PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bill Santana (ranked 5468 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nic Cunningham (ranked 5479 p4p, 493 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Santana
vs
Cunningham

160 cm
22
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
23
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bill Santana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nic Cunningham!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Jorge Garcia and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cunningham moves into the clinch.

Cunningham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cunningham looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nic Cunningham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cunningham shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cunningham showed some decent athleticism there.
Santana wants to control but Cunningham is keeping busy.
Cunningham moves nicely into side control.
Santana really is a fat lump.
Santana is letting Cunningham control him for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cunningham is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Santana has escaped the position, nice work there.
Santana wants to control but Cunningham postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Santana to see if he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cunningham goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Santana has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Cunningham but great work by Santana.
Cunningham sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Santana seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Cunningham looking for submissions off his back.
Santana wants to take a breather but Cunningham is having none of it.
Cunningham trying to control here.
Santana thows a huge punch but Cunningham dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham is looking to improve his position.
Cunningham makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cunningham.
Cunningham wants to stand and escape but Santana is having none of it.
Santana has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Santana throws a big right hand that misses.
Santana postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Santana's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Santana is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Cunningham is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Cunningham has escaped and now he's on top!

Cunningham postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Cunningham trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Santana might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cunningham looking for a sweep. Not yet Cunningham, not yet.
Santana makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Santana trying to control the position from guard on top but Cunningham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cunningham is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham has a closed guard, preventing Santana from standing up.

Cunningham looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Cunningham is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Santana working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Santana is looking to stand up but Cunningham won't let him.
Santana landing with the ground and pound.

Cunningham escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Santana gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nic Cunningham dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cunningham throws a wild body kick that Santana sees coming a mile off.
Santana tries to counter by clinching up but Cunningham breaks away and moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cunningham is defended easily by Santana.

Cunningham looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santana tries to kick Cunningham off in order to stand up. Cunningham Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Santana is not content to let Cunningham control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham grinds an elbow into Santana's temple.
Cunningham has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Cunningham lands with some strikes.
Santana is in all sorts of trouble here.
Cunningham looking to finish with strikes here!
Cunningham takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Santana blocking the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham unloads with some shots from mount but Santana bucks and avoids them well.
Santana tries to reverse the position but Cunningham maintains control.
Cunningham takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Santana tries to hold on but Cunningham postures up.
Santana really wants to buck Cunningham off and get back to his feet.
Santana bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cunningham holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham controls Santana momentarily but Santana frees himself.
Nic Cunningham has got the better of the ground game so far.
Santana wants to stand but Cunningham is controlling his posture from full guard.

Cunningham has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Santana can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cunningham trying to control the position here.
Cunningham tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Santana wanted to stand there but Cunningham had control of the position.
Cunningham wants to stand and escape but Santana is having none of it.
Cunningham tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Santana drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Cunningham manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Santana has Cunningham in his guard.

Cunningham advances to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nic Cunningham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Santana moves into the clinch successfully.
Santana slowing the pace effectively.
A frustrated look appears on Santana's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cunningham tries to pull guard but Santana holds him up against the cage and eventually Cunningham drops back down to his feet.
Cunningham stalling in the clinch but Santana improves position.
Santana wants to get back to striking at distance but Cunningham won't allow it.

Cunningham has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Santana regains guard immediately.
Santana wants to stand but Cunningham is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cunningham wanted to stand there but Santana had control of the position.

Cunningham is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham postures up and lands a big shot to Santana's brow.
Cunningham throwing strikes but missing.
Santana has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Cunningham has passed into side control.

Cunningham tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cunningham has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Santana is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Cunningham's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Santana knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cunningham on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Cunningham in particular looking to stall.
Santana is trying to get back to full guard.
Cunningham trying to control from half guard but Santana is working away.
Cunningham prevents Santana from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham passes to full mount!
Santana is trying desperately to improve position.
Santana takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Santana is just holding on here. Cunningham manages to take his back.
Santana wants to escape the position.
Santana covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I would not like to be Santana right now.
Cunningham is hanging on to Santana's back as he tries to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santana trying to control the hands but Cunningham breaks the grip.
Cunningham is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Santana up.
Cunningham wants to control but Santana is keeping busy.
Santana is trying to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cunningham has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Santana's body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nic Cunningham comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cunningham winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nic Cunningham!