PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gustavo Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damien Sanchez (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?

Santos
vs
Sanchez

169 cm
31
145 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

182 cm
24
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gustavo Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Damien Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos shoots in but Sanchez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Santos shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sanchez defends it nicely.
Santos misses with a low kick.
Santos fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gustavo Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santos scoring well with a low kick there.

Santos gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sanchez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sanchez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sanchez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez scoring with some ground and pound.
Sanchez wanted to stand there but Santos had control of the position.
Santos tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Santos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sanchez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Santos works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sanchez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Santos is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Santos has escaped and now he's on top!
Santos throws a big right hand that misses.
Santos controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santos drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Santos jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sanchez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sanchez looking for a sweep. Not yet Sanchez, not yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sanchez is on top in guard.
Sanchez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sanchez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sanchez looking to sit in guard and control but Santos gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
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!
Sanchez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sanchez manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.
Santos makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Santos.
Santos 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.
Sanchez 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.
Santos wants to stand but Sanchez is controlling the position.
Santos keeping full guard, as Sanchez tries to pass.

Santos working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sanchez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sanchez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sanchez looking to pass the guard.
Santos might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santos had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sanchez defends it easily.
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!
Santos looking for a sweep. Not yet Santos, not yet.
Sanchez controlling from the top position.
Santos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanchez tries to stand but Santos is controlling from the bottom.
Santos trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gustavo Santos will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Horrible takedown by Sanchez or perhaps it was just good defense by Santos which made him look bad.
Santos displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sanchez.
Horrible takedown by Santos or perhaps it was just good defense by Sanchez which made him look bad.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sanchez.
Gustavo Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damien Sanchez.
Nice sprawl there from Sanchez as Santos shoots in.
Santos is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanchez feints and as Santos raises his hands in defense, Sanchez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sanchez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sanchez throwing strikes but missing.

Santos looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Santos tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gustavo Santos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sanchez working some strikes from top position.
Sanchez won't allow Santos to sweep him here.
Santos is working hard here to advance position.
Sanchez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanchez is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santos decides to stand and escape the position.
Sanchez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Santos counters with an outside leg kick.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.
Horrible takedown by Sanchez or perhaps it was just good defense by Santos which made him look bad.

Santos shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Santos showed some decent athleticism there.

Santos is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sanchez has hold of Santos's hands but Santos slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Santos is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sanchez is trying to get back to full guard.
Sanchez is refusing to be controlled, as Santos sits in half guard.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Gustavo Santos!