PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cuba Gooding Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cuba Gooding Evans has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Gooding Evans
vs
Santiago

188 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
213 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Nutrition 101

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cuba Gooding Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, John Kavanagh and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago misses with a wild combination.
Santiago looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nice sprawl there from Evans as Santiago shoots in.
Santiago looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cuba Gooding Evans has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Santiago.
Evans throws out a powerful jab.
Evans shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Santiago as he jumps to the side.

Evans closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Santiago to the mat! Santiago manages to get full guard.

Santiago is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Evans controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Evans is holding on to half guard well.
Evans is pressing down on Santiago's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Santiago throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Evans has Santiago pulled in close to control his posture.
Santiago working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Evans looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Evans on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Evans tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Evans looking for a sweep. Not yet Evans, not yet.
Santiago wants to stand but Evans has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Santiago looking to sit in guard and control but Evans gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Evans stopping the sweep attempt from Santiago.
Evans not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Evans pushes down on Santiago's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Santiago is looking for a sweep. Evans is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Santiago blocking the ground and pound attempt from Evans.
Evans is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Evans moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Santiago.
Santiago looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Evans is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Evans lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Santiago down.
Santiago is trying to buck Evans off.
Evans staying calm.
Evans prevents Santiago from escaping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cuba Gooding Evans dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Santiago gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Evans counters with a shoot takedown. Santiago fights it but they end up in guard.
Evans is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Evans postures up.
Evans sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Evans seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Santiago for as long as he can get away with.
Santiago is breathing heavily.
Santiago wants to get back to his feet but Evans is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Evans pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santiago is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santiago working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Evans doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Evans manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Evans scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Evans content to stall in guard here.
Evans keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Santiago's head.
Evans not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Santiago tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Evans connects with a couple of short punches.
Evans is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Santiago 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.
Evans looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Evans scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans controlling from the top position.
Evans distracts Santiago with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Evans content to stall in guard here.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Cuba Gooding Evans just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Santiago lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A nice combination there by Evans.
Evans shoots in and drives through. Santiago sprawls well.
Santiago swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Evans fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Santiago sprawls well initially but Evans persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Evans is taking a breather. Santiago says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Evans uses his free foot to push down on Santiago's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Santiago.
Evans tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cuba Gooding Evans dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Santiago feints and as Evans raises his hands in defense, Santiago changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Santiago wants to pass the guard but Evans is keeping the position.
Evans looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Evans holds on and takes a little breather.
Evans wants to sweep but no luck.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago advances position into side control!
Santiago wants to stand but Evans has his arm trapped.
Evans is looking for a sweep.
Evans manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Santiago wants to take a breather but Evans is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santiago throwing shots but Evans is blocking nicely.

Santiago is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Santiago is looking to take a break and control but Evans is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cuba Gooding Evans is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Evans preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Evans is pressing down on Santiago's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Evans seems keen to control Santiago's posture.
Santiago postures up in Evans's guard and throws a big left but Evans blocks it.
Santiago tries to free his leg and advance position but Evans is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Santiago wants to control from the top but Evans keeps moving.
Evans looking to hit a scissor sweep but Santiago is one step ahead there.
Santiago looking to sit in guard and control but Evans gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Evans slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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 Cuba Gooding Evans.
Well Evans has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cuba Gooding Evans!