PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rajja Khan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dos Santos has chosen Chemical Brothers - Leave Home as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Khan
vs
Dos Santos

179 cm
34
160 lbs
25 - 8 - 2

185 cm
28
169 lbs
21 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sinister Nutrition
Milwaukee's Best Nutrition

Fury Nutrition Inc.
Milwaukee's Best 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 8 - 2, fighting out of London, Rajja Khan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, William Dos Santos!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Dillan Fox and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khan throws a shot from downtown. Dos Santos moves away and avoids it.
Khan avoids the body shot from Dos Santos.

Dos Santos looking to score a takedown here. Khan is defending well but Dos Santos drives through and ends up in Khan's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Dos Santos trying to move into half guard but instead Khan has managed to sweep!

Dos Santos is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Dos Santos working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Khan has passed into half guard!
Khan not doing much here.
Khan wants to control but Dos Santos is keeping him busy.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khan drops an elbow to the side of Dos Santos's head.
Khan trying to pass the guard but Dos Santos defending well.
Dos Santos trying to control from the bottom.
Dos Santos is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dos Santos is trying to maintain the position but Khan is very close to passing his half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Khan in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Khan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Dos Santos is trying to get back to full guard.
Khan is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Dos Santos reverses the position - he's now on top in Khan's guard.
Dos Santos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Khan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Dos Santos wants to control from the top but Khan keeps moving.
Dos Santos wants to pass the guard but Khan is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos is looking to advance position but Khan has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Dos Santos tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dos Santos has given up his back here.

Khan is looking for the choke from the back position but Dos Santos is controlling his hands well.
Dos Santos is trapped and Khan is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Dos Santos is keeping busy.
Dos Santos rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Khan sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Khan's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Khan's back!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Khan just trying to survive but Dos Santos is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Dos Santos is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Khan defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Khan can't escape the position.

Khan fending off the submission attempt from Dos Santos.
Khan is in bad spot here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Khan is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rajja Khan will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dos Santos avoids the head kick by Khan.
Dos Santos slips a jab and a cross from Khan.
Khan throws out a powerful jab.
Dos Santos throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Khan throws a hook but Dos Santos avoids it easily.
Khan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Dos Santos dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Dos Santos throws a body punch but Khan moves out of range.
Jab from Khan.
Dos Santos misses the shot to the body.
Dos Santos looks to land a combination but Khan avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Khan scoring with some ground and pound.

Dos Santos is looking for a triangle but Khan pushes his legs off easily.
We've been hearing that Khan has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Khan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Dos Santos working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Khan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Khan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Khan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khan trying to control but Dos Santos is working from the bottom.
Rajja Khan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dos Santos wants to control the position but Khan says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Khan controlling the action here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Khan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dos Santos's head.
Khan lands strikes from half guard.
Dos Santos trying to control from the bottom.
Dos Santos gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos keeping moving, preventing Khan from controlling successfully.
Khan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dos Santos is keeping the position for now.
Khan wants to control from the top but Dos Santos keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Dos Santos can't keep his opponent in guard - Khan advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Khan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dos Santos does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dos Santos is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Khan's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Khan's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khan is in bad spot here.

Khan preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Dos Santos.

Dos Santos is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Khan knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Khan for a finish.
Khan breaks Dos Santos's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Dos Santos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Khan wants to control from the top but Dos Santos keeps moving.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dos Santos lands with a thumping leg kick.
Dos Santos throws a series of punches but Khan avoids them all with ease.
Khan throws a hook but Dos Santos blocks it.
Jab from Khan.
Khan throws a lazy head kick

and Dos Santos counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Khan's guard now.

Khan looking for a guillotine here but Dos Santos defends easily.
Dos Santos postures up.
Dos Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Khan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Khan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khan trying to control the position.

Khan 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.

Khan 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.
Dos Santos wants to control from the top but Khan keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dos Santos accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Khan is trying to keep Dos Santos in close.

Dos Santos drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Khan manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Dos Santos has Khan in his guard.
Khan trying to control the position from guard on top but Dos Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos wants to sweep here but Khan controlling him for the moment.

Dos Santos escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Khan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Dos Santos is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Khan defends well.
Khan forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos blocking the ground and pound attempt from Khan.
Dos Santos is not content to let Khan control the position.
Khan is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Dos Santos is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Khan is looking for a kimura but Dos Santos is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Khan to get the leverage.
Khan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos is trying to get back to full guard.

Dos Santos looking for submissions off his back.
Khan keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Rajja Khan did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Dos Santos displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Khan throws out the jab.
Dos Santos tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Khan was well out of range. Poor timing from Dos Santos.
No joy there for Dos Santos, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Khan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dos Santos as he avoids it easily.
Khan thumps Dos Santos with a low kick.
A head kick by Khan misses

and Dos Santos counters with a shoot takedown. Khan fights it but they end up in guard.
Khan can't keep his opponent in guard - Dos Santos advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Dos Santos is just content to waste time from the top position. Khan takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Khan pulls Dos Santos in close to his closed guard and prevents Dos Santos from doing any damage or advancing position.
Dos Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Khan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Dos Santos defends well.
Khan being controlled here, momentarily.
Khan is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Dos Santos looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Dos Santos wants to pass the guard but Khan is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos passes into half guard.
Khan trying to control from the bottom.
Khan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Khan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dos Santos pulls his head out easily.
Khan works his way to full guard. Good work.
Khan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Khan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dos Santos gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Khan controlling Dos Santos's posture.
Dos Santos wants to control from the top but Khan keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khan is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Dos Santos is pushing down on Khan's leg trying to pass to half guard. Khan is fighting to maintain full guard but Dos Santos has managed to sneak the leg through.

Dos Santos is working for a submission of some sort.
Khan wants to control but Dos Santos is keeping busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Khan is not content to let Dos Santos control the position.

Dos Santos is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but William Dos Santos will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Dos Santos changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Dos Santos is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Khan rather than just go for the knockout.
Khan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Dos Santos tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Khan was well out of range. Poor timing from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Dos Santos's coach down at AD Sparstars Inc. was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Dos Santos's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Dos Santos blocks a head kick by Khan.
Dos Santos moves forwards but Khan connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A shot to the liver by Dos Santos. Beautiful body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khan connects with a nice looking jab.
Khan loads up on a big right hand but Dos Santos slips the punch.
Khan is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Khan throws a series of strikes that have Dos Santos backpedaling.
Khan shoots in looking for a takedown. Dos Santos tries to sprawl out of it but Khan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dos Santos manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Khan bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Dos Santos manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Khan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dos Santos is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Khan has managed to free his arm - good work.
William Dos Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Khan trying to control here.

Dos Santos is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Khan has managed to free his arm - good work.
Khan is looking to improve his position.

Khan actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dos Santos is looking for a kimura but Khan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Dos Santos to get the leverage.
Khan is looking to improve his position.
Khan moves into full guard.
Khan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dos Santos manages to get himself to full guard.
Khan preventing the sweep.
Khan lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Dos Santos keeping moving, preventing Khan from controlling successfully.
Khan slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos manages to get to full guard.
Dos Santos can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Khan controls the pace.
Khan pushes down on Dos Santos's leg and manages to get into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Dos Santos looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rajja Khan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Khan 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 49:46
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 49:46
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rajja Khan!
Rajja Khan retains his lightweight title!
An out of breath and clearly excited Rajja Khan thanked GTI - 1337 sponsors VERSUS for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).
In defeat, William Dos Santos stepped up to the mic, saying 'this is what you get for being such a slow learner.'.