PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Giovanni Brunner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Brunner
vs
Santos

190 cm
27
192 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

178 cm
22
195 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Snap Crackle Pop Fight Gear

Ducksfoot Clothing - SALE!! All Items $10

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Giovanni Brunner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rodrigo Santos!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Brunner has Santos up against the cage in a clinch.
Brunner misses with a knee strike.
Brunner looking to slow down the pace here.
Santos wants to take the fight to the mat but Brunner manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Brunner lands a right hand that snaps the head of Santos backwards.
Brunner throws a knee to the head but misses.
Brunner with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Rodrigo Santos has been cut.
Brunner misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Brunner missing with knees to the body.
Brunner misses with the head strike.
Santos wants a takedown.
Santos goes for a takedown in the clinch but Brunner prevents it.
Giovanni Brunner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Santos.
Santos avoiding damage as Brunner throws knees to the body.
Santos has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Brunner is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Brunner.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos takes a knee right on the jaw!
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Santos drops down looking for an ankle pick but Brunner pulls his leg out and moves away.
Brunner thuds a left hand into Santos's body.
A combination from Brunner does no damage.
Brunner stuffs the takedown attempt from Santos. Santos gets slowly back to his feet.
Santos keeps the fight on the outside.
No luck for Santos with that takedown attempt.
Brunner fails with an attempt to clinch.
Brunner stuffs the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos throws a front kick aimed at Brunner's knee but Brunner avoids it well.
Santos shoots for a double leg takedown but Brunner sprawls well. He's pushed Santos's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Brunner slaps away a takedown attempt from Santos, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Santos looks gassed!

Brunner takes the fight into the clinch.
Brunner working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Santos takes a knee to the side of the body.
Brunner utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
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!
A knee to the head by Brunner.
Brunner fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Santos can't get the takedown.
Santos is working for takedown but Brunner is calmly controlling the position for now.
Brunner misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brunner working Santos over with knees to the body.
Brunner unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Santos prevents a body shot from Brunner.
Brunner tries to land a knee to the head but Santos blocks with his arms.
Brunner tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Santos's elbow.
Brunner tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Brunner working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Brunner utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Brunner throws a knee to the head but misses.
Brunner lands an elbow inside.
Brunner scores with a shoulder strike.
Brunner is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Santos pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Santos wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Brunner has him pressed against the cage.
Brunner stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brunner using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Santos has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Santos looking for a takedown.
Brunner tries to throw a body punch but Santos avoids it by throwing Brunner back against the cage.
Santos has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Brunner after a bit of a struggle.
Brunner gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Santos.

Santos has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Brunner is trying to keep an underhook but Santos manages to get the takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Brunner is pressing down on Santos's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Brunner trying to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santos wants to pass the guard but Brunner is keeping the position.
Santos postures up in Brunner's guard and throws a big left but Brunner blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovanni Brunner dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rodrigo Santos's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Santos takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Brunner rushes Santos and presses him up against the cage.
Santos wants to take the fight to the mat but Brunner manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Brunner unloads a knee to the mid-section. Santos lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Brunner lands a right hand.
Santos goes for a takedown attempt but Brunner pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Brunner.
Brunner tries to clinch but Santos is having none of it.
Brunner tries to clinch but Santos moves out of range.
Brunner misses with a jab, cross combination.
Brunner lands a glancing blow to the side of Santos's head.
Santos throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Brunner's waist but Brunner gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Santos off to one side.
Giovanni Brunner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Santos.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brunner lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Santos is breathing heavily.
Brunner feints and then cracks Santos's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Santos down.
Brunner moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Giovanni Brunner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Brunner throws a series of punches but Santos avoids them all with ease.
Brunner moves away from the strike by Santos.
Brunner wants to clinch up but Santos keeps it at a distance.
Brunner tries to clinch but Santos moves away

and Santos counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Brunner!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Brunner tries to hold on but Santos postures up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Brunner is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Brunner slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Brunner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Santos landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos is trying to control. Brunner wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Brunner tries to get to full guard but Santos has control of the leg.
Brunner is pressing down on Santos's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Santos wants to get up but he can't break Brunner's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Santos wants to pass the guard but Brunner is keeping the position.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Brunner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Brunner is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Brunner wants to sweep here but Santos controlling him for the moment.
Brunner has Santos pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Giovanni Brunner.
Brunner is looking to clinch but Santos is avoiding it.
Brunner tries to clinch but Santos is having none of it.
Santos tries for a takedown but Brunner sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Brunner wants to clinch

and Santos counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Brunner controlling Santos's posture.
Brunner's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Brunner controls Santos momentarily but Santos frees himself.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Giovanni Brunner.
Brunner tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Santos counters with a nice double leg into side control. Brunner won't be happy with that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Brunner is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Santos's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brunner keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Santos thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Brunner is pressing down on Santos's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Brunner wants to sweep here but Santos controlling him for the moment.
Santos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Santos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Santos with a flurry of punches that miss.
Santos works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Brunner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Giovanni Brunner will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rodrigo Santos's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Santos shoots in looking for a takedown but Brunner manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Santos's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Brunner misses with a combination

and Santos counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Brunner's guard now.
Brunner looking to control.
Santos's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Brunner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Giovanni Brunner just wasn't active enough.
Brunner tries to close the distance and clinch but Santos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Brunner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Santos moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A punch combination from Brunner misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brunner tries to close the distance and clinch but Santos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Santos scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Brunner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Santos lands strikes from half guard.
Brunner is looking for a sweep. Santos is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Brunner wants to get back to his feet.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Brunner won't allow Santos to pass to mount.
Brunner regains full guard. Nicely done.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Santos accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Santos slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Brunner is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santos tries to free his leg and advance position but Brunner is retaining full guard.
Brunner 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 has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Santos jabs Brunner to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Brunner!
Santos throws a leg kick but Brunner sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Santos shoots in looking for a takedown. Brunner tries to sprawl out of it but Santos keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Brunner manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Brunner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Santos moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Giovanni Brunner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Brunner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Santos fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Giovanni Brunner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Santos.

Brunner instigates a clinch.
Santos is trying to drag Brunner to the mat but Brunner just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Brunner goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Brunner lands an elbow inside.
Brunner connects with a knee to the head.
Brunner misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brunner prevents a takedown attempt there.
Santos is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Brunner is defending well.
Brunner lands a body shot.
Brunner misses with a knee strike.
Santos changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Brunner fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Brunner will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Brunner tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santos paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rodrigo Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Giovanni Brunner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Brunner moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rodrigo Santos.
I think Brunner has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Giovanni Brunner!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Giovanni Brunner made sure he mentioned Snap Crackle Pop Fight Gear, along with how happy he was to win his fight.