PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Kato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dos Santos is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Chemical Brothers - Leave Home. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kato
vs
Dos Santos

176 cm
28
167 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

185 cm
31
170 lbs
27 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Hellbent
Perkele!

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kenji Kato!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, William Dos Santos!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, David Schapiro and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dos Santos thows a leg kick but Kato checks it

and Kato holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Dos Santos is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kato gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kato tries to throw a body punch but Dos Santos avoids it by throwing Kato back against the cage.
Dos Santos pushes Kato back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Kato working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kato controlling the action here for a moment.
Dos Santos misses with some punches.
Dos Santos tries a body shot but Kato blocks it.
Dos Santos lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Dos Santos drags the fight down to the ground.
Kato postures up in Dos Santos's guard and throws a big left but Dos Santos blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kato postures up in Dos Santos's guard and throws a big left but Dos Santos blocks it.
Kato wants to control from the top but Dos Santos keeps moving.
Kato is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kato pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dos Santos is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kato is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Dos Santos keeping moving, preventing Kato from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Dos Santos moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Dos Santos throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dos Santos throws a right hand that misses
enabling Kato to counter with a crisp jab.
Kato slips a jab from Dos Santos.
Kato throws a looping overhand right but Dos Santos ducks down to avoid it.
Kato is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Dos Santos checks a low kick from Kato.
Dos Santos misses with a body kick.

Dos Santos drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dos Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Kato is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dos Santos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kato is trying to keep Dos Santos in close.
Kato preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kato is proving hard to escape from.

Dos Santos drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kato manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Dos Santos has Kato in his guard.

Kato stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dos Santos swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kato forces his way into half guard.
Kato controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kato has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kato wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dos Santos keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but William Dos Santos will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kato chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kato takes a swing at Dos Santos's ribcage but misses.
Dos Santos's corner calls for a 1-2. Dos Santos obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
No joy there for Dos Santos, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kato moves out of range of the body kick from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Dos Santos moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Dos Santos as he connects with a hook.
Dos Santos scores with a three punch combo!
Dos Santos on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dos Santos takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Dos Santos staying out of range there.
William Dos Santos seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A big right from Kato misses.
Dos Santos checks a leg kick nicely.
Kato throws a hook to the side of Dos Santos's head but Dos Santos sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kato just misses with a punch to the body.
Dos Santos walks into a straight right hand from Kato.
Kato digs a good hook to Dos Santos's body.
Dos Santos misses with a wild body shot.
Kato misses with a looping right.
Dos Santos just misses with a punch to the body.
Kato turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Kato!
Kato ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kato tried to counter with a leg kick but Dos Santos avoided it.
Kato on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Dos Santos tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kato swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kato misses with a straight left.
Kato looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kato cracks Dos Santos with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
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!
Dos Santos checks a low kick from Kato.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos throws a big shot that misses.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Kato. Dos Santos shrugs it off though.
Dos Santos tries to land a leg kick but Kato saw it coming and moves away.
Kato steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dos Santos.
Kato thumps Dos Santos with a low kick.
Kato takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch but Kato swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dos Santos ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kato moves away.
It looked like Kato was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Dos Santos.
William Dos Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kato tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Dos Santos lands a body shot.
Dos Santos avoids the body shot from Kato.
Dos Santos feints the counter takedown.
Kato lands with a kick to the ribs.
Kato pushes Dos Santos away with a front kick.
Kato swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dos Santos lands a body shot.
Dos Santos misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kato takes a swing at Dos Santos's ribcage but misses.
Dos Santos throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kato sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kato misses the shot to the body.
Kato moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Dos Santos keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kato.
Dos Santos follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Kato cracks Dos Santos with a right hand to the side of the head.
Kato waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dos Santos.
Kato throws a front kick aimed at Dos Santos's knee but Dos Santos avoids it well.
Kato motions for Dos Santos to come forward. Kato throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Dos Santos moves out of range of the leg kick from Kato.
Dos Santos checks the leg kick nicely there.
Dos Santos tries to score with a low kick but Kato moves his leg out of the way.
Kato slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Dos Santos misses the jab.
Dos Santos connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kato momentarily.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but Kato is having none of it.
Kato is looking to counter punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch but Kato swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dos Santos cracks Kato with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kato wants to land a leg kick but Dos Santos is out of range.
Dos Santos looks to land a body kick but Kato moved away.
Kato feints and then cracks Dos Santos's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Dos Santos down.
Kato throws a leg kick that misses.
Kato uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Dos Santos scores with a punch to the head.
Dos Santos throws a body kick that misses.
Kato throws a body shot but no joy.
Kato tries to land a front kick but Dos Santos steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Dos Santos closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Dos Santos is working for a submission of some sort.
Dos Santos not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kenji Kato will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dos Santos tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kato defends well and Dos Santos ends up having to push Kato into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kato swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kato lands a body shot.
Kato ducks under a wild hook from Dos Santos.
Kato keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos throws an overhand right that lands on Kato's shoulder, as Kato tries to avoid the shot.
Some bone on bone action there as Kato checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kato throwing a counter right hand but Dos Santos manages to avoid it.
Kato punishes Dos Santos's body with a nice straight punch.
Dos Santos tries to land a front kick but Kato steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kato is looking to chop away at Dos Santos's legs.
Kato throws a body punch but Dos Santos moves out of range.
Dos Santos tests Kato's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kato walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Dos Santos moves out of range of the body kick from Kato.
Kato throws a hook but Dos Santos blocks it.
Dos Santos lands with a nice body punch.
A big left from Dos Santos misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos works Kato's body with a nice hook.
Dos Santos tries to land a front kick but Kato steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kato misses with a low kick.
Dos Santos fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kato throws a body punch but Dos Santos moves out of range.
Kato defending well as Dos Santos loads up on a big left hand.
Kato works over Dos Santos's head and body with a nice combination.
Kato moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Dos Santos missing with a left hand there. Kato was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Dos Santos throws a nice looking combination but Kato bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kato scores with a jab. Dos Santos acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kato pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Dos Santos! But no joy.
Kato throws a leg kick but Dos Santos checks it.
Dos Santos changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kato throws a hook but Dos Santos blocks it.
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!
Kato looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kato goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kato ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dos Santos moves away.
Dos Santos misses with a jab to the body
and Kato counters with a slapping leg kick.
Kenji Kato is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dos Santos misses with a hook to the body
and Kato cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dos Santos uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kato.
Kato scores with a spinning back kick!
Kato's corner calls for a 1-2. Kato obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kato waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dos Santos.
Dos Santos tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Dos Santos goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Dos Santos ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Good standup being displayed there by Dos Santos as he connects with a hook.
Dos Santos connects with a body shot.
Dos Santos stalks Kato and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kato's face. Kato staggers backwards, shaken.
Dos Santos goes for a double leg but Kato avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kato continues to drive forward.
Dos Santos takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Dos Santos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kato slips a straight right by Dos Santos.
It looked like Kato wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Dos Santos takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Dos Santos takes one to the side of the head.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kato, right into the meat.
A jab from Dos Santos misses.
Kato buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kato swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kato takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Dos Santos's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Dos Santos ducks under a wild hook from Kato.
Kato looks to score with a jab to the body but Dos Santos is just out of range.
Kato ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Dos Santos looks to land a left hand but Kato moved out of range nicely.
Dos Santos throws a leg kick that is checked
and Dos Santos takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Dos Santos tries for a takedown but Kato sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kenji Kato has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Dos Santos.
Dos Santos walks into a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Dos Santos tries to keep at a distance but Kato has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kato misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kato lands a right hand that snaps the head of Dos Santos backwards.
Dos Santos missing with knees to the body.
Dos Santos throws a punch but it's blocked by Kato.
Kato is trying to maintain a safe position but Dos Santos gets an underhook and turns Kato into the cage.
Dos Santos presses Kato against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A right hand to the body from Kato.
Dos Santos tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Dos Santos lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kato works on Dos Santos's body with a couple of short punches.
A short uppercut from Kato.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dos Santos tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kato's elbow.
Dos Santos throws a head punch that misses.
Kato works on Dos Santos's body with a couple of short punches.
Kato blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Dos Santos throws a head punch that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenji Kato clearly takes 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.

Dos Santos misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kato.
Kato uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dos Santos.
Kato scores with a jab.
Kato tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dos Santos was well out of range. Poor timing from Kato.
Kato connects with a leg kick. Dos Santos looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kato swats away the attempt to clinch by Dos Santos.
Kato throws a wild body kick that Dos Santos sees coming a mile off.
Dos Santos steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
A shot to the liver by Kato. Beautiful body shot.
Kato throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Dos Santos fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kato avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dos Santos gets a double leg takedown into Kato's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kato has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dos Santos can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kato is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kato seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Dos Santos trying to control but Kato is working from the bottom.
Dos Santos looking to sit in guard and control but Kato gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kato pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dos Santos is keeping the position for now.
Kato trying to move into half guard but instead Dos Santos has managed to sweep!

Dos Santos wants to control from the top but Kato keeps moving.
Dos Santos throws a big right hand that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kato is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kato is looking to control Dos Santos's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kato avoid being mounted?

Dos Santos is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kato slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dos Santos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kato is trying to control the position but Dos Santos postures up.
Dos Santos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Kato is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Dos Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Kato is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dos Santos showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kato trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Kenji Kato will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Dos Santos scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kato moves out of range of the leg kick from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos looks to score with a jab to the body but Kato is just out of range.
Dos Santos takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Dos Santos works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Dos Santos blocks a low kick nicely.
Dos Santos misses the shot to the body.
Dos Santos takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Dos Santos fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kato manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kato tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dos Santos takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kato misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kato bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Dos Santos's head.
Kato ducks under a wild hook from Dos Santos.
A little feinted left hand from Kato on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kato misses with a shot to the body
and Dos Santos counters with a head kick. That will keep Kato thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Kato misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Dos Santos blocks a jab.
Kato misses with an uppercut.
Dos Santos throws a nice outside leg kick.
Dos Santos ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kato looks to land a left hand but Dos Santos moved out of range nicely.
Kato takes one on the button.
Kato is looking to chop away at Dos Santos's legs.
Dos Santos tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Nice sprawl there from Kato as Dos Santos shoots in.
Kato seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Dos Santos drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kato wants to sweep here but Dos Santos controlling him for the moment.

Kato looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Dos Santos is defending well. Kato quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Dos Santos has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Kato celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kenji Kato!
Kenji Kato retains his lightweight title!
A very excited looking Kenji Kato made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
William Dos Santos spoke after the fight, saying 'Ok,.maybe I do suck donkey balls.'.