PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mats Lundin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Dos Santos
vs
Lundin

193 cm
25
239 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

197 cm
25
250 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mats Lundin!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, John Roberts and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lundin fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Dos Santos to the ground. Lundin is now in Dos Santos's guard.
Lundin has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dos Santos is proving hard to escape from.

Dos Santos had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lundin defends it easily.

Dos Santos looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

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

Lundin gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Mats Lundin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lundin shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dos Santos is trying to defend but Lundin finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Lundin decides to stand and escape the position.
Lundin misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lundin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Dos Santos walks into a straight right hand from Lundin.

Lundin has Dos Santos up against the cage in a clinch.

Lundin manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Dos Santos thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Lundin is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Dos Santos presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lundin.
Dos Santos's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Dos Santos is trying to pull guard but Lundin has him pressed against the cage.
Lundin scores with a shoulder strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Lundin.

Lundin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lundin's coach down at Valhalla:NY GYM was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Lundin's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dos Santos is trying to pull guard but Lundin turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Lundin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lundin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lundin lands with a straight right. Dos Santos didn't see that one coming.

Lundin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dos Santos is breathing heavily.

Lundin gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Lundin scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Sloppy strikes from Lundin. Those never looked like landing.
Dos Santos looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Lundin gets a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lundin stands up from half guard.
Some wild striking there from Lundin.
Lundin throws a combination that misses
and Dos Santos counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Lundin shoots in and bounces Dos Santos off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Lundin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dos Santos has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lundin has managed to get both his arms back between Dos Santos's legs - danger averted.

Lundin stands up from Dos Santos's guard - Lundin perhaps looking for a knockout.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lundin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Lundin stands up and beckons Dos Santos to his feet.

Lundin shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Lundin showed some decent athleticism there.

Lundin postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Dos Santos to stand up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dos Santos takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Lundin drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Lundin is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Dos Santos's shoulder. That is not cool.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mats Lundin dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A punch combination from Lundin misses.

Lundin lands a left and a right that send Dos Santos crashing to the mat, dazed. Lundin thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

It looks like Thiago Dos Santos has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Lundin 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.

Lundin decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Lundin moves into the clinch.

Lundin successfully pulls guard.
Lundin pulls Dos Santos in close to his closed guard and prevents Dos Santos from doing any damage or advancing position.

Lundin pushes Dos Santos off and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lundin scores with a one two! Dos Santos had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lundin manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Dos Santos on his heels. He'll look to pass Dos Santos's guard now, I'm sure.

Lundin gets to his feet. Dos Santos looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Dos Santos uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lundin.

Lundin 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.

Lundin decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Lundin throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Lundin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dos Santos showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lundin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos dodges the punch combination from Lundin.
Some wild striking there from Lundin.

Lundin closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Lundin decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Lundin closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Dos Santos's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dos Santos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lundin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Lundin gets to his feet - Dos Santos follows without any prompting.
Thiago Dos Santos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Lundin drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

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

Lundin 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.

Lundin decides to take the fight back to the feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Lundin forces Dos Santos back against the cage and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lundin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lundin throws a body punch but Dos Santos moves out of range.
Lundin uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Thiago Dos Santos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lundin throws a shot to the body.

Lundin shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Lundin showed some decent athleticism there.

Lundin gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lundin throws a right hand that Dos Santos ducks under and follows up with a left that Dos Santos also avoids with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mats Lundin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thiago Dos Santos's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Lundin has managed to clinch.
Lundin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Dos Santos backwards.
Dos Santos tries to pull guard but Lundin forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Lundin breaks from the clinch.
Lundin throws a series of punches but Dos Santos moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lundin is defended easily by Dos Santos.

Lundin has Dos Santos up against the cage in a clinch.

Lundin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lundin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Dos Santos connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lundin shoots in for a double leg but Dos Santos sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lundin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lundin tries a head kick but it misses.
Lundin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lundin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lundin misses with a double jab
and Dos Santos makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lundin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dos Santos circles away.
Thiago Dos Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mats Lundin.
Lundin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Dos Santos circles away quickly and effectively.
Thiago Dos Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lundin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dos Santos as he avoids it easily.
Lundin moves in looking to clinch but Dos Santos pushes him off.
Lundin misses with a double jab
and Dos Santos counters with a one-two to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lundin 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 Lundin off to one side.
Lundin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lundin misses with a combination
letting Dos Santos counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lundin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lundin swinging wildly here.
Lundin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lundin fails with a takedown attempt.
Lundin misses with a body shot.
Dos Santos ducks under a wild hook from Lundin.
Lundin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Dos Santos counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lundin gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Lundin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lundin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Some wild striking there from Lundin.
Lundin throws a combination that misses
and Dos Santos connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lundin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Some wild striking there from Lundin.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sloppy strikes from Lundin. Those never looked like landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Thiago Dos Santos.
Well Lundin has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mats Lundin!