PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Junior dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taz Tazz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). dos Santos comes to the cage accompanied by Gonna Fly Now Rocky. Tazz has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! The key to victory for Junior dos Santos has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

dos Santos
vs
Tazz

196 cm
19
245 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
240 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Junior dos Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Taz Tazz!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Eddie Farnsworth and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

dos Santos moves into range and clinches up with Tazz.
dos Santos cracks Tazz with a nice body shot.
Tazz looks gassed!

dos Santos lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
dos Santos scoring with strikes to the body and head.
dos Santos lands strikes from half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
dos Santos missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
dos Santos throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
dos Santos slips a nice elbow through Tazz's hands, connecting with Tazz's forehead.
dos Santos works his way into side control.
dos Santos lands a decent elbow from side control.
Tazz takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
dos Santos lands some shots froms side control.
Tazz taking a bit of punishment here - dos Santos scoring with strikes.
dos Santos working the ground and pound.
The ground and pound from dos Santos seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
dos Santos working the head and body with strikes.
dos Santos working the ground and pound but Tazz is defending the strikes.
dos Santos lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
dos Santos looks up at the clock and then as Tazz takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, dos Santos smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Tazz takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Tazz is working to avoid the ground and pound but dos Santos connects with a decent elbow.
dos Santos works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
dos Santos lands a few punches from side control.
dos Santos working the head and body with strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tazz taking punishment in the form of punches.
You can see the frustration on Tazz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
dos Santos will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
dos Santos misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

dos Santos decides to stand up, so the ref orders Tazz to his feet.

dos Santos gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tazz is pressed up against the cage. dos Santos has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tazz down to the mat. Tazz avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Donk. dos Santos catches Tazz right on the button with a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
dos Santos throws a good cross that connects.

dos Santos clinches up against the cage.
dos Santos missing with knees to the body.
Nice body punch from dos Santos.
dos Santos is working Tazz over against the cage.
Tazz managing to block the knees to the body from dos Santos.
dos Santos lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
dos Santos lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Tazz or not.
dos Santos throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tazzs head.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
dos Santos throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Tazz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. dos Santos fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Junior dos Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
dos Santos throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

dos Santos drives through and clinches with Tazz against the cage.
dos Santos lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Tazz.
dos Santos is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tazz is defending well for now.
Tazz stops a takedown attempt from dos Santos.
dos Santos softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
dos Santos missing with knees to the body.
dos Santos cracks Tazz with a nice body shot.

dos Santos breaks from the clinch.
Tazz has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
dos Santos closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tazz circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Junior dos Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from dos Santos.

dos Santos clinches up with Tazz and pushes him back against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for dos Santos.
Tazz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Tazz is working for takedown but dos Santos is calmly controlling the position for now.
dos Santos pushes Tazz back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

dos Santos has picked Tazz up - he's going for a ride! dos Santos dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
dos Santos missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
dos Santos looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tazz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Tazz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from dos Santos.
dos Santos missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
dos Santos looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Tazz is trying to control but can't.

dos Santos decides to return to a standing position.

dos Santos instigates a clinch.
A shot in the inside from dos Santos.
A right handed body shot lands from dos Santos.
dos Santos lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Tazz tries for a takedown but dos Santos manages to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
dos Santos lands a nice shot to the body.
A body shot lands from dos Santos.
Tazz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A nice left hand lands by dos Santos.
Tazz prevents the takedown attempt.
dos Santos lands a hook that snaps the head of Tazz backwards.
A short body shot lands from dos Santos as the two fighters clinch.
A nice left hand lands by dos Santos.
dos Santos pushes Tazz back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
dos Santos gets underhooks to prevent Tazz's takedown attempt.
dos Santos presses Tazz against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
dos Santos scores with a hook to the body.
Tazz goes for a takedown attempt but dos Santos pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
dos Santos lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

dos Santos has closed the distance and engaged Tazz in a clinch.

dos Santos pulls guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tazz prevents dos Santos from getting back to his feet.

Tazz drops back looking for a leg! dos Santos is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and dos Santos manages to kick Tazz off! Tazz jumps back into dos Santos's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior dos Santos 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 lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Tazz with a poor takedown
and dos Santos connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

dos Santos has Tazz up against the cage in a clinch.
dos Santos scores with a hook to the body.
dos Santos softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Tazz tries to pull guard but dos Santos holds him up against the cage and eventually Tazz drops back down to his feet.
dos Santos is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tazz can do to turn this around?
dos Santos gets through Tazz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
dos Santos scores a nice knee to the body.
dos Santos lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tazz backwards.
A left hand lands to the body for dos Santos.
dos Santos lands a body punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
dos Santos scores with a hook to the body.
dos Santos scores with a shot to the side of Tazz's head.
Tazz 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.
Junior dos Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taz Tazz.
dos Santos wants to stall.
A right hook to the body lands for dos Santos.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tazz tries to circle away but dos Santos has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
dos Santos missing with knees to the body.
Good body shot from dos Santos.
dos Santos is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Tazz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. dos Santos just stands there and leans against the cage.
dos Santos tries to score a body lock takedown but Tazz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
dos Santos cracks Tazz with a nice body shot.
A right handed body shot lands from dos Santos.

dos Santos has Tazz pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. dos Santos pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Tazz tumbling to the mat - dos Santos dives into Tazz's guard.
dos Santos loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
dos Santos working some strikes from top position.
dos Santos missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Tazz has his foot on dos Santos's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. dos Santos works his way back into a safe position though.
Tazz wants to sweep but no luck.
dos Santos scoring with punches to the head and body.
Tazz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
dos Santos throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tazz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Junior dos Santos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tazz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tazz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
dos Santos postures up in Tazz's guard and throws a big left but Tazz blocks it.
Tazz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tazz controls dos Santos momentarily but dos Santos frees himself.
dos Santos has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
dos Santos landing with the ground and pound.
dos Santos throws a strike but Tazz rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

dos Santos has his feet on Tazz's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Junior dos Santos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
dos Santos lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

dos Santos clinches with his opponent.
dos Santos lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Tazz looking to throw knees to the head but dos Santos is blocking nicely.
dos Santos works on Tazz's body with a couple of short punches.
Nice body punch from dos Santos - that landed with a thud.
dos Santos lands a left hand.

dos Santos works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Tazz wants to get back to his feet but dos Santos is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
dos Santos throws and elbow that misses. Tazz uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in dos Santos's guard. Nice move by Tazz!
Tazz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tazz trying to control but dos Santos is working from the bottom.

dos Santos pushes Tazz off and scrambles back to his feet.

dos Santos moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
dos Santos works on Tazz's body with a couple of short punches.
A left hand lands to the body for dos Santos.
dos Santos digs a right hand underneath Tazz's ribcage. Tazz let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Tazz gets underhooks to prevent dos Santos's takedown attempt.
Tazz looking for a takedown.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
dos Santos throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Tazz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

dos Santos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

dos Santos rushes Tazz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
dos Santos is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tazz pulls him back up using the underhooks.

dos Santos manages to break the clinch.
Tazz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts dos Santos as he jumps to the side.
A nice combination there by dos Santos.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tazz checks the leg kick.

dos Santos moves into range and clinches up with Tazz.
dos Santos throws an elbow but it's blocked.
dos Santos is leaning against Tazz and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
dos Santos lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior dos Santos dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Ouch! a nice leg kick from dos Santos, right into the meat.
dos Santos is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
dos Santos scores with a nice strike.
Tazz with a poor takedown
and dos Santos counters with a left and a right that stings Tazz.
dos Santos throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
dos Santos lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

dos Santos forces Tazz back against the cage and clinches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from dos Santos.

dos Santos gets a trip takedown into half guard.
dos Santos lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
dos Santos thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
dos Santos not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
dos Santos missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
dos Santos not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ground and pound from dos Santos.
Tazz trying to hold on to dos Santos's head to control him but dos Santos postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tazz is trying to defend against the ground and pound but dos Santos scores with a couple of nice shots.
Tazz moves into full guard.
dos Santos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
dos Santos stops Tazz from standing up.

Tazz is working an open guard so dos Santos takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

dos Santos closes the distance and clinches.

dos Santos gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Tazz is pressing down on dos Santos's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
dos Santos stands up over Tazz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
dos Santos working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tazz's head.
Tazz wants to stand but dos Santos is controlling the position.

dos Santos stands up and waves to Tazz to follow him.
Junior dos Santos is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - dos Santos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

dos Santos scores with a takedown into Tazz's guard.
dos Santos content to stall in guard here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
dos Santos's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Junior dos Santos wasn't doing enough on the ground.

dos Santos closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Tazz did well to prevent dos Santos getting side control.
dos Santos not doing much here.
Tazz is trying to maintain the position but dos Santos is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
dos Santos stalks Tazz and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Tazz's face. Tazz staggers backwards, shaken.
dos Santos looks to land a combination. Tazz sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Tazz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. dos Santos defends it nicely.
dos Santos moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

dos Santos clinches up with Tazz and pushes him back against the cage.

dos Santos lands a takedown into guard.
dos Santos slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
dos Santos won't allow Tazz to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Junior dos Santos showed his dominance in that final round.
Well dos Santos 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:24
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:24
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Junior dos Santos!