PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Christian Pakson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gancho Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gancho Santos acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Pakson
vs
Santos

179 cm
24
186 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

184 cm
25
191 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Christian Pakson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gancho Santos!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shirou Masuda and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos throws a sloppy head kick
and Pakson counters with a stiff right hand.
Pakson tries to clinch

and Santos counters by clinching up.
Pakson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Santos tries to land a knee to the head but Pakson blocks with his arms.

Santos breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gancho Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Pakson forces Santos back against the cage and clinches.

Santos breaks the clinch.
Pakson tries to clinch up

and Santos moves into the clinch.
Santos tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Pakson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Santos gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Santos pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santos wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Pakson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Pakson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Santos wants to sweep here but Pakson controlling him for the moment.
Pakson with a flurry of punches that miss.

Pakson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Santos dives on top into guard.
Santos controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gancho Santos was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Santos looks for a takedown but Pakson sprawls well.

Santos closes the distance and clinches.
Pakson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Santos gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Christian Pakson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Santos tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Santos gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Pakson.

Santos wants the takedown. Pakson is fighting it off but Santos persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Pakson's guard against the cage.
Pakson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Santos is one step ahead there.
Pakson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gancho Santos dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Santos clinches up against the cage.
Santos is leaning against Pakson and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Santos works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Santos gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Santos darts in and clinches Pakson up against the cage.
Santos wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Santos tightens his grip and picks Pakson up, before dumping him to the ground. Pakson manages to land in guard.
Santos distracts Pakson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Santos controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Pakson is looking to stand up but Santos isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Santos is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Gancho Santos has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Pakson closes the distance looking to clinch

so Santos counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Pakson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santos trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Pakson manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Pakson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Pakson throwing strikes but missing.
Santos has his hands on Pakson's head, controlling the position.
Santos manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Santos controlling his opponent.
Santos lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gancho Santos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Santos.
Pakson stuffs the takedown attempt from Santos. Santos gets slowly back to his feet.
Santos circles away from the clinch attempt

and Santos counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Santos is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santos seems to be looking for submissions.
Santos is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Santos thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pakson's head.
Santos content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gancho Santos was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Pakson moves to clinch but Santos breaks away

and Santos counters with a single leg into guard. Pakson didn't expect that.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Pakson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pakson can't keep his opponent in guard - Santos advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos looks to land a strike but Pakson avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Santos tries to free his leg and advance position but Pakson is retaining full guard.
Santos controlling from the top position.
Santos lands a couple of elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gancho Santos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Santos 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30

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