PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Middle Bear (ranked 2979 p4p, 2496 weight class) and Michel Santos (ranked 271 p4p, 228 weight class). Santos has chosen DMX - Intro as his entrance music. This should be a great matchup!

Bear
vs
Santos

175 cm
29
144
5 - 6 - 0

170 cm
25
148
9 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Shadow Realm NYC

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Middle Bear!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michel Santos!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Lou da Vinci and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bear gets caught flat footed, as Santos shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Santos works over Bear with some ground and pound from guard.

Bear looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bear being controlled here, momentarily.

Santos got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bear has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Santos has managed to get both his arms back between Bear's legs - danger averted.
Bear looking to control.
Santos forces his way into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bear looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Santos is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Santos is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bear is just riding it out for now. Santos eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bear gets full guard.
Santos postures up and lands a big shot to Bear's brow.
Bear is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Bear 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.
Bear throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Bear looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Santos passes into side control.
Bear wants to control but Santos postures up.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Bear is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos working the body and head with strikes.
Santos controlling from side mount.
Bear wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Santos is staying tight to Bear's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Santos is looking to take a break and control but Bear is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bear is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Iron Sharpens Iron, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Bear is looking for a sweep.

Santos is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bear knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos is putting a hurting on Bear here, landing some big shots from side control.
Bear sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Bear trying to control from the bottom.
Santos looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Santos slips a nice elbow through Bear's hands, connecting with Bear's forehead.
Santos prevents Bear from improving his position.
Bear tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Santos has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Bear is wriggling around trying to escape.
Santos controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bear keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Santos looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Santos with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Santos content just to control the position here.
Santos has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bear really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Santos controlling from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Santos can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bear is looking to escape.
Bear is looking to get to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michel Santos dominated that round.
That's time! Bear's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Santos will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bear is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bear tries to close the distance and clinch up but Santos swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Santos decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Bear looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bear is staying active underneath Santos, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nice strikes from Santos there.
Bear has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Santos is working away from the top position though.
Santos controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Bear tries to roll over but Santos keeps him under control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bear trying to hold on to Santos's head to control him but Santos postures up.
Michel Santos has got the better of the ground game so far.
Well, if Santos 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.
Bear wants to control but Santos is keeping busy.
Bear is not content to let Santos control the position.
Bear moves into full guard.

Bear throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Santos pushing down on Bear's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Santos is trying to control the action in half guard but Bear is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Santos working the head and body with strikes.

Bear looking for submissions off his back.
Bear wants to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Santos in particular looking to stall.
Santos stops Bear from getting back to his feet.
Santos is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Bear throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Bear is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bear throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bear is looking for a sweep. Santos is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Bear looking for submissions off his back.
Santos working the head and body with strikes.
Santos content to control rather than advance.
Bear taking some punishment here, with Santos in his half guard.
Santos tries to pass to full mount but Bear defends it.
Santos looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bear with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Bear actively working from the bottom here.
Bear is trying to maintain the position but Santos is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Bear wants to hold on but Santos pushes him away.
Santos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Santos landing punches.
Santos landing strikes, looking to finish!
Bear is in all sorts of trouble here.
Santos looking to control but Bear is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Santos controlling his opponent.
Santos looking to control but Bear is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Santos scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Bear is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Santos scoring with strikes but Bear is staying in there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michel Santos 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! This is the final round!

Bear shoots in for a takedown but Santos shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bear tries to clinch but Santos moves out of range.

Santos clinches up against the ropes.
Bear is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Santos gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Santos has clasped his hands together around Bear's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Santos is staying tight to Bear's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Bear taking punishment in the form of punches.
Santos advances to mount.
Santos with shots to the head and body - Bear looks very uncomfortable down there.
Santos lands a big elbow.
Santos looking to control but Bear is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bear manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Santos is thwarting Bear's attempts to control the position.

Bear is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Santos pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santos is working for a submission of some sort.
Bear taking some punishment here, with Santos in his half guard.
Santos is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Santos is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bear gets back to full guard.

Bear is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Santos is aware though and is defending well.
Santos distracts Bear with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Middle Bear has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos passes Bear's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ground and pound from Santos.
Santos scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Santos lands a nice short elbow.
Bear has a hand on Santos's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Santos takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Bear tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Santos sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
A nice elbow there by Santos.

Bear is rocked!
Santos pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Oh Bear is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
A big strike lands for Santos! That's really hurt Bear and he's turned his back - Santos keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Santos jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Michel Santos!
A less than humble Michel Santos misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.