PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juan Santana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leon Shannon (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.

Santana
vs
Shannon

182 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
24
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Juan Santana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Leon Shannon!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santana throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shannon shoots in for a double leg but Santana sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Shannon gets a double leg takedown into Santana's guard.
Santana pulls Shannon in to control the position.
Shannon wants to pass the guard but Santana is keeping the position.
Santana 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.
Shannon stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santana swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Santana striking off his back.
Santana trying to control the position.

Shannon thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shannon stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santana swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Santana can't keep his opponent in guard - Shannon advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Santana has one foot on Shannon's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Santana is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Shannon's half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Santana is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santana is just content to waste time from the top position. Shannon takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Shannon keeping moving, preventing Santana from controlling successfully.
Santana slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shannon is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Juan Santana.
Santana lands a right hook to the body.

Shannon decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santana is trying to stand back up but Shannon is controlling him
Santana trying to hold on to Shannon's head to control him but Shannon postures up.
Santana knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shannon on the ground.
Shannon passes to full mount!
Santana is breathing heavily.
Santana is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Santana keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Shannon wants to finish this one by submission but Santana is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Shannon.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Shannon working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Shannon dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Shannon fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Santana shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Santana trying to control but Shannon is having none of it.
Leon Shannon has got the better of the ground game so far.
Santana lands a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shannon avoids a series of strikes thrown by Santana.
Santana working the ground and pound effectively.
Santana landing strikes from the mount and Shannon is in trouble!
Shannon is squirming around, avoiding Santana's attempts to control the action.
Santana looking to finish Shannon with some ground and pound. This is bad for Shannon!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santana working Shannon over with strikes here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santana trying to control but Shannon is having none of it.
Shannon is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santana goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Shannon is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shannon drops back looking for a leg! Santana is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Santana manages to kick Shannon off! Shannon jumps back into Santana's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shannon trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Santana manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Santana trying to stand up but can't free himself from Shannon's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santana wants to stand and escape but instead Shannon has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Santana dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Santana drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Santana sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Santana trying to control the position from guard on top but Shannon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Juan Santana has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Santana clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santana gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Santana wants to control from the top but Shannon keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Santana looking to sit in guard and control but Shannon gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Shannon is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Santana is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shannon thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Shannon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santana is keeping the position for now.

Shannon thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Santana holds on and takes a little breather.
Santana tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Shannon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shannon postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shannon tries to free his leg and advance position but Santana is retaining full guard.

Shannon thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Shannon slips nicely into half guard.
Santana tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Shannon manages to move to mount!

Shannon has isolated one of Santana's arms. Santana looking to fight him off but Shannon twists into an armbar. It's tight... Will he tap?? YES, he's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Leon Shannon!