PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Victor Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pablo Caceres (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Victor Dos Santos
vs
Caceres

178 cm
23
183 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

187 cm
24
173 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Victor Dos Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pablo Caceres!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Leandro Rodrigues and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dos Santos defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Caceres.

Caceres shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Caceres postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Dos Santos is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Caceres, into his guard.
Caceres is trying to control the position but Dos Santos postures up.
Caceres wants to sweep but no luck.

Dos Santos decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Caceres, up you get!

Caceres closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Dos Santos to the mat! Dos Santos manages to get full guard.
Dos Santos wants to stand up but Caceres is controlling him.
Caceres throws a strike but Dos Santos rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Dos Santos gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos throws a right hand that Caceres ducks under and follows up with a left that Caceres also avoids with ease.
Dos Santos throws a right hand that Caceres ducks under and follows up with a left that Caceres also avoids with ease.
Thiago Victor Dos Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Dos Santos, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Caceres closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Caceres lands in his opponent's guard.
Dos Santos is breathing heavily.
Dos Santos keeping moving, preventing Caceres from controlling successfully.
Caceres is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caceres looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Caceres trying to control but Dos Santos is working from the bottom.
Caceres thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos keeping moving, preventing Caceres from controlling successfully.
Caceres looking to sit in guard and control but Dos Santos gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Dos Santos wants to get up but he can't break Caceres's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A combination from Dos Santos does no damage.
Caceres fails to land the takedown.
Caceres looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Thiago Victor Dos Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pablo Caceres.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Caceres is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Dos Santos's half guard.
Caceres thows a huge punch but Dos Santos dodges it nicely.
It looks like Caceres is going to stand back up.
Dos Santos blocking the ground and pound attempt from Caceres.

Caceres stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Dos Santos to get to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dos Santos looks to land a combination but Caceres avoids it well.

Caceres fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Dos Santos sprawls well initially but Caceres persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Caceres wants to pass to mount but Dos Santos is defending the position.
Caceres is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Dos Santos reverses the position - he's now on top in Caceres's guard.
Dos Santos would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Caceres pushes Dos Santos off and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Caceres tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dos Santos sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Caceres somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caceres showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dos Santos.
Caceres shoots in for a takedown but Dos Santos shows good takedown defense.
A punch combination from Dos Santos misses.
Dos Santos stuffs the takedown.
Thiago Victor Dos Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pablo Caceres.
Caceres shoots in for a takedown but Dos Santos shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Dos Santos. No joy for Caceres on that attempt.
Caceres looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dos Santos is fending him off so far but Caceres persists. Nope, Dos Santos circles away and we're back to standing.
Caceres misses with a takedown attempt - Dos Santos sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Caceres decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dos Santos on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Dos Santos tries to get out of the position.
Caceres is trying to control. Dos Santos wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Caceres sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dos Santos defending well though.
Dos Santos is staying active underneath Caceres, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Dos Santos kicks off Caceres and gets to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Dos Santos. No joy for Caceres on that attempt.
Dos Santos looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Dos Santos fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos throws a right and a left that both miss.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Caceres's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dos Santos misses with a wild combination.
Caceres looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dos Santos is fending him off so far but Caceres persists. Nope, Dos Santos circles away and we're back to standing.
Caceres fails with a takedown attempt.
Dos Santos misses with the combination.
Caceres shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dos Santos as he avoids it easily.

That's four 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 misses with a two punch combination.

Caceres shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Caceres throws a strike but Dos Santos avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Caceres wanted to stand there but Dos Santos had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Caceres throws a strike but Dos Santos rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Caceres showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Caceres misses with a takedown attempt - Dos Santos sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Thiago Victor Dos Santos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dos Santos circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dos Santos throws a series of punches but Caceres moves out of range.
Dos Santos swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Caceres looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Caceres trying to control but Dos Santos is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos wants to stand up but Caceres is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Caceres stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dos Santos swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dos Santos keeping moving, preventing Caceres from controlling successfully.
Caceres throws a big right hand that misses.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Caceres shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dos Santos pinned against the cage. Dos Santos gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Caceres moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Dos Santos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thiago Victor Dos Santos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Caceres fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dos Santos avoids it really well and circles away.
Thiago Victor Dos Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pablo Caceres.
Caceres closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dos Santos circles away.
Dos Santos rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Caceres moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Caceres fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dos Santos avoids it really well and circles away.
Dos Santos stuffs the takedown attempt from Caceres. Caceres gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Caceres shoots in for a takedown but Dos Santos shows good takedown defense.
Dos Santos stuffs the takedown.
Dos Santos looks to land a combination but Caceres avoids it well.
Caceres shoots in and drives through. Dos Santos sprawls well.
Caceres shoots for a double leg takedown but Dos Santos sprawls well. He's pushed Caceres's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nice takedown defense from Dos Santos. No joy for Caceres on that attempt.
Some wild striking there from Dos Santos.
Horrible takedown by Caceres or perhaps it was just good defense by Dos Santos which made him look bad.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Caceres fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dos Santos avoids it really well and circles away.

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 Thiago Victor Dos Santos.
I think Caceres has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pablo Caceres!