maintains the clinch.

Mandinga jumps into guard, dragging Santos to the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mandinga pushes Santos off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Mandinga scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Santos doesn't seem bothered though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nelso Mandinga dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Santos's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Santos wants to clinch but Mandinga slips to the side

and Mandinga counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Mandinga stands and steps away. Santos gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Mandinga throws a right and a left that Santos avoids nicely.
Mandinga looks to land a combination. Santos sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Santos tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Mandinga counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mandinga.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Santos being controlled here, momentarily.

Mandinga gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos closes the distance looking to clinch
and Mandinga counters with a nice uppercut.

Mandinga closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Santos to the mat! Santos manages to get full guard.

Mandinga stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Santos closes the distance looking to clinch

and Mandinga counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mandinga.
Santos tries to score a body lock takedown but Mandinga shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A frustrated look appears on Mandinga's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos wants to break free but Mandinga has control.
Mandinga is trying to break the clinch but Santos is controlling him.

Mandinga manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Mandinga throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mandinga 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.
Santos wants to stand and escape but instead Mandinga has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Mandinga gets to his feet. Santos looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mandinga has managed to clinch.
Santos drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mandinga gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mandinga is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Santos can do to turn this around?

Mandinga gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Santos regains guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santos wants to sweep here but Mandinga controlling him for the moment.

Mandinga stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Santos misses with a takedown attempt

and Mandinga counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Nelso Mandinga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Santos.
Mandinga trying to mount his opponent but Santos defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mandinga is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Santos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Santos is trying to stand back up but Mandinga is controlling him

Mandinga maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Santos could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Mandinga has cracked it and Santos is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Mandinga!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Nelso Mandinga!