PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nicky Santoro (ranked 5174 p4p, 4389 weight class) and Finan OConnell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Santoro
vs
OConnell

173 cm
18
160
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
160
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Nicky Santoro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Finan OConnell!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Santiago Holmes and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santoro moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
OConnell displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
A low kick from OConnell misses
and Santoro counters with a slapping leg kick.
Santoro lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
OConnell waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Santoro.
OConnell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Santoro.
OConnell misses with a hook. Santoro ducked under it nicely.
A nice leg kick lands there from Santoro.
Nice shot lands for OConnell.
Santoro avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
OConnell tried to score with a low kick but Santoro checks it.
OConnell throws a chopping leg kick but Santoro manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Jab, jab by Santoro - just one landing.
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!
OConnell misses the jab.
Santoro slips a jab from OConnell.
OConnell doesn't manage to clinch there - Santoro circles away.
OConnell jabbing away but nothing is landing.
That kick from Santoro tenderised OConnell's leg. OConnell is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OConnell pivots, looking for a leg kick but Santoro is out of range and OConnell settles back down.
OConnell misses with a left hand
and Santoro counters with a body kick that stops OConnell in his tracks momentarily.
OConnell throws out a loose jab but Santoro uses good head movement to avoid it.
OConnell throws a half hearted mid kick.
OConnell throws a right hand that misses
and Santoro counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Finan OConnell has been cut.
Santoro throws a quick inside leg kick.
Santoro ducks under a wild hook from OConnell.
Santoro half committed to a counter leg kick.
OConnell swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Santoro finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Santoro lands with a straight right. OConnell didn't see that one coming.
Santoro with the inside leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Santoro.
Santoro lands a body shot.
OConnell looks winded!
OConnell throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Santoro counters with a slapping leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santoro lands a head kick!
OConnell pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A thudding body kick lands there by Santoro!
Santoro thumps OConnell with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santoro pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Santoro missing with a left hand there. OConnell was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Santoro moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Santoro lands a nice looking body shot.
A slapping body kick lands there for Santoro.
Santoro lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Santoro lands with an overhand left.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Santoro.
OConnell on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Santoro. Santoro obviously looking to wear him down.
Santoro lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Santoro throws a head kick that half lands.
Good exchange - Santoro coming out on top.
Santoro looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Santoro scores with a nice body kick.
Santoro chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OConnell walks forward, straight into a front kick from Santoro.
Santoro dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on OConnell. That did some damage!
Santoro connects with a leg kick.
A low kick lands for Santoro.
A solid leg kick lands there for Santoro.
Santoro lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Santoro scoring well with a low kick there.
Santoro lands a nice looking kick to the body. OConnell takes a step back to recover.
Santoro lets loose with a powerful body kick. OConnell will feel that in the morning.
Santoro throws a nice outside leg kick.
Santoro with the inside leg kick.
OConnell needs to keep his hands up - Santoro had a free shot at his head there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santoro pushes OConnell away with a front kick.
Santoro scores with a spinning back kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santoro throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
OConnell throws a right hand that misses
and Santoro counters with an outside leg kick.
Santoro scores with a push kick.
Santoro cracks OConnell with a good jab.
Santoro lands a leg kick that knocks OConnell off balance momentarily.
Santoro scores with a head kick. OConnell tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Santoro fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and OConnell has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
OConnell takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Santoro throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Santoro cracks OConnell with an open hand slap.
Santoro looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santoro looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Santoro turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Santoro connects with a good right hand that stumbles OConnell. OConnell circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nicky Santoro dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Finan OConnell's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Santoro with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
OConnell takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
OConnell has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Santoro.
A slow jab from Santoro misses its intended target.
Santoro with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
OConnell tries to clinch but Santoro moves out of range.
A low kick lands for Santoro.

OConnell forces Santoro back against the cage and clinches.
Santoro lands with a light punch inside.
OConnell prevents a body shot from Santoro.
OConnell misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from Santoro - that landed with a thud.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santoro lands with a short punch from the clinch.
OConnell tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Santoro manages to break the clinch.
Santoro throws a head kick that OConnell semi-blocks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Santoro with a nice calf kick.
Santoro is looking to slow OConnell down with leg kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santoro connects with a solid leg kick.
OConnell is looking to clinch but Santoro is avoiding it.
Santoro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that OConnell can do to turn this around?
Santoro scores with a kick to the body.
OConnell is breathing heavily.
Santoro takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
OConnell takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
OConnell throws a poor cross that misses
and Santoro counters with a slapping leg kick.
That kick from Santoro tenderised OConnell's leg. OConnell is trying to keep his angry face on.
Santoro thumps OConnell with a low kick.
Santoro lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
OConnell's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Santoro throws a leg kick which misses OConnell's front leg but catches the back leg as OConnell tries to avoid it.
OConnell tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Santoro counters with a nice low kick that buckles OConnell's knee momentarily.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from OConnell in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
OConnell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Santoro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santoro dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on OConnell. That did some damage!
Santoro chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Santoro moves out of range as OConnell strikes.
Santoro scoring well with a low kick there.
Santoro jabs OConnell right on the nose. OConnell blinks but takes it well.
OConnell throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Santoro chopping away at his opponent's legs.
OConnell throws a hook but Santoro avoids it easily.
OConnell stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Santoro.
OConnell takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Santoro throws a leg kick which misses OConnell's front leg but catches the back leg as OConnell tries to avoid it.
Santoro connects with a looping right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - OConnell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Santoro - that will leave a mark!
Santoro fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and OConnell has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Santoro lands a nice leg kick that just misses OConnell's sensitive parts.
Santoro scores with a nice body kick.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Santoro - that will leave a mark!
Santoro throws a quick inside leg kick.
Santoro plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That has opened up Finan OConnell's cut even more.
Santoro throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by OConnell.

OConnell is rocked!
OConnell doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
OConnell is still on wobbly legs! Can Santoro finish him?
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Santoro chopping away at his opponent's legs.
OConnell seems to have recovered his senses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santoro connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Santoro lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Santoro thumps OConnell with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santoro delivers a nice body kick.
Santoro lands a front kick.
You can see that OConnell has visibly slowed down as a result of the leg kicks
Santoro scoring well with a low kick there.
OConnell takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Santoro scores with a head kick. OConnell tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Santoro lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Santoro lands a leg kick that knocks OConnell off balance momentarily.
Santoro throws a nice outside leg kick.
Santoro with the inside leg kick.
Nice uppercut there from Santoro.
Santoro with the inside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
OConnell throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
OConnell throws a jab but it's blocked by Santoro.
A solid leg kick lands there for Santoro.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nicky Santoro dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Finan OConnell's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

OConnell chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Santoro can pounce on him.
OConnell misses with an uppercut.
Santoro appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Santoro throws a nice outside leg kick.
OConnell moves out of range as Santoro strikes.
Santoro throws a quick inside leg kick.
Santoro tries a head kick but it misses.
Santoro thumps OConnell with a low kick.
Santoro throws a leg kick that misses.
Santoro moves out of range of the strikes.
OConnell throws a lazy right hand but Santoro sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
OConnell misses with a lunging right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
OConnell paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
OConnell throws a right hand that misses
and Santoro counters with a thumping low kick.
OConnell is looking to clinch but Santoro is avoiding it.
OConnell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Santoro explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That kick from Santoro tenderised OConnell's leg. OConnell is trying to keep his angry face on.
Santoro lands a jab to the head.
OConnell throws a lazy uppercut
and Santoro counters with a nice low kick that buckles OConnell's knee momentarily.
Santoro lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Santoro scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Santoro looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Santoro thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on OConnell if he has to take too many more of those.
Santoro feints and then cracks OConnell's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow OConnell down.
OConnell on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Santoro scores with a kick to the body.
Santoro throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Santoro. That's going to slow OConnell down.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice leg kick lands there from Santoro.
Santoro connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Santoro. That's going to slow OConnell down.
OConnell takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
OConnell takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
OConnell has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from OConnell there as he acknowledges the shot.
OConnell on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Santoro. Santoro obviously looking to wear him down.
Santoro throws a shot to the body.
OConnell walks into a jab.
A slapping body kick lands there for Santoro.
Santoro connects with a leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Santoro.
Santoro throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by OConnell.
An inside leg kick lands from Santoro.
OConnell tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Santoro throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Santoro. That's going to slow OConnell down.
OConnell takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Santoro lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Santoro pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Santoro thumps OConnell with a low kick.
Santoro misses with a body shot.
As Santoro backs off OConnell throws a huge counter combo but Santoro manages to avoid it all.
Nicky Santoro is winning the standup battle so far.
Santoro turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Santoro.
Santoro with a nice calf kick.
OConnell rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Santoro counters with an outside leg kick.
OConnell throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A solid leg kick lands there for Santoro.
OConnell throws a nice looking combination but Santoro bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santoro turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Santoro lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santoro throws a nice inside leg kick.
OConnell misses with a few strikes there.
Santoro scores with a nice strike.
Santoro connects with a leg kick.
Nice body kick there by Santoro.
Santoro fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and OConnell has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Santoro scores with a head kick.
Santoro scoring well with a low kick there.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A low kick lands for Santoro.
Santoro lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Santoro cracks OConnell with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Finan OConnell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nicky Santoro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Santoro moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicky Santoro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Santoro has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 David Hoff scores the fight 30:25
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:26
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicky Santoro!
The defeated Finan OConnell had this to say: 'O' I'll be back ya bastards'.