PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dan Jersey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santiago comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Asesinos - Los Crudos kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Jersey
vs
Santiago

189 cm
31
195 lbs
22 - 11 - 0

188 cm
38
198 lbs
27 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Perkele!

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 22 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dan Jersey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Jersey makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Santiago steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jersey.
Santiago misses with a combination
enabling Jersey to counter with a crisp jab.
Santiago throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Jersey stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Jersey stuffs the takedown attempt from Santiago. Santiago gets slowly back to his feet.
Santiago fails with the takedown

and Jersey counters with a flying knee that drops Santiago!

Santiago is rocked!
Dan Jersey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Santiago.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Jersey throws an elbow that misses. Santiago uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jersey's guard. Nice move by Santiago!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jersey looking to hit a scissor sweep but Santiago is one step ahead there.
Jersey controls Santiago momentarily but Santiago frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jersey's head.
Santiago with a flurry of punches that miss.
Santiago tries to free his leg and advance position but Jersey is retaining full guard.
Jersey wants to hit a switch here but Santiago passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Jersey there!
Jersey sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Jersey blocking the ground and pound attempt from Santiago.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santiago is looking for a kimura here.
Santiago wants to pass the guard but Jersey is defending well.
Santiago has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Santiago is trying to control the action in half guard but Jersey is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Santiago is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Jersey doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Santiago.
Santiago thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Jersey's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jersey is pressing down on Santiago's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Jersey looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Santiago passes into half guard.
Santiago lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Jersey wants to improve his position but Santiago is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is trying to control. Jersey wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Santiago is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Santiago is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Santiago not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Jersey dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Santiago takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Dan Jersey is winning the standup battle so far.
Santiago has his takedown stuffed
and Jersey connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jersey connects with a nice looking jab.
Jersey works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Santiago shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Jersey counters with a nice leg kick.
Jersey scoring well with a low kick there.
Santiago uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jersey.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Santiago closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Jersey's guard.
Jersey looking to hit a scissor sweep but Santiago is one step ahead there.

Jersey looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago working some strikes from top position.
Antonio Santiago has got the better of the ground game so far.
Santiago looking to sit in guard and control but Jersey gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Santiago avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jersey wants to control from the top but Santiago keeps moving.
Santiago looking for a sweep. Not yet Santiago, not yet.
Jersey lands a couple of digs.
Santiago has momentary wrist control but Jersey slips an elbow through the middle.
Jersey distracts Santiago with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Jersey in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jersey is one step ahead there.

Santiago looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Santiago wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Jersey is now in half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jersey wants to control but Santiago is keeping him busy.
Jersey working the head and body with strikes.
Jersey passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Santiago!
Santiago is looking to get to half guard.
Jersey takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Jersey dominating with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is squirming around, avoiding Jersey's attempts to control the action.
Jersey is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Santiago can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Santiago can't escape the position.
Santiago is bucking up trying to escape but Jersey cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Santiago tries to reverse the position but Jersey maintains control.
Jersey wants to control the pace but Santiago is squirming around nicely.
Jersey punishing his opponent with strikes.
Jersey punishing his opponent with strikes.
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!
Jersey looking to control but Santiago is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Jersey avoids the attempt from Santiago to control.
Santiago manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jersey takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Santiago trying to control but Jersey postures up.
Jersey wants to control but Santiago is keeping him busy.
Santiago has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jersey is working away from the top position though.
Santiago blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jersey.
Jersey trying to control the action but Santiago is working from the bottom.
Santiago is trying to stand back up but Jersey is controlling him
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jersey wants to free his trapped foot but Santiago is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Jersey wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santiago keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Jersey dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Santiago chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Jersey can pounce on him.
Santiago takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Jersey dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jersey connects with a jab.
Jersey lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Antonio Santiago has been cut.
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!
Jersey scores with a kick to the midsection.
Jersey connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Jersey lands with a shot to the body.
Jersey takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Santiago is still on wobbly legs! Can Jersey finish him?
Jersey lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Santiago at a distance.
Jersey is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Santiago can do to turn this around?
Santiago takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A nice leg kick lands there from Jersey.
A solid body kick from Jersey.
Santiago seems to have recovered his senses.
A slapping leg kick lands for Jersey.
Jersey scoring well with a low kick there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Jersey there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Santiago's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Jersey lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Both fighters circling a little - Jersey finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Santiago on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Jersey steps into range and cracks Santiago with a monster punch that buckles his knees! Santiago flops backwards and Jersey dives into his guard looking to finish!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santiago can't keep his opponent in guard - Jersey advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Jersey working the head and body with strikes.
Jersey lands strikes from half guard.
Still in half guard, Jersey seems content to control.
Jersey takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Santiago trying to control but Jersey postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jersey wants to take a breather but Santiago is having none of it.
Jersey perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Santiago actively working from the bottom here.
Jersey trying to control the action but Santiago is working from the bottom.
Jersey scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Dan Jersey is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jersey stalling.
Santiago wants to get back to full guard but Jersey has passed into side control.
You can see the frustration on Santiago's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The referee asks Jersey politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Jersey prefers to stall for the moment though.
Antonio Santiago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jersey in side control lands a decent elbow.
Jersey cracks Santiago with a big elbow.
Jersey looking to control but instead Santiago has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Jersey prevents Santiago from improving his position.
Jersey is controlling the pace.
Santiago has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jersey is working away from the top position though.
Jersey content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jersey takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Jersey seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Santiago does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Dan Jersey has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Santiago throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jersey's waist but Jersey gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Santiago off to one side.
Santiago with a poor takedown
and Jersey counters with a good low kick that Santiago was not able to check.
Jersey lands a nice shot 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!
Santiago on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jersey lands a nice hook to Santiago's body. Santiago takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Jersey scores with a nice body kick.
Dan Jersey is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jersey fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Santiago misses with an uppercut
and Jersey counters with a slapping leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Jersey showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Jersey has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:26
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:26
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Jersey!