PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Francisco Santos (ranked 4478 p4p, 4481 weight class) and Leo Taza (ranked 187 p4p, 189 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.

Santos
vs
Taza

201 cm
18
300
0 - 0 - 0

198 cm
18
290
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 1 rounds, in the super heavyweight 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, Francisco Santos!
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, Leo Taza!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Stewart Dunkirk and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Taza.
As Taza tries to get set, Santos tries to push him back and clinch up but Taza manages to avoid the attempt.
Santos fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Taza tries for a takedown but Santos sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Taza shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Santos as he jumps to the side.
Taza shoots in looking for a takedown but Santos manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Taza's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Francisco Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Taza.
A swing and a miss from Santos.
A head kick by Santos misses

and Taza moves into the clinch.

Taza breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taza displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Santos.

Santos has Taza up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santos pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Santos closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Taza did well to prevent Santos getting side control.
Santos is trying to control the action in half guard but Taza is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Santos stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Taza to get to his feet.

Taza moves into the clinch.
Santos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Taza.
Santos trying to land knees to the body.

Taza breaks from the clinch.

Taza pushes Santos up against the cage in a clinch.
Santos tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Taza is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taza blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Santos could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Santos pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Santos circles away from the clinch attempt
and Santos counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santos fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Taza shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Santos pinned against the cage. Santos gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Taza fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Santos, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taza goes for a takedown in the clinch but Santos prevents it.

Taza pulls guard.
Taza 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.
Taza trying to keep a closed guard but Santos is proving a slippery customer.
Santos has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Santos postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Taza throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taza preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Taza throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Santos shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Taza defends it nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taza doesn't manage to clinch there - Santos circles away.
Santos throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Taza's waist but Taza gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Santos off to one side.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Francisco Santos.
I think Santos has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1 round of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 10:9
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 10:9
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 10:9

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francisco Santos!