PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Strongius Shorticus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dos Santos comes to the cage accompanied by "This Is War" by Il Nino. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dos Santos
vs
Shorticus

176 cm
20
157 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

160 cm
24
153 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Lightning Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gabriel Dos Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Strongius Shorticus!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, David Schapiro and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shorticus changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Dos Santos looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Shorticus throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Dos Santos is trying to get back to half guard.
Shorticus lands a nice forearm strike.
Shorticus misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Shorticus working the ground and pound.
Shorticus working away.
Shorticus lands an elbow.
Dos Santos is trying to buck Shorticus off.
Shorticus landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Shorticus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dos Santos keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shorticus working the strikes but Dos Santos uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Shorticus thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Shorticus.
Dos Santos blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shorticus.
Shorticus not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Shorticus trying to control from Dos Santos's half guard. Dos Santos has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Shorticus wants to control from the top but Dos Santos keeps moving.
Shorticus throwing strikes from guard but Dos Santos blocks nicely.
Shorticus stands up over Dos Santos, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Shorticus controls from within his opponent's guard.
Shorticus trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shorticus with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Dos Santos is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shorticus defends well.
Dos Santos will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Shorticus chips away with some ground and pound.

Dos Santos is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Shorticus is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Shorticus trying to control but Dos Santos is working from the bottom.

Dos Santos is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Shorticus is aware though and is defending well.
Dos Santos is breathing heavily.
Shorticus distracts Dos Santos with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shorticus.
Shorticus trying to control but Dos Santos is working from the bottom.
Shorticus with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shorticus trying to control the position from guard on top but Dos Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dos Santos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shorticus is in close to Dos Santos's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Shorticus postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dos Santos controls Shorticus momentarily but Shorticus frees himself.
Shorticus must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Dos Santos moves in looking to clinch but Shorticus pushes him off.
Strongius Shorticus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dos Santos connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A jab from Shorticus misses.

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.
Shorticus throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dos Santos's waist but Dos Santos gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Shorticus off to one side.
Shorticus missing with a left hand there. Dos Santos was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but Shorticus moves out of range.
Shorticus shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dos Santos defends it nicely.

Dos Santos has Shorticus up against the cage in a clinch.
Dos Santos throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Shorticus is working for takedown but Dos Santos is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gabriel Dos Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Strongius Shorticus.
Dos Santos unloads a knee to the mid-section. Shorticus lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Dos Santos lands an elbow inside.
Shorticus tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Dos Santos avoiding damage.
Shorticus takes an elbow to the forehead.
Dos Santos gets underhooks to prevent Shorticus's takedown attempt.
Shorticus has Dos Santos pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Dos Santos manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Dos Santos working Shorticus over with knees to the body.
Dos Santos lands a nice elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Strongius Shorticus dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Dos Santos tries to clinch there but Shorticus circles away.
Shorticus shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dos Santos defends it nicely.
Dos Santos slips under a jab from Shorticus.
Dos Santos tries to clinch up.
Shorticus shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dos Santos defends it nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dos Santos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dos Santos wants to clinch up but Shorticus keeps it at a distance.
Shorticus keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shorticus fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gabriel Dos Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Strongius Shorticus.
Shorticus is breathing heavily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dos Santos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dos Santos is looking to clinch.
Dos Santos wants to clinch.
Shorticus swats away the attempt to clinch by Dos Santos.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos doesn't manage to clinch there - Shorticus circles away.
Dos Santos defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shorticus.
Dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch but Shorticus swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but Shorticus moves out of range.
Dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch but Shorticus swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but Shorticus is having none of it.
Dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shorticus swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dos Santos tries to clinch up but Shorticus circles away and keeps his distance.
Shorticus fails with the takedown.
Shorticus shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dos Santos as he jumps to the side.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dos Santos doesn't manage to clinch there - Shorticus circles away.
Shorticus avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dos Santos wants to clinch up but Shorticus keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dos Santos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

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.

Dos Santos has managed to clinch.
Dos Santos landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Dos Santos is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Stalling in the clinch from Dos Santos.
Shorticus is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Dos Santos gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Dos Santos stops a takedown attempt from Shorticus.
Dos Santos lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Shorticus backwards.
Dos Santos leaning against his opponent.
Dos Santos lands a nice knee to the body.
Shorticus is trying to drag Dos Santos to the mat but Dos Santos just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Dos Santos crunches a lovely knee into Shorticus's ribcage.
The is referee keeping an eye on Dos Santos - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Shorticus is working for takedown but Dos Santos is calmly controlling the position for now.
Dos Santos stalls.
Shorticus takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A bit of stalling here from Dos Santos.
Shorticus tries to score a body lock takedown but Dos Santos shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Dos Santos pushes Shorticus back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Dos Santos lands a right hand that snaps the head of Shorticus backwards.
Dos Santos scores a nice knee to the body.
Dos Santos unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Dos Santos has Shorticus pressed against the cage.
Dos Santos using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shorticus has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Dos Santos working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Shorticus being controlled against the cage.
Dos Santos is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Gabriel Dos Santos.
Shorticus shoots in but Dos Santos avoids the takedown attempt easily.

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.

Dos Santos shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Shorticus wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Dos Santos is now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shorticus looking for subs from the bottom but Dos Santos mounts him!
Dos Santos wants to control the pace but Shorticus is squirming around nicely.

Dos Santos stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Shorticus works the jab nicely.
Dos Santos is looking to clinch.

Shorticus scores a takedown into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Dos Santos dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Shorticus avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shorticus paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Shorticus shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dos Santos is trying to defend but Shorticus finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Shorticus stops Dos Santos from getting back to his feet.
Shorticus slips a nice elbow through Dos Santos's hands, connecting with Dos Santos's forehead.
Dos Santos avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Shorticus.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Shorticus connects with a nice short shot to Dos Santos's temple.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shorticus is pressing down on Dos Santos's thigh, looking to free his foot. Dos Santos is holding on for now.
Shorticus thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dos Santos's head.
Shorticus throwing shots but Dos Santos is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shorticus throws a strike but Dos Santos avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Dos Santos controls Shorticus momentarily but Shorticus frees himself.
Shorticus throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dos Santos works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Shorticus misses with a takedown

and Dos Santos holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Shorticus goes for a takedown attempt but Dos Santos pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dos Santos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dos Santos moves in looking to clinch but Shorticus pushes him off.
Shorticus gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Dos Santos counters by moving into the clinch.
Gabriel Dos Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Strongius Shorticus.
Dos Santos manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

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.
Dos Santos working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Shorticus tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Dos Santos gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Shorticus.
Shorticus being controlled against the cage.
Shorticus takes a knee right on the jaw!
Dos Santos lands an elbow inside.
Shorticus jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Dos Santos walks away with a smile on his face. Shorticus gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Dos Santos is looking to clinch but Shorticus is avoiding it.
Shorticus shoots and misses

and Dos Santos decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Shorticus's guard.

Shorticus working for submissions but it's allowed Dos Santos to get to half guard.
Shorticus trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shorticus is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Dos Santos pulls his head out easily.
Shorticus is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Dos Santos jumps into side control!

Dos Santos decides to stand up, so the ref orders Shorticus to his feet.
Gabriel Dos Santos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dos Santos fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shorticus connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Shorticus fails with the takedown

and Dos Santos counters by moving into the clinch.
Dos Santos taking a breather.
Shorticus blocks the elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos prevents a takedown attempt there.
Shorticus blocks an elbow strike from Dos Santos.
Shorticus blocks an elbow strike from Dos Santos.
A short uppercut from Dos Santos.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Dos Santos.
Shorticus goes for a takedown attempt but Dos Santos pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shorticus paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dos Santos is looking to clinch.
Dos Santos fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but Shorticus moves out of range.

Dos Santos has taken the fight to the clinch.
Shorticus tries to pull guard but Dos Santos holds him up against the cage and eventually Shorticus drops back down to his feet.

Shorticus wants the takedown. Dos Santos is fighting it off but Shorticus persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Dos Santos's guard against the cage.
Shorticus missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Dos Santos showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dos Santos 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight for Gabriel Dos Santos!
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight for Gabriel Dos Santos!
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight for Gabriel Dos Santos!

Gabriel Dos Santos wins by unanimous decision!