PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Renan Barao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fernando Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santos has chosen Meu Ébano as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Barao
vs
Santos

168 cm
20
143 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

184 cm
22
142 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Renan Barao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fernando Santos!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Emerson Jorge and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barao gets a takedown into half guard.
Santos wants to get back to full guard.
Barao not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Barao keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Barao wants to work for an arm triangle but Santos is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Barao is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Barao throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barao is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Barao not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Barao missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Barao controlling the pace.
Barao scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barao is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Santos trying to hold on to Barao's head to control him but Barao postures up.
Barao wants to stand up but Santos is controlling the position.
Barao working Santos over with strikes.
Barao wants to stand but Santos has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barao seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Barao landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Barao lands with a punch from half guard.
Barao thows a huge punch but Santos dodges it nicely.
Barao wants to take a breather but Santos is having none of it.
Barao has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barao missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Santos is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Santos won't allow Barao to pass to mount.
Barao missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Barao missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Barao is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice strikes from Barao there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renan Barao dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Santos goes for a double leg but Barao avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Barao continues to drive forward.

Barao pulls Santos into guard.
Santos won't allow Barao to sweep him here.
We've been hearing good reports from Barao's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Santos drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Barao dives on top into guard.
Barao makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Our spies down at at Tenacity Elite - 17 Coaches inform us that Santos has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Renan Barao overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Barao wants to control from the top but Santos keeps moving.
Barao postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Barao slips nicely into half guard.
Santos is breathing heavily.
Barao is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barao not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Barao drops an elbow to the side of Santos's head.
Barao not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Barao has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Barao lands with some strikes.
Barao working Santos over with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barao in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Barao lands a nice shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barao putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Santos is rocked!
A nice elbow there by Barao.
Santos is still in real trouble! Can Barao finish him?
Barao cracks Santos with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Renan Barao!