PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Neto Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tiago Soares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dos Santos has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Neto Dos Santos has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dos Santos
vs
Soares

191 cm
22
236 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

195 cm
22
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Neto Dos Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tiago Soares!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Seu Braga and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dos Santos on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Dos Santos looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Dos Santos takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

It looks like Neto Dos Santos has been cut.
Dos Santos avoids a punch combination nicely.
No luck for Soares with that takedown attempt.
Dos Santos is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Soares.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Soares tries to clinch but Dos Santos moves out of range.
Soares is looking to clinch but Dos Santos is avoiding it.
Soares shoots in for a takedown but Dos Santos shows good takedown defense.

Soares pushes Dos Santos up against the cage in a clinch.
Dos Santos managing to block the knees to the body from Soares.
Soares can't break the clinch.
Soares looking to stall.
Soares looking for a takedown.
Neto Dos Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tiago Soares.
Soares lands a nice uppercut.
Soares has had enough of the clinch but Dos Santos keeps him there for the moment.
Soares tries for a takedown but Dos Santos manages to get underhooks.
Soares has had enough of the clinch but Dos Santos keeps him there for the moment.
Dos Santos tries to score a body lock takedown but Soares shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soares tries to pull guard but Dos Santos won't allow it.
Soares is trying to break free.
Soares trying to land knees to the body.
Soares tries to break the clinch but Dos Santos is controlling the position.
Dos Santos is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Soares pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Dos Santos jumps into guard, dragging Soares to the mat.

Soares avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Soares pushes down on Dos Santos's leg and manages to get into half guard.
It looks like Soares is going to stand back up.
Soares keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soares tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Dos Santos.
Dos Santos tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Soares has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Dos Santos wants to control but Soares is having none of it.
Soares looking to control but Dos Santos is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Soares looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soares's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Dos Santos is in all sorts of trouble here.

Soares is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Dos Santos has managed to escape the submission attempt.

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.
Dos Santos really wants to buck Soares off and get back to his feet.
Soares looking to control but Dos Santos is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Soares stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Soares scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Soares tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dos Santos with a poor takedown
enabling Soares to counter with a crisp jab.
Soares wants to clinch.
Soares tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dos Santos paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tiago Soares dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Neto Dos Santos's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Soares scores with a three punch combo!
Danga de danga de dang - Soares scores with a four punch combination!
Soares is looking to clinch.
Soares tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dos Santos swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Soares drives through with a takedown into guard.

Dos Santos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Dos Santos will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Dos Santos wants to sweep here but Soares controlling him for the moment.

Soares gets to his feet. Dos Santos looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Neto Dos Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Soares finds it's way through Dos Santos's defenses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Soares gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soares struggles to land a body shot inside as Dos Santos controls his hands.
Soares prevents a takedown attempt there.
Dos Santos tries to pull guard but Soares holds him up against the cage and eventually Dos Santos drops back down to his feet.
Dos Santos keeps control of Soares as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Soares tries to throw a body punch but Dos Santos avoids it by throwing Soares back against the cage.
Soares throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Soares has had enough of the clinch but Dos Santos keeps him there for the moment.
Dos Santos prevents Soares from breaking the clinch.
Soares goes for a takedown attempt but Dos Santos pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Soares fails with the takedown.
Dos Santos shoots for a double leg takedown but Soares sprawls well. He's pushed Dos Santos's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neto Dos Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Soares moves in looking to clinch but Dos Santos pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Soares lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Soares.
Soares shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dos Santos but Dos Santos pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dos Santos tries for a takedown but Soares sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Dos Santos keeps the fight on the outside.

Soares looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Dos Santos is looking for a triangle but Soares pushes his legs off easily.
Soares prevents Dos Santos from getting back to his feet.
Soares wants to stand but Dos Santos has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Dos Santos uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soares throws a series of punches but Dos Santos moves out of range.
Soares is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dos Santos misses with a takedown attempt
and Soares counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Soares swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Dos Santos misses with a takedown attempt
and Soares counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Dos Santos fails with the takedown.
Soares lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos misses with a takedown attempt - Soares sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Dos Santos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dos Santos takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Soares fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Soares misses with a wild combination.
Danga de danga de dang - Dos Santos scores with a four punch combination!
Soares lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Soares tries to clinch there but Dos Santos circles away.

Soares fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Dos Santos sprawls well initially but Soares persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Soares wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dos Santos keeps working.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dos Santos tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tiago Soares showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Neto Dos Santos's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Dos Santos with a poor takedown

and Soares moves into the clinch.
Soares is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Soares fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Dos Santos fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Soares with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stalling in the clinch from Soares.
Soares is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Dos Santos is keeping busy.
Dos Santos has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Soares is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neto Dos Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dos Santos is pressed up against the cage. Soares has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Dos Santos down to the mat. Dos Santos avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Soares wants to clinch.
Neto Dos Santos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dos Santos throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dos Santos looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Soares looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soares tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dos Santos paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Soares doesn't manage to clinch there - Dos Santos circles away.
Soares tries for a takedown but Dos Santos circles away easily

and Dos Santos decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Soares's guard.
Dos Santos tries to free his leg and advance position but Soares is retaining full guard.
Soares wants to sweep but no luck.
Soares bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dos Santos's guard.

Dos Santos is looking for a triangle but Soares pushes his legs off easily.
Soares must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Soares tries to free his leg and advance position but Dos Santos is retaining full guard.
Soares stays in close to Dos Santos's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos keeping full guard, as Soares tries to pass.
Soares wants to control from the top but Dos Santos keeps moving.
Dos Santos is trying to keep Soares in close.
Dos Santos looking to control but Soares passes into half guard.
Tiago Soares has got the better of the ground game so far.

Dos Santos looking for submissions off his back.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Soares fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soares wants to clinch up but Dos Santos keeps it at a distance.

Soares rushes Dos Santos and presses him up against the cage.
Soares is trying to break the clinch but Dos Santos has him pressed against the cage.
Dos Santos is trying to drag Soares to the mat but Soares just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Soares throws an elbow that misses.
Soares wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dos Santos blocking some punches.
Soares avoiding damage as Dos Santos throws knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dos Santos.
Soares wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Dos Santos prevents Soares from breaking the clinch.

Dos Santos has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Soares is trying to keep an underhook but Dos Santos manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dos Santos stands up and beckons Soares to join him on the feet.

Dos Santos forces Soares back against the cage and clinches.
Dos Santos has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Soares is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Soares has had enough of the clinch but Dos Santos keeps him there for the moment.
Dos Santos tries to pull guard but Soares won't allow it.

Soares pulls guard effortlessly.
Dos Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Soares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dos Santos postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Dos Santos makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dos Santos trying to control but Soares is working from the bottom.
Neto Dos Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tiago Soares is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dos Santos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neto Dos Santos showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Soares has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tiago Soares!