PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Libio Do Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucien Paol (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paol has chosen Edith Piaf - La Vie En Rose as his entrance music. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Do Santos
vs
Paol

196 cm
24
192 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

188 cm
26
187 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Libio Do Santos !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Lucien Paol!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, William Gold and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Paol closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Paol lands in his opponent's guard.

Paol drops back, looking for a kneebar! Do Santos looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Do Santos looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Do Santos !

Paol felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Do Santos is trying to get an arm triangle but Paol is defending well.
Do Santos trying to control the position but Paol is working away.
Paol avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Do Santos .
Paol is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paol is not content to let Do Santos control the position.
Paol tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Do Santos wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Paol is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Do Santos tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Do Santos has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Do Santos tries to advance to mount but can't.
Paol taking punishment in the form of punches.
Do Santos definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Do Santos tries to move into full mount but can't pass Paol's legs.
Paol is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Do Santos 's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Paol is looking to improve his position.
Do Santos takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Paol looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Do Santos is looking to advance position but Paol won't allow it.

Paol looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Paol looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Do Santos pushes past his half guard into mount!
Do Santos can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Paol is looking to escape.
Do Santos controlling the position easily from mount.
Paol manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Do Santos working the head and body with strikes.

Do Santos looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Do Santos seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Paol does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Paol slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Paol looking for a guillotine here but Do Santos defends easily.

Paol working for a triangle but Do Santos defends it easily.

Paol looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Paol looks winded!
Paol keeping moving, preventing Do Santos from controlling successfully.

That's four 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.

Paol had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Do Santos defends it easily.
Do Santos wants to pass the guard but Paol is keeping the position.
Do Santos wants to control from the top but Paol keeps moving.
Do Santos landing with the ground and pound.

Paol has an active guard here but Do Santos has managed to pass into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Paol is staying active underneath Do Santos , who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Do Santos is really struggling to control Paol but he's trying to hold on to the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Libio Do Santos dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Do Santos throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Paol was covering up waiting for the punch and Do Santos finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Do Santos drops back looking for a leg! Paol is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Paol manages to kick Do Santos off! Do Santos jumps back into Paol's guard.
Paol looking to hit a scissor sweep but Do Santos is one step ahead there.
Do Santos tries to free his leg and advance position but Paol is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Do Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Paol is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Libio Do Santos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Paol tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Paol escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Do Santos gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Paol looking for a sweep. Not yet Paol, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paol keeping moving, preventing Do Santos from controlling successfully.

Do Santos drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Do Santos jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

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

Paol throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Paol has his foot on Do Santos 's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Do Santos works his way back into a safe position though.
Paol is breathing heavily.
Do Santos works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Do Santos wants to free his trapped foot but Paol is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Do Santos is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

It looks like Lucien Paol has been cut.
Do Santos working over Paol with some ground and pound. Paol looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paol actively working from the bottom here.
Do Santos passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Paol!
Paol is desperately trying to improve his position but Do Santos has a good base and remains in mount.
Do Santos wants to control the pace but Paol is squirming around nicely.

Do Santos quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Do Santos but it's paid off an Paol is forced to tap! Nice work by Do Santos .

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Libio Do Santos !
An out of breath Libio Do Santos thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.