PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kinfe Kidane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Kidane's choice of entrance music: Buraka Som Sistema - Kalemba (wegue wegue). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dos Santos
vs
Kidane

189 cm
28
260 lbs
15 - 13 - 0

196 cm
30
261 lbs
14 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 15 - 13 - 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 14 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kinfe Kidane!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Daniel Bishop and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dos Santos shoots in but Kidane avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Dos Santos shoots in but no luck this time.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kidane enables Dos Santos to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kidane manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Dos Santos throws a big right hand that misses.
Kidane wants to stand up but Dos Santos is controlling him.
Kidane utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
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.
Dos Santos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kidane swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dos Santos throws a big elbow that misses.
Dos Santos slips nicely into half guard.
Dos Santos throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kidane can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dos Santos is pressing down on Kidane's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kidane is holding on for now.
Dos Santos is working hard here to advance position.
Dos Santos thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dos Santos missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Dos Santos stops Kidane from getting back to his feet.

Dos Santos is working for a kimura but Kidane is defending it quite comfortably.
Kidane 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.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kidane keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dos Santos looks to land a strike but Kidane avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Dos Santos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dos Santos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kidane swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dos Santos goes for a double leg but Kidane avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kidane continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Dos Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dos Santos is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kidane gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Dos Santos fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Dos Santos breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dos Santos tries to keep at a distance but Kidane has taken the fight into the clinch.
A knee to the head by Kidane.

It looks like Cain Dos Santos has been cut.
Dos Santos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kidane walks away with a smile on his face. Dos Santos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice takedown defense from Kidane. No joy for Dos Santos on that attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kidane. Dos Santos does a little dance to reset his feet.

Kidane gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Dos Santos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kidane walks away with a smile on his face. Dos Santos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cain Dos Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kidane closes the distance and clinches.
Kidane landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Dos Santos is breathing heavily.
Kidane landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kidane lands a knee to the head.
Kidane looking to throw knees to the head but Dos Santos is blocking nicely.
Dos Santos tries to score a body lock takedown but Kidane shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Still in the clinch, Kidane scores with a nice short uppercut.
Dos Santos blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kidane doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kidane lands a good knee to the midsection. Dos Santos won't want to take too many of those.
Kidane lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kidane lands with a light punch inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kidane.
Kidane working Dos Santos over with knees to the body.
Kidane tries to land a knee to the head but Dos Santos blocks with his arms.
Kidane looking to throw knees to the head but Dos Santos is blocking nicely.
Dos Santos is trying to pull guard but Kidane turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kidane tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kidane 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.
A short right from Kidane.
Kidane looking to throw knees to the head but Dos Santos is blocking nicely.
Dos Santos can't get the takedown.
Kidane tries a knee to the head but Dos Santos blocks it.
Kidane throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos takes a knee right on the jaw!
Dos Santos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kidane walks away with a smile on his face. Dos Santos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Dos Santos fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kinfe Kidane dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cain Dos Santos's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kidane closes the distance and clinches.
Kidane lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kidane gets through Dos Santos's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kidane obliges.
Kidane connects with a knee to the head.
Kidane tries a knee to the head but Dos Santos blocks it.
Kidane cracks Dos Santos with a nice body shot.
Kidane tries to land a knee to the head but Dos Santos blocks with his arms.
Kidane tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kidane gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kidane throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Dos Santoss head.

Dos Santos is rocked!

Cain Dos Santos's cut is getting worse.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kidane creates a bit of distance for himself, with Dos Santos pressed up against the cage and cracks Dos Santos with a massive uppercut! Dos Santos goes down! He's out cold! Wow, that was some serious power there by Kidane!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Kinfe Kidane!
Kinfe Kidane took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.