PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronny McNeil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Ronny McNeil enters the cage!

Santos
vs
McNeil

175 cm
19
178 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
26
177 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Big heart

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Antonio Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ronny McNeil!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, William Peck and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos is trying hard to land a takedown here. McNeil sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Santos tries a head kick but it misses.

McNeil shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Santos's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
McNeil is working Santos over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Santos is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McNeil defends well.
Santos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McNeil.
Santos looking for a sweep. Not yet Santos, not yet.
McNeil looking to pass the guard.

Santos is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McNeil defends well.
McNeil sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McNeil trying to control but Santos is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
McNeil working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Santos's head.
Santos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McNeil is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
McNeil makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Santos is adopting a defensive guard.
McNeil lands a couple of elbows.
McNeil's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Santos is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
McNeil trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McNeil is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
McNeil cracks Santos with a solid left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McNeil slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
McNeil must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
McNeil trying to control but Santos is working from the bottom.

Santos is looking for a triangle but McNeil pushes his legs off easily.
McNeil really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Santos. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
McNeil wants to control from the top but Santos keeps moving.
McNeil is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ronny McNeil wasn't active enough on the ground.
Santos throws a series of punches but McNeil moves out of range.
McNeil stuffs the takedown attempt from Santos. Santos gets slowly back to his feet.
McNeil throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
McNeil misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

McNeil gets a takedown into half guard.
McNeil is taking a breather. Santos 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.
McNeil is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McNeil throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
McNeil content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Santos works his way to full guard. Good work.
Santos keeping moving, preventing McNeil from controlling successfully.
McNeil is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
McNeil stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santos swivels though and keeps the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronny McNeil 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.

McNeil looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Santos!
Santos is desperately trying to improve his position but McNeil has a good base and remains in mount.
Santos wants to hold on but McNeil pushes him away.
McNeil landing strikes, looking to finish!
Santos is trying to escape the mount.

McNeil goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Santos is on top in guard.
McNeil looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

McNeil escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Santos gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McNeil is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Santos thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Santos slips nicely into half guard.
Santos controlling the action here.
Santos seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down McNeil for as long as he can get away with.
McNeil trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos moves to take his opponent's back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Santos is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. McNeil is defending well though. Santos let's go of the attempt for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McNeil is holding onto Santos's left hand, preventing any choke attempts.
Santos trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Santos is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. McNeil defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Santos tightening his grip on McNeil, looking for the choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNeil tries to escape but Santos has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

McNeil is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Santos not allowing McNeil to control his hands.

McNeil fending off the submission attempt from Santos.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McNeil tries to break free.
McNeil manages to reverse the position and now he's in Santos's guard. Nice work there by McNeil.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santos is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
McNeil stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santos swivels though and keeps the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santos is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Santos dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

McNeil looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
McNeil shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Santos as he jumps to the side.
McNeil tries for a takedown but Santos sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Antonio Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronny McNeil.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Santos.

McNeil scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Santos is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McNeil's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McNeil's back!
McNeil looking very determined here, making life difficult for Santos.

Santos working from the back looking to end the fight with a rear naked choke. McNeil is doing well to defend. Santos seems to have got his hand under the chin though and he's sunk the choke in! McNeil is forced to tap and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Antonio Santos!