PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scorpien Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas Dos Santos has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Dos Santos
vs
Rua

185 cm
19
143 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
140 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Experienced

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Thomas Dos Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Scorpien Rua!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksandr Martynov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dos Santos misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Dos Santos looks to land a combination but Rua avoids it well.
A combination from Dos Santos does no damage.
Dos Santos misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sloppy strikes from Dos Santos. Those never looked like landing.
Dos Santos misses with a double jab.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rua.
Rua showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos throws a right hand that Rua ducks under and follows up with a left that Rua also avoids with ease.
Dos Santos misses with a two punch combination.
Dos Santos misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rua misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Dos Santos throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos looks to land a combination but Rua avoids it well.
No joy there for Dos Santos, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rua looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Dos Santos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rua circles away quickly and effectively.
Dos Santos throws a right and a left that Rua avoids nicely.
Dos Santos rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rua moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Rua looking to score a takedown here. Dos Santos is defending well but Rua drives through and ends up in Dos Santos's guard.
Dos Santos will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rua stops Dos Santos from standing up.
Dos Santos is breathing heavily.

Rua stands up and waves to Dos Santos to follow him.
Thomas Dos Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dos Santos misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rua showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dos Santos.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Dos Santos, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A punch combination from Rua misses.
Dos Santos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rua circles away quickly and effectively.
Dos Santos throws a series of punches but Rua avoids them all with ease.
Dos Santos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rua circles away quickly and effectively.
Rua avoids a punch combination nicely.
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.
A punch combination from Dos Santos misses.
Dos Santos misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rua drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua gets to his feet - Dos Santos follows without any prompting.
Dos Santos misses with a few strikes there.
Dos Santos throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dos Santos pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Rua back to the cage. Dos Santos follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Dos Santos dodges the punch combination from Rua.
Dos Santos throws a right hand that Rua ducks under and follows up with a left that Rua also avoids with ease.
Rua is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dos Santos sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Thomas Dos Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scorpien Rua.
Dos Santos misses with an uppercut. Rua saw that one coming.
Dos Santos misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
No joy there for Dos Santos, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dos Santos misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua dodges the punch combination from Dos Santos.
Rua avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dos Santos as he avoids it easily.
Dos Santos rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rua moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dos Santos catches Rua with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Dos Santos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rua circles away quickly and effectively.
Dos Santos rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rua moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Dos Santos dominated that 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.

Dos Santos looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thomas Dos Santos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dos Santos fails to land with a series of punches.
Dos Santos misses with the combination.
Rua showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos misses with a double jab.

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

Rua stands and steps away. Dos Santos gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Rua is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dos Santos sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Dos Santos lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Dos Santos misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rua uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dos Santos.
Dos Santos tries to bum rush Rua with a series of wild strikes but Rua uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A combination from Dos Santos does no damage.
Rua 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 Rua off to one side.
Dos Santos misses with a few strikes there.
Rua dives in and grabs Dos Santos's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dos Santos pushes down on Rua's head and hops out.
Thomas Dos Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scorpien Rua.
Dos Santos throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rua avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rua misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Rua shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Dos Santos's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

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

Rua stands up from Dos Santos's guard - Rua perhaps looking for a knockout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dos Santos tries to bum rush Rua with a series of wild strikes but Rua uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A combination from Dos Santos does no damage.
Dos Santos throws a right and a left that Rua avoids nicely.
Rua tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos fails to land with a series of punches.
A combination from Dos Santos does no damage.
Dos Santos throws a right hand that Rua ducks under and follows up with a left that Rua also avoids with ease.
Dos Santos throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dos Santos displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rua.
Dos Santos rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rua moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rua takes a swing at Dos Santos's ribcage but misses.
Rua shoots for a takedown but Dos Santos saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Thomas Dos Santos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rua tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dos Santos swivels and escapes.
Dos Santos misses with the combination.
Dos Santos throws a series of punches but Rua moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos throws a right and a left that both miss.
Dos Santos misses with the combination.

Rua drives through with a takedown into guard.

Rua decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dos Santos as he avoids it easily.

Rua feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
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.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Dos Santos is working an open guard so Rua takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Rua throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scorpien Rua showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Dos Santos fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rua has a takedown stuffed.
Dos Santos misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rua dodges the punch combination from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dos Santos swings for the body but Rua moves out of range.
Rua slips a jab and a cross from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos misses with a double jab.
Dos Santos misses with a double jab.
Dos Santos really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A combination from Dos Santos does no damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rua.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Dos Santos. Those never looked like landing.
Rua looks to land a body kick but Dos Santos moved away.
Dos Santos throws a nice looking combination but Rua bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rua fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dos Santos avoids it really well and circles away.
Thomas Dos Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scorpien Rua.
Dos Santos throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rua.

Rua shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Dos Santos manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Rua stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Dos Santos does no damage.
Dos Santos misses with a looping right.
Dos Santos looks to land a combination but Rua avoids it well.

Rua 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.

Rua stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dos Santos throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sloppy strikes from Dos Santos. Those never looked like landing.
Dos Santos will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Dos Santos gets caught flat footed, as Rua shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Rua gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua dives in and scores a takedown into Dos Santos's guard.
Dos Santos wants to get back to his feet but Rua is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

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

Rua shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rua was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Dos Santos is trying to stand.
Rua controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos really wants to buck Rua off and get back to his feet.

Rua is standing up, even though he is in mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rua showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rua circles away quickly and effectively.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dos Santos works over Rua's head and body with a nice combination.
Dos Santos misses with a two punch combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scorpien Rua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rua 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scorpien Rua!