PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Via Dios (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dios has chosen Sandstorm as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dos Santos
vs
Dios

175 cm
24
142 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

185 cm
27
141 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Dos Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Via Dios!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dios feints and then cracks Dos Santos's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Dos Santos down.
Dios moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Dos Santos blocks a head kick by Dios.
Dios tries to close the distance and clinch but Dos Santos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dios swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Via Dios seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dos Santos has a takedown stuffed.
Dos Santos tries to move into range but Dios moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Dos Santos slips a jab and a cross from Dios.
Dos Santos keeps the fight on the outside.
Dos Santos uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dios.

Dios instigates a clinch.
Dios is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dos Santos.
Dios is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Dios goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dos Santos fails to pull guard.
Dios prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Dos Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dios lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Dos Santos backwards.
Dios throws a punch but it's blocked by Dos Santos.
Dios throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dios tries to work over Dos Santos's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Dos Santos stalling.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Dios takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Dos Santos is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Dos Santos blocks a body shot from Dios.
Dios scores with a nice hook to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dos Santos.
Dios throws a head punch that misses.
Dios lands a nice shot to the body.
Dios using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dos Santos has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dos Santos is working for takedown but Dios is calmly controlling the position for now.
Dios makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Dios lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Dios is working Dos Santos over against the cage.
Dios lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Dios prevents the takedown attempt.
Dos Santos is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Dios is pressed up against the cage. Dos Santos has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Dios down to the mat. Dios avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Dios lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Dios.
Dios stalks Dos Santos and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Dos Santos's face. Dos Santos staggers backwards, shaken.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Dios!

Dios moves into range and clinches up with Dos Santos.
Dios tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dios tries a body shot but Dos Santos blocks it.
Dios pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Dos Santos trying to stall but Dios improves his position.
Dios working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Dios is pushing Dos Santos up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Dos Santos managing to block the knees to the body from Dios.
Still in the clinch, Dios scores with a nice short uppercut.
Dios is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Dos Santos is keeping busy.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dios.
Dios misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dios tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Dos Santos avoids it.
Dios has a couple of punches blocked by Dos Santos.
Dos Santos tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dios struggles to land a body shot inside as Dos Santos controls his hands.
Dios lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Dios swings wildly with an uppercut but Dos Santos uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dos Santos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Dios walks away with a smile on his face. Dos Santos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Dios misses with a two punch combination.
A jab from Dios finds it's way through Dos Santos's defenses.
A telegraphed right hand from Dios misses the target.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Dos Santos.
Dios is trying to improve his position.

Dos Santos is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Dios is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Dios is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dios tries to roll over but Dos Santos keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dios is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Dos Santos is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Dos Santos works his way into full mount!

Dos Santos looking to secure an arm triangle but Dios defends it well.
Dios sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Dios is looking for a sweep. Dos Santos is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Dos Santos is pressing down on Dios's thigh, looking to free his foot. Dios is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Via Dios dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dios but Dios pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dios fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dos Santos drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Dos Santos fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Dos Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dios wants to clinch.
Dos Santos shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dios takes the fight into the clinch.
Dos Santos blocks an uppercut.

Dos Santos has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Dios clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Dios rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dios wants to get back to full guard.
Dios gets back to full guard.
Dos Santos trying to control but Dios is working from the bottom.

Dos Santos has gone for a leg lock! Dios slips out almost immediately though and dives into Dos Santos's guard.
Dios wants to control from the top but Dos Santos keeps moving.

Dios drops back, looking for a kneebar! Dos Santos looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Dos Santos looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Dos Santos!

Dos Santos swings around for an armbar but Dios sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Dos Santos's guard.
Dios in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dios trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dos Santos working a defensive guard here.
Dios trying to control the position from guard on top but Dos Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dios lands a couple of elbows.

Dos Santos looking for a guillotine here but Dios defends easily.
Dios throws a big right hand that misses.
Dios pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dos Santos is keeping the position for now.
Dos Santos looking to control.
Dios with a nice head shot there.
Dios throws a big right hand that misses.

Dos Santos has his foot on Dios's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dios works his way back into a safe position though.
Dios is looking to work some ground and pound but Dos Santos has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dios avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Dios in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Dos Santos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dios can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dios slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Dios is looking to take a break and control but Dos Santos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Dios wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Dos Santos, who protects the arm well.
Dos Santos is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dos Santos takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Dios trying to control the position but Dos Santos is working away.
Dios creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Dos Santos sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Dos Santos dodges the ground and pound from Dios.
Dios connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Dos Santos some visible discomfort.
Sloppy strikes there by Dios.
Dios scoring with punches and elbows.
Dios fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Dios working away.
Dios working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Dos Santos wants to control but Dios postures up.
Dos Santos manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Dos Santos works his way to full guard. Good work.

Dos Santos escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dios gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Via Dios 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!

Dios stuffs the takedown.

Dios gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Dos Santos being controlled against the cage.
Dios digs a right hand into Dos Santos's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Dos Santos's gas tank.
The referee is keeping an eye on Dios - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Dios tries to throw a body punch but Dos Santos avoids it by throwing Dios back against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Dios.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dios scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Dios is stalling here.
Dos Santos tries for a takedown. No joy.
Dios pressing his opponent against the cage.
Dios is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Dos Santos is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos blocks an uppercut.
Dos Santos tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dios smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Dos Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dios tries to clinch there but Dos Santos circles away.
Dos Santos shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A jab from Dios finds it's way through Dos Santos's defenses.
Dios lands a nice looking body shot.
Dos Santos keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dios throws a body punch but Dos Santos moves out of range.

Dos Santos closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Dos Santos lands in his opponent's guard.

Dos Santos drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dos Santos jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos won't allow Dios to sweep him here.
Dos Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Dios is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Dios is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dos Santos is aware though and is defending well.

Dios working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Dos Santos has passed into half guard!
Dios takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dos Santos moves into full mount! Dios won't be happy about that!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Dos Santos wants to finish this one by submission but Dios is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Dos Santos.

Dos Santos is working for a guillotine from mount but Dios frees his head quite easily.
Thiago Dos Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Dos Santos is working for a guillotine from mount but Dios frees his head quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dios is working to get back to half guard.
Dos Santos has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Dios's face.
Dios is wriggling around trying to escape.

Dios defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Dos Santos.
Dios gets back to half guard.
Dios gets full guard.

Dios looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Dos Santos passes into half guard.
Dios is staying active underneath Dos Santos, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Dos Santos is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Via Dios is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dios wants to get back to full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Dios trying to hold on to Dos Santos's head to control him but Dos Santos postures up.
Thiago Dos Santos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dos Santos wants to pass the guard but Dios is defending well.
Dios tries to get to full guard but Dos Santos has control of the leg.
Dios gets back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Via Dios.
I've got Dios winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Via Dios!