PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vincent Masuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cain Dos Santos has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dos Santos
vs
Masuka

189 cm
27
260 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

195 cm
29
266 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Cain Dos Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Vincent Masuka!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Donald Grub and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masuka darts in looking for a takedown but Dos Santos gets double underhooks and turns Masuka into the cage.
Dos Santos tries to break the clinch but Masuka is controlling the position.
Dos Santos wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Masuka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dos Santos is defending well for now.
Dos Santos has Masuka pushed against the cage.
Dos Santos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Masuka just stands there and leans against the cage.
Dos Santos fails to pull guard.
Dos Santos wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Masuka has him pressed against the cage.
Dos Santos stalling in the clinch but Masuka improves position.
Masuka tries for a takedown but Dos Santos manages to get underhooks.
Masuka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Dos Santos avoids it.
Dos Santos gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Masuka.
Cain Dos Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vincent Masuka.
Masuka is pressed up against the cage. Dos Santos has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Masuka down to the mat. Masuka avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masuka closes the distance and clinches up with Dos Santos, looking for a takedown. Masuka pushes Dos Santos against the cage but Dos Santos circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Masuka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dos Santos as he jumps to the side.

Dos Santos looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Masuka blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Masuka trying to hold on to Dos Santos's head to control him but Dos Santos postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dos Santos sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Masuka defending well though.

Dos Santos is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Masuka defends it well.
Masuka wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masuka wants to get back to full guard.
Masuka wants to get back to his feet.
Dos Santos throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Dos Santos is working for a kimura but Masuka is defending it quite comfortably.
Masuka tries to get to full guard but Dos Santos has control of the leg.
Dos Santos thows a huge punch but Masuka dodges it nicely.
Masuka keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Masuka blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dos Santos.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dos Santos is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Masuka manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Dos Santos throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Masuka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dos Santos throwing strikes but missing.
Masuka keeping moving, preventing Dos Santos from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dos Santos throws a strike but Masuka rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Masuka won't allow Dos Santos to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masuka is standing up over Dos Santos. Dos Santos looks to escape but Masuka dives into side control.
Masuka trying to control the position but Dos Santos is working away.
Dos Santos tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Masuka wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Dos Santos struggling a bit here.

Masuka is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Dos Santos is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Masuka throws a strike aimed at the side of Dos Santos's head but Dos Santos avoids it well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Masuka is looking to take a break and control but Dos Santos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dos Santos tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Masuka wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dos Santos clinches up with Masuka and pushes him back against the cage.
Dos Santos wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Masuka has him pressed against the cage.
Dos Santos jumps guard but Masuka turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Dos Santos's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Dos Santos shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Dos Santos with the ground and pound but Masuka uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Masuka keeping moving, preventing Dos Santos from controlling successfully.
Dos Santos tries to free his leg and advance position but Masuka is retaining full guard.

Dos Santos postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Masuka is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Dos Santos, into his guard.
Dos Santos looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos is really struggling to control Masuka but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Masuka won't allow Dos Santos to sweep him here.

Masuka thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Masuka wants to pass the guard but Dos Santos is keeping the position.
Dos Santos trying to keep a closed guard but Masuka is proving a slippery customer.
Cain Dos Santos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dos Santos 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.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masuka controls from within his opponent's guard.
Dos Santos tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dos Santos looking to control.
Dos Santos thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Masuka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dos Santos wants to improve his position but instead Masuka has moved into half guard.
Masuka thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dos Santos's head.
Masuka trying to control from half guard but Dos Santos is working away.
Masuka prevents Dos Santos from standing back up.
Masuka prevents Dos Santos from improving his position.
Dos Santos wants to control but Masuka is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos is controlling Masuka's trapped leg to prevent Masuka from advancing to side control.
Dos Santos wants to get back to full guard.
Masuka looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

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

Masuka is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dos Santos defends it well.
Dos Santos regains full guard. Nicely done.
Masuka throwing strikes from guard but Dos Santos blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos looking to control.
Dos Santos keeping full guard, as Masuka tries to pass.
Masuka stopping the sweep attempt from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos pulls Masuka in close to prevent any damage.
Masuka trying to move into half guard but instead Dos Santos has managed to sweep!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Masuka pulls Dos Santos in close to prevent any damage.
Dos Santos working some strikes from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Dos Santos dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Masuka slaps away a takedown attempt from Dos Santos, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Dos Santos fails with an attempt to clinch.

Masuka drives through with a takedown into Dos Santos's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Masuka trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dos Santos trying to keep a closed guard but Masuka is proving a slippery customer.
Dos Santos looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Dos Santos tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Dos Santos escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Masuka gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Dos Santos is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masuka missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Masuka cracks Dos Santos with a solid left hand.
Dos Santos being controlled here, momentarily.
Dos Santos is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Masuka trying to control the position from guard on top but Dos Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Masuka might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Dos Santos haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Masuka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vincent Masuka has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Dos Santos shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Masuka is trying to defend but Dos Santos finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Masuka trying to control but Dos Santos postures up.
Dos Santos throwing shots but Masuka is blocking nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dos Santos with the ground and pound but Masuka uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Dos Santos is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Dos Santos with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Masuka is controlling Dos Santos's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Masuka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dos Santos has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dos Santos throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dos Santos missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dos Santos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dos Santos throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Masuka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dos Santos looking to pass the guard.

Dos Santos is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Masuka is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Masuka has escaped and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos keeping moving, preventing Masuka from controlling successfully.
Masuka tries to free his leg and advance position but Dos Santos is retaining full guard.
Masuka stopping the sweep attempt from Dos Santos.
Masuka throws a big elbow that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Dos Santos escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Masuka gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dos Santos is on top in guard.

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 Cain Dos Santos.
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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cain Dos Santos!
Cain Dos Santos gave a mention to Bloodlust Horde Fightwear in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).