PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zarrick Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Santos
vs
Nelson

190 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Thiago Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zarrick Nelson!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos shoots in but no luck this time.
Santos looks for the body kick but Nelson saw that one coming.
Santos fails to land the takedown.

Nelson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Santos trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Nelson passes into half guard.

Nelson wants to work for an arm triangle but Santos is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Santos is defending against the submission attempts here by Nelson.
Nelson trying to control the action but Santos is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Nelson connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Nelson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Nelson wants to control the pace but Santos is squirming around nicely.
Santos knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nelson on the ground.
Nelson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Nelson goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Santos is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nelson working for a triangle but Santos defends it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santos wants to stand and escape but instead Nelson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Santos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Santos looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Nelson has picked Santos up and slammed him! Santos can't keep hold of the triangle and Nelson manages to pass to side control!
Santos is breathing heavily.
Nelson in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Nelson wants to control but Santos is keeping him busy.
Santos tries to buck Nelson off but Nelson is having none of it.
Nelson cracks Santos with a big right hand but Santos just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Nelson tries for a kimura but Santos is defending well.

Nelson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Santos has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nelson advances to mount.
Nelson looking to finish Santos with some ground and pound. This is bad for Santos!
Nelson unloading with bombs!
Nelson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Nelson gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Horrible takedown by Nelson or perhaps it was just good defense by Santos which made him look bad.
Santos tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nelson shoots for a double leg takedown but Santos sprawls well. He's pushed Nelson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Santos rushes Nelson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nelson tries to throw a body punch but Santos avoids it by throwing Nelson back against the cage.
Santos tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nelson smiles and moves away.
Santos looks to land a combination but Nelson avoids it well.
Nelson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Santos avoids it really well and circles away.
Nelson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Nelson.
Santos tries to clinch up but Nelson circles away and keeps his distance.
Thiago Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nelson but Nelson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Santos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Nelson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Nelson stands up from half guard.
Santos fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nelson misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santos clinches with his opponent.
Santos tries to score a body lock takedown but Nelson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Nelson tries for a takedown but Santos manages to get underhooks.
Nelson can't get the takedown.
Santos tries a body shot but Nelson blocks it.
Santos wants to stall.
Nelson tries to break free but Santos pushes him back against the cage.
Santos gets underhooks to prevent Nelson's takedown attempt.
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!
Nelson tries to pull guard but Santos holds him up against the cage and eventually Nelson drops back down to his feet.
Nelson wants a takedown.
Nelson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Santos pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santos scores with a takedown into Nelson's guard.

Nelson looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Santos is defending well. Nelson quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Santos has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Nelson celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Zarrick Nelson!