PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tobias Granqvist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Santana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Granqvist
vs
Santana

176 cm
19
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ymer Clothing

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tobias Granqvist!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thiago Santana!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santana fails with the takedown.
Granqvist takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Santana stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Santana wants it to stay on the feet.
Granqvist moves in looking to clinch but Santana pushes him off.
Santana misses with a body shot.
Granqvist closes the distance and clinches up with Santana, looking for a takedown. Granqvist pushes Santana against the cage but Santana circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Granqvist tries to clinch up.

Granqvist darts in and clinches Santana up against the cage.
Santana can't find room to land a body shot as Granqvist controls the action.
Granqvist tries a knee to the head but Santana blocks it.

Granqvist pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Granqvist is looking to clinch.
Granqvist tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Santana swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tobias Granqvist. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Granqvist tries for a takedown but Santana circles away easily
and Santana counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Santana scores with a hook to the body. Granqvist takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Granqvist shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Santana pinned against the cage. Santana gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Granqvist swinging wildly here.
Granqvist scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Granqvist tries to clinch there but Santana circles away.
Granqvist fails in his attempt to clinch.
Santana throws a right and a left that Granqvist avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Granqvist throws a head kick that misses.
Granqvist is breathing heavily.
Granqvist throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Santana.
Santana misses the jab.
Granqvist ducks under a wild hook from Santana.
Tobias Granqvist seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Granqvist keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Granqvist wants to clinch.
Granqvist takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Santana connects with the punch.
Granqvist shoots and misses
and Santana counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Granqvist doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Santana counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santana darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Granqvist blocking the ground and pound attempt from Santana.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santana scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Santana seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nice strikes from Santana there.
Santana thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Granqvist's head.
Santana wants to lay and pray for a moment but Granqvist keeps working.
Nice strikes from Santana there.
Santana trying to pass the guard but Granqvist defending well.
Santana not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santana is taking a breather. Granqvist says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santana thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Granqvist's head.
Santana is looking to take a break and control but Granqvist is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Santana controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Thiago Santana was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Granqvist darts in trying to clinch

so Santana counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santana working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Santana stopping the sweep attempt from Granqvist.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Santana dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Santana changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Granqvist avoids the body shot from Santana.
Granqvist tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Santana jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Santana defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Granqvist.
A looping hook to the body misses from Santana. Granqvist does a little dance to reset his feet.
Granqvist avoids the body shot from Santana.
Granqvist uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Santana.
Granqvist is looking to clinch.
Santana connects with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Granqvist keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Granqvist tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Santana was well out of range. Poor timing from Granqvist.
Nice uppercut there from Santana.
Granqvist throws a body punch but Santana moves out of range.
Granqvist tries to bum rush Santana with a series of wild strikes but Santana uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Santana swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Santana keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Granqvist walks into a stiff left hand from Santana.
Tobias Granqvist is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Santana throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Granqvist was covering up waiting for the punch and Santana finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Granqvist keeping moving, preventing Santana from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santana loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Santana looking to pass the guard.
Granqvist 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.
Granqvist avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Santana is stalling in the full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Santana throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Granqvist works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Santana lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Santana is stalling in the full guard.
Granqvist is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Santana thows a big elbow that misses.
Santana must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Santana stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Granqvist tries for a takedown but Santana sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tobias Granqvist. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santana misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Granqvist.
Santana throws a body punch but Granqvist moves out of range.
Santana swings for the body but Granqvist moves out of range.
Granqvist takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santana looks to score with a jab to the body but Granqvist is just out of range.
Santana throws an overhand right that lands on Granqvist's shoulder, as Granqvist tries to avoid the shot.
Granqvist shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Santana as he avoids it easily.
Santana throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Granqvist keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Santana misses the shot to the body.
Granqvist moves out of range of the strikes.
Granqvist blocks a jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santana ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Granqvist moves away.
Santana circles away from the clinch attempt.
Santana throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Santana 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!

Santana cracks Granqvist with an open hand slap.
Santana circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thiago Santana seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Santana misses with a body shot.
Granqvist shoots in for a double leg but Santana sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Granqvist shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Santana as he avoids it easily.
Santana is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Granqvist rather than just go for the knockout.
Granqvist is looking to clinch but Santana is avoiding it.
Santana throws a good cross that connects.
Santana swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Granqvist is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Granqvist gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Santana counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tobias Granqvist. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santana misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santana stuns Granqvist with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Santana fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Granqvist looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Santana scores with a nice head shot.
Santana lands with an overhand left.
Granqvist fails with the takedown
and Santana counters with a left to the body.
Santana tests Granqvist's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Santana dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Santana thuds his right hand into Granqvist's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A slow jab from Santana misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santana takes a swing at Granqvist's ribcage but misses.

Santana feints and as Granqvist raises his hands in defense, Santana changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Santana is working Granqvist over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Granqvist can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Santana controls the pace.
Santana lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Santana postures up and lands a big shot to Granqvist's brow.
Santana slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Granqvist keeping moving, preventing Santana from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Santana not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Thiago Santana.
Santana scores with a nice strike.
Granqvist takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Santana just misses with a punch to the body.
Granqvist tries to close the distance and clinch but Santana swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Granqvist closes the distance and clinches up with Santana, looking for a takedown. Granqvist pushes Santana against the cage but Santana circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Granqvist. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Santana throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santana misses with the combination.
Santana throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A jab from Santana does it's job there.
Granqvist tries to clinch up.
Santana throws a big shot that misses.
Granqvist looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Granqvist tries for a takedown but Santana circles away easily
and Santana counters with a left to the body.
Tobias Granqvist has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santana lands with a straight right. Granqvist didn't see that one coming.
Thiago Santana is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Santana scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Santana comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Santana 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Santana!
In his post fight interview, Thiago Santana started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.