PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Santana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Garkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ricardo Santana is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Santana
vs
Garkov

191 cm
22
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

197 cm
28
210 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ricardo Santana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergei Garkov!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santana misses with a wild combination.
Garkov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Santana tries to avoid it but Garkov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Santana to the ground. Santana escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Santana throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Sergei Garkov has been cut.
A head kick misses from Santana.
Garkov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Garkov swats away the attempt to clinch by Santana.
Garkov has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Santana throws a head kick that misses.
Santana throws a head kick but Garkov moves out of range.
Santana connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Garkov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Santana tries to avoid it but Garkov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Santana to the ground. Santana escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ricardo Santana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sergei Garkov.
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!
Santana throws a combination that misses
and Garkov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santana tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Garkov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Santana lands with a hook. Garkov tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Garkov lands a glancing blow to the side of Santana's head.
Santana throws a head kick that misses.
Ricardo Santana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Garkov moves in looking to clinch but Santana pushes him off.
Santana throws a head kick but Garkov moves out of range.
Santana throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Santana misses with a double jab
enabling Garkov to counter with a crisp jab.
Garkov tries to clinch but Santana moves out of range.
Santana misses with a combination
and Garkov counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santana is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Santana.
Santana throws a head kick but Garkov moves out of range.
Garkov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Santana throws a head kick but Garkov moves out of range.
Santana slaps away a takedown attempt from Garkov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Horrible takedown by Garkov or perhaps it was just good defense by Santana which made him look bad.

Santana instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garkov fails to pull guard.
Garkov fails to pull guard.
Garkov fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Santana breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Santana darts in and clinches Garkov up against the cage.
Garkov jumps guard but Santana turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Garkov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Santana crunches a lovely knee into Garkov's ribcage.
Garkov is trying to break the clinch but Santana has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Garkov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Santana throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Garkov blocks it with crossed arms.
Santana is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Garkov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Santana breaks from the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Garkov jumps guard but Santana turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Garkov takes a knee right on the jaw!
Garkov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Garkov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Garkov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Santana to keep the fight standing.

Santana breaks the clinch.

Santana drives through and clinches with Garkov against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Santana dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sergei Garkov's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Santana pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Garkov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Garkov takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Santana lands a big head kick that sends Garkov tumbling to the mat! Santana takes a step backwards and waves Garkov back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Garkov is rocked!
Garkov is trying desperately to land a takedown but Santana is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Garkov.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santana throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Garkov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Santana throws a jab when Garkov was well out of range.
Santana slips a jab and a cross from Garkov.
Santana throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Santana will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Garkov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santana misses with a low kick as Garkov jumps back.
Santana misses with a double jab
and Garkov counters with a stiff right hand.
Santana will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Garkov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Garkov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Garkov throws a strike aimed at the side of Santana's head but Santana avoids it well.
Garkov trying to control the position but Santana is working away.
Garkov takes a little break here. Santana wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Santana is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santana gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Santana wants to try and get back to his feet.
Garkov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Santana blocking the ground and pound.
Garkov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Garkov content just to control the position here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Garkov wants to control the pace but Santana is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana is in all sorts of trouble here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Garkov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Garkov prevents Santana from getting the reversal.
Garkov trying to control but Santana is having none of it.
Santana regains half guard.
Santana moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santana keeping moving, preventing Garkov from controlling successfully.

Sergei Garkov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Garkov connects with a good right hand that stumbles Santana. Santana circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Santana wants to clinch.
Garkov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Santana defends well and Garkov ends up having to push Santana into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Garkov is looking to break free of the clinch but Santana has double underhooks.
Garkov tries to stall but Santana uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Garkov working hard to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Santana dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sergei Garkov's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Garkov blocks a head kick by Santana.
Garkov swats away the attempt to clinch by Santana.
Garkov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Santana as he jumps to the side.
Santana looks to land a combination but Garkov avoids it well.
Santana lands with an uppercut that bounces Garkov off the cage and back into range.
A jab from Garkov finds it's way through Santana's defenses.
Santana doesn't manage to clinch there - Garkov circles away.
Garkov wants to clinch.
Santana misses with a hook. Garkov ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santana tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Santana fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Santana tries to clinch there but Garkov circles away.
Garkov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Santana tries to avoid it but Garkov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Santana to the ground. Santana escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Santana tries to clinch up but Garkov circles away and keeps his distance.
Garkov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Santana swivels and escapes.
Ricardo Santana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sergei Garkov.
Santana wants to clinch but Garkov slips to the side
and Garkov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Santana tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Garkov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Santana is looking to slow Garkov down with leg kicks.
Ricardo Santana is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Santana looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Santana throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Santana lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Garkov circles away quickly and effectively.
Santana fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Santana tries to clinch
and Garkov counters with a right hand to the body.
Garkov keeps the fight on the outside.
Santana throws a body kick that misses.
Santana looks to land a left hand but Garkov moved out of range nicely.
Garkov shoots in for a takedown but Santana shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Garkov circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana tries to clinch there but Garkov circles away.
Garkov takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Santana scores with a kick to the body.
Ricardo Santana is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Santana wants to clinch.
Santana wants to clinch but Garkov slips to the side
letting Garkov counter with a right hand.
Santana wants to land a leg kick but Garkov is out of range.
Santana jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Santana swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ricardo Santana is winning the standup battle so far.
Santana slips under a jab from Garkov.
A looping hook to the body misses from Santana. Garkov does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santana pushes Garkov away with a front kick.
Some wild striking there from Santana.
Santana tries to work over Garkov's front leg with a kick but Garkov checks it.
Santana throws out a leg kick but Garkov moves out of range and Santana only half commits.
Garkov takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Santana is looking to clinch but Garkov is avoiding it.
Santana stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Santana wants it to stay on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santana tries to clinch up but Garkov circles away and keeps his distance.
Sergei Garkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Santana throws a right hand that Garkov ducks under and follows up with a left that Garkov also avoids with ease.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Santana showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Santana, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Santana!