PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jorge Santos (ranked 938 p4p, 125 weight class) and Pieter Daan Mostert (ranked 2505 p4p, 299 weight class). Jorge Santos had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 186.6lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. 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.

Santos
vs
Daan Mostert

188 cm
24
204 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

188 cm
27
197 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Fast

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jorge Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pieter Daan Mostert!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yukihiro Shimada and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos misses with a jab to the body

and Mostert counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Santos makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Santos.
Mostert wants to control from the top but Santos keeps moving.
Santos looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We've been hearing good reports from Santos'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.
Mostert trying to control but Santos is working from the bottom.

Mostert postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Santos is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Mostert, into his guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Santos's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mostert is looking for a triangle but Santos pushes his legs off easily.
Santos scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Santos postures up and lands a big shot to Mostert's brow.
Mostert 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.
Santos landing some decent shots from guard.
Santos not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Santos trying to control but Mostert is working from the bottom.
Mostert is trying to keep Santos in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Santos stands up over Mostert, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Mostert is looking for a triangle but Santos pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mostert keeping moving, preventing Santos from controlling successfully.
Santos pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mostert is keeping the position for now.

Mostert is looking for a triangle but Santos pushes his legs off easily.

Mostert working for a triangle but Santos defends it easily.
Santos content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Mostert is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mostert working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Santos doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Santos manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Mostert is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santos looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Mostert 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. Mostert 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! Mostert celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Pieter Daan Mostert!
A relieved looking Pieter Daan Mostert thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.