PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Carlitos Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Givonia Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Givonia Santiago is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Junior
vs
Santiago

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
26
185 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Carlitos Junior!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Givonia Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago shoots in but Junior avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Junior is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A head kick from Santiago lands but Junior takes it in his stride.
Santiago tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Junior manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Junior will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Santiago fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Santiago moves in looking to clinch but Junior pushes him off.
Santiago misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Junior.
Santiago tries to score a power double leg takedown but Junior sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Santiago somewhat.
Carlitos Junior has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Givonia Santiago.
Santiago fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago misses with a series of wild punches.
Santiago stuffs the takedown.
Junior blocks a head kick by Santiago.
Santiago shoots in but no luck this time.

Junior closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Santiago lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Junior on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Junior tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior tries to get to full guard but Santiago has control of the leg.
Junior is working hard here to advance position.
Junior is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Santiago's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Santiago's back!
Junior is not going to allow Santiago to sit and survive in this position.
Junior connects with a big shot to the side of Santiago's head.
Santiago trying to control but not successfully.

Santiago defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
You can see the frustration on Santiago's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Junior has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Santiago looking to control the position.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Junior is trying to stick to Santiago's back but Santiago is turning into Junior. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Junior's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Santiago.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junior is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Junior wants to improve his position but instead Santiago has moved into half guard.
Santiago missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Santiago is working for a kimura but Junior is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Junior controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Givonia Santiago will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Santiago stuffs the takedown.
Junior closes the distance but Santiago moves to the side
and Santiago counters with a big head kick but Junior shrugs it off.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Santiago.
Junior throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Santiago counters with a slapping leg kick.

Junior instigates a clinch.
Santiago is pressed up against the cage. Junior has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Santiago down to the mat. Santiago avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Santiago lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Santiago fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Givonia Santiago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior has his takedown stuffed
and Santiago counters with a lovely shot to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlitos Junior. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Junior shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Santiago but Santiago pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Junior looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Santiago!
Santiago tries to hold on but Junior postures up.
Santiago is desperately trying to improve his position but Junior has a good base and remains in mount.
Junior knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Santiago on the ground.
Junior trying to control but Santiago is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is looking to get to half guard.
Santiago tries to lock up and control but Junior gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Santiago gets back to half guard.
Santiago is not content to let Junior control the position.
Santiago is trying to maintain the position but Junior is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Junior pulls guard.
Santiago with a flurry of punches that miss.
Junior avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Santiago drops back looking for a leg! Junior is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Junior manages to kick Santiago off! Santiago jumps back into Junior's guard.
Givonia Santiago has got the better of the ground game so far.
Santiago throws an elbow that misses. Junior uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Santiago's guard. Nice move by Junior!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is looking to stand up but Junior isn't so interested in that idea.
Junior throws a strike but Santiago rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Santiago avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Santiago gets to his feet. Junior looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Santiago feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Givonia Santiago showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Santiago closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Junior to the mat! Junior manages to get full guard.
Santiago loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Santiago pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Junior is keeping the position for now.
Junior preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Junior is pulling down on Santiago's head to control his posture.
Santiago postures up in Junior's guard and throws a big left but Junior blocks it.
Junior is adopting a defensive guard.
Junior looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santiago in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Santiago.
Junior utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Santiago won't allow Junior to sweep him here.
Santiago works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Junior trying to hold on to Santiago's head to control him but Santiago postures up.
Junior blocking the ground and pound attempt from Santiago.
Santiago wants to pass the guard but Junior is defending well.
Santiago scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Santiago seems to be looking for submissions.
Santiago missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Santiago thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Junior's head.
Santiago works his foot free and advances to mount.
Santiago looking to finish Junior with some ground and pound. This is bad for Junior!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Junior is looking to improve his position but Santiago isn't that keen on the idea.
Junior is in a horrible position here. Santiago smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Santiago with the ground and pound from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago working the ground and pound effectively.
BOOM! Santiago connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Santiago landing shots from mount.
Junior srikes from the bottom but he's lost position and has given up his back.
Santiago is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

Santiago tightening his grip on Junior, looking for the choke.
Santiago has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Santiago is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Junior has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junior covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Junior is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Junior defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Santiago is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Junior is covering up but some of the strikes from Santiago are getting through and doing damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Santiago punches the canvas rather than the man.
Carlitos Junior has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Givonia Santiago is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Santiago loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Junior hold on?

And that's the end of the fight!
Givonia Santiago comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Santiago 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Givonia Santiago!