PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Junior Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Markakis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Dos Santos
vs
Markakis

190 cm
20
240 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

202 cm
18
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid 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 Rio de Janeiro, Junior Dos Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nick Markakis!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Seu Braga and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Markakis has taken the fight to the clinch.
Markakis tries to score a body lock takedown but Dos Santos shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Markakis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nick Markakis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice takedown defense from Markakis. No joy for Dos Santos on that attempt.
Markakis darts in trying to clinch
and Dos Santos counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Markakis keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dos Santos waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Markakis.
A combination from Markakis does no damage.
Markakis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dos Santos shoots in and drives through. Markakis sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Junior Dos Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dos Santos shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Markakis sprawls well. Markakis wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dos Santos gets slowly back to his feet.
Dos Santos dives in for a single leg takedown but Markakis sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markakis tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Markakis fails to pull guard.

Dos Santos breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dos Santos fails with a takedown attempt.
Dos Santos misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Dos Santos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Markakis fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Dos Santos is out of range.
Markakis tries to clinch
and Dos Santos counters with a three punch combo that has Markakis backing up. Markakis nods at Dos Santos to acknowledge the strikes.

Dos Santos shoots in and bounces Markakis off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Markakis trying to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markakis working a defensive guard here.
Dos Santos slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dos Santos is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Markakis has escaped the position, nice work there.
Markakis tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Dos Santos just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Good control from Dos Santos.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
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 interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Markakis closes the distance but Dos Santos moves to the side
and Dos Santos counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Markakis misses with a wild combination.
Markakis stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Markakis wants it to stay on the feet.

Markakis has Dos Santos up against the cage in a clinch.
Markakis misses with a knee to the head.
Markakis can't break the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Markakis throws an elbow but misses.
Markakis wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Markakis looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Dos Santos breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markakis tries to clinch
and Dos Santos counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Markakis thinking.
Markakis tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Dos Santos counters with a series of strikes. Markakis will be more careful next time no doubt.

Dos Santos closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Markakis quickly recovers to half guard.
Dos Santos controlling the pace.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dos Santos thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Markakis's head.
Markakis is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dos Santos's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dos Santos's back!
Dos Santos might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Markakis is trying to control but Dos Santos is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos gets back to half guard.
Markakis is breathing heavily.
Dos Santos slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Dos Santos tries to strike from the bottom.
Dos Santos wants to sweep here but Markakis controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dos Santos manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Markakis manages to get himself to full guard.
Dos Santos scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Dos Santos advances to half guard.
Markakis keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Junior Dos Santos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dos Santos controlling the action here.
Dos Santos working the head and body with strikes.
Markakis really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dos Santos. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Markakis tries to buck Dos Santos off but Dos Santos takes his back!
Markakis covers up after that shot from Dos Santos.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dos Santos looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Dos Santos is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Markakis. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Dos Santos dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Markakis darts in trying to clinch
and Dos Santos counters with a left and a right that stings Markakis.
Junior Dos Santos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Dos Santos shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Markakis napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Dos Santos is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Markakis looks calm but he's in trouble here. Dos Santos gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Markakis is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Dos Santos lets go of the hold and Markakis can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Junior Dos Santos!