PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Santana (ranked 23005 p4p, 357 weight class) and Samak Ruenroeng (ranked 23478 p4p, 380 weight class). Santana's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Santana
vs
Ruenroeng

155 cm
21
142 lbs
0 - 2 - 2

170 cm
20
144 lbs
1 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Fanatic Inc.

IniTech Nutrition

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 0 - 2 - 2, fighting out of London, Marcus Santana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Samak Ruenroeng!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santana throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Santana shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Santana was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ruenroeng is looking to reverse the position.
Ruenroeng struggling a bit here.
Ruenroeng tries to bench press Santana off him but Santana keeps the position.
Ruenroeng wants to control but Santana postures up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ruenroeng can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ruenroeng is letting Santana control him for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santana fails to land a wild elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Santana decides to stand back up.
Santana avoids the head kick by Ruenroeng.
Ruenroeng thows a leg kick but Santana checks it

and Santana counters by clinching up.
Ruenroeng misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santana doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ruenroeng throws an elbow but misses.
Santana throws a head punch that misses.
Santana dodges an elbow strike from Ruenroeng.
Santana taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Ruenroeng looking to throw knees to the head but Santana is blocking nicely.
Santana dodges an elbow strike from Ruenroeng.
Ruenroeng tries to land a knee to the head but Santana blocks with his arms.
Ruenroeng missing with knees to the body.
Santana scores with a nice hook to the head.
Santana throws a punch but it's blocked by Ruenroeng.
Ruenroeng with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Santana has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ruenroeng is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ruenroeng using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Santana has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Santana lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santana stalling against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Santana misses with a punch to the body.
Ruenroeng looking to throw knees to the head but Santana is blocking nicely.
Santana blocks an elbow strike.
Santana doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ruenroeng misses with an elbow strike.
Ruenroeng with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Santana fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Santana tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ruenroeng's elbow.
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 taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Ruenroeng looking to throw knees to the head but Santana is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ruenroeng.
A short uppercut from Ruenroeng.
Ruenroeng using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Santana has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Santana leaning his opponent against the cage.
Santana lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ruenroeng lands with a light punch inside.
A shot in the inside from Santana.
Santana cracks Ruenroeng with a nice body shot.
The referee is keeping an eye on Santana - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Santana tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ruenroeng lands an elbow that stopped Santana in his tracks for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santana on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ruenroeng misses with a knee to the head.
Ruenroeng's coach down at Crapollas Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Ruenroeng's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Santana working aggressively here.
Ruenroeng blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Santana tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ruenroeng avoids it.
Santana using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ruenroeng has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Santana tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A right hook to the body lands for Santana.
Santana lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nice body punch from Santana - that landed with a thud.
Ruenroeng tries to land a knee to the head but Santana blocks with his arms.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Santana fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Santana 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.

Santana connects with a single shot there.
Santana avoids a kick to the body.
Ruenroeng throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ruenroeng tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ruenroeng cracks Santana with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Ruenroeng tries a head kick but it misses.
Ruenroeng lands a leg kick that knocks Santana off balance momentarily.
Ruenroeng getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Santana fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ruenroeng on the side of the head.
Jab from Santana.
Ruenroeng misses with a kick to the body.
Santana appears to be looking for a big counter.
Ruenroeng dodges the punch combination from Santana.
Ruenroeng tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ruenroeng lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Santana closes the distance and clinches.
Santana goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Santana misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Marcus Santana has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santana blocks an elbow strike from Ruenroeng.
Santana digs a right hand underneath Ruenroeng's ribcage. Ruenroeng let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ruenroeng tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Santana avoids it.
Ruenroeng creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Santana tries to work over Ruenroeng's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Santana tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Santana lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ruenroeng.
Ruenroeng throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Santana has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Ruenroeng clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Ruenroeng is trying to break free.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Santana is working the ground and pound. Can Ruenroeng escape?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santana working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Santana keeps control of the position as Ruenroeng tries to break free.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Santana avoiding Ruenroeng 's attempts to control his hands.
Santana controlling from the back.
Ruenroeng manages to reverse the position and now he's in Santana's guard. Nice work there by Ruenroeng.
Santana seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ruenroeng not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ruenroeng trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ruenroeng looking to sit in guard and control but Santana gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Santana stopping the sweep attempt from Ruenroeng.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ruenroeng is trying to control the position but Santana postures up.
Santana controlling from the top position.
Ruenroeng looking to control.
Santana is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Ruenroeng looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Santana throwing strikes but missing.
Ruenroeng working a defensive guard here.
Santana sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ruenroeng tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ruenroeng is trying to control the position but Santana postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A solid body kick from Ruenroeng.
Santana avoids a punch combination nicely.

Ruenroeng darts in and clinches Santana up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Samak Ruenroeng will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Santana's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ruenroeng throws a body kick that misses.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Ruenroeng - that will leave a mark!
Ruenroeng throws a head kick but Santana moves out of range.
Santana doesn't manage to clinch there - Ruenroeng circles away.
Ruenroeng throws a head kick that misses.

Ruenroeng pushes Santana up against the cage in a clinch.
Santana taking a breather.
Ruenroeng trying to land knees to the body.
Ruenroeng blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ruenroeng.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruenroeng lands a damaging elbow.
Santana misses with a knee to the head.
Ruenroeng comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ruenroeng looking to throw knees to the head but Santana is blocking nicely.
Ruenroeng misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruenroeng creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Santana's defenses.
Santana doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Santana lands with a left to the head.

Santana has clasped his hands together around Ruenroeng's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Ruenroeng sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Well, if Santana is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Santana continues to stall.

Santana decides to stand up.
Ruenroeng lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Ruenroeng gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ruenroeng with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Santana gets through Ruenroeng's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Santana working aggressively here.
Ruenroeng blocks an uppercut.
Ruenroeng is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Santana is defending well for now.
Santana misses with a punch on the inside.
Ruenroeng throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Santana blocks it with crossed arms.
A short left from Santana.
Santana has a couple of punches blocked by Ruenroeng.
Ruenroeng tries to throw a body punch but Santana avoids it by throwing Ruenroeng back against the cage.
Ruenroeng tries to land knees in the clinch but Santana avoids the damage to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Santana.
Ruenroeng throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Santana blocks it with crossed arms.
Santana lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ruenroeng.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruenroeng with a knee to the head.
Santana misses with a body punch.
Santana swings wildly with an uppercut but Ruenroeng uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ruenroeng blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Santana has a couple of punches blocked by Ruenroeng.
Ruenroeng throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Santana blocks it with crossed arms.

Santana turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Ruenroeng tries to bench press Santana off him but Santana keeps the position.
Santana content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santana tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Santana has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Santana controls the position from side control.
Santana in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
You can see the frustration on Ruenroeng's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Santana is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Ruenroeng will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Samak Ruenroeng.
I think Ruenroeng has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Marcus Santana!
A very excited looking Marcus Santana rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.