PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Markus Serdal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabio Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Serdal
vs
Santos

170 cm
31
170 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

190 cm
22
174 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Markus Serdal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fabio Santos!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Luis Engracia and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos avoids a punch combination nicely.
Santos walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Serdal checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Serdal shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Santos manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Santos wants to control the position but Serdal says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Serdal is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Serdal is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Santos defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Serdal is pressing down on Santos's thigh, looking to free his foot. Santos is holding on for now.

Serdal is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Santos defends it well.
Santos looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Serdal is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Santos has managed to free his arm - good 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.

Serdal is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Santos has managed to free his arm - good work.
Serdal tries to pass to full mount but Santos defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Serdal is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Serdal looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santos is looking to improve his position.

That's four 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 manages to get to full guard.
Serdal advances position into side control!

Serdal is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Santos has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markus Serdal dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Serdal misses with a jab, cross combination.

Santos clinches up against the cage.
Serdal is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Santos is defending well.

Serdal has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Santos clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Serdal working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Santos is having to fend off submission attempts from Serdal, who is looking to sink in the choke. Serdal doesn't have the hooks in though and Santos manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos throwing strikes from guard but Serdal blocks nicely.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Serdal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Serdal seems keen to control Santos's posture.

Santos is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Serdal is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Serdal has escaped and now he's on top!
Markus Serdal overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Serdal stands and throws Santos's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Santos's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Serdal goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Santos rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Serdal's guard! Nice work there by Santos!
Serdal is pulling down on Santos's head to control his posture.
Santos loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Serdal's head.
Santos wants to control from the top but Serdal keeps moving.
Santos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Santos wanted to stand there but Serdal had control of the position.

Serdal looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Santos sitting in guard here, content to control.
Santos trying to control but Serdal is working from the bottom.
Serdal avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santos wants to control from the top but Serdal keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Fabio Santos wasn't active enough on the ground.
Serdal misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Serdal tries to sprawl but Santos drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Santos is working for a submission of some sort.
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!
Serdal tries to roll over but Santos keeps him under control.
Santos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Serdal keeps working.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santos looks to land a strike but Serdal avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Serdal bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Santos's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Fabio Santos will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

An inside leg kick from Santos misses.
Serdal avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Serdal throws a head kick but Santos moves out of range.
Serdal throws a nice looking combination but Santos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Santos fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Santos with that takedown attempt.
Santos has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Serdal drops Santos with a right and a left! Serdal comes rushing in but Santos regains his composure and manages to keep Serdal in guard.

Santos is rocked!

It looks like Fabio Santos has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Serdal slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Santos is still in real trouble! Can Serdal finish him?

Serdal goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Santos has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Serdal but great work by Santos.
Santos trying to control the position but Serdal is working away.
Santos seems to have recovered his senses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Serdal regains half guard.
Santos not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Santos is looking for a kimura but Serdal is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Santos to get the leverage.
Santos wants to stand up but Serdal has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Serdal avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Santos.
Santos controlling the action here.

Serdal makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Serdal lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Santos circles away quickly and effectively.
Santos closes the distance but Serdal moves to the side

and Serdal counters by clinching up.
Santos controlling the action here for a moment.
Serdal stops a takedown attempt from Santos.
Markus Serdal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabio Santos.
Santos tries to pull guard but Serdal forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Santos is trying to pull guard but Serdal has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Santos is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Santos throws a head punch that misses.

Serdal has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Santos clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Serdal working for a choke but Santos is defending well.

Santos defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Serdal's arms.

Serdal working for a choke but Santos reverses nicely into Serdal 's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Serdal looking for a guillotine here but Santos defends easily.
Santos wants to stand but Serdal has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Santos throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Serdal works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Markus Serdal showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Serdal 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Markus Serdal!