PBP Commentary

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

Dos Santos
vs
Rondo

180 cm
24
175 lbs
5 - 2 - 1

180 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of New York, Cicero 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 Montreal, Ricky Rondo!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Bruno Lombardi and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dos Santos misses with a takedown
and Rondo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rondo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rondo stalks Dos Santos and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Dos Santos's face. Dos Santos staggers backwards, shaken.
Rondo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rondo has a takedown stuffed.
Cicero Dos Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Rondo.
Rondo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ricky Rondo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rondo connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Dos Santos displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rondo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dos Santos shoots for a double leg takedown but Rondo sprawls well. He's pushed Dos Santos's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Rondo clinches up with Dos Santos and pushes him back against the cage.
Rondo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Dos Santos.
Dos Santos wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rondo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rondo drives through and clinches with Dos Santos against the cage.
Dos Santos is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Dos Santos gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rondo.
Dos Santos is working for takedown but Rondo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Dos Santos is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rondo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Rondo manages to break the clinch.
Dos Santos misses with a takedown

and Rondo counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rondo.
Dos Santos wants a takedown but no success here.

Rondo breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rondo shoots in and drives through. Dos Santos sprawls well.
Dos Santos tries for a takedown but Rondo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Dos Santos tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rondo defends well and Dos Santos ends up having to push Rondo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Dos Santos dodges the punch combination from Rondo.
Nice uppercut lands for Rondo. That snapped Dos Santos's head back.
Dos Santos displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rondo.
Rondo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Dos Santos decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rondo's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dos Santos's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos prevents Rondo from getting back to his feet.
Dos Santos controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Dos Santos prevents Rondo from getting back to his feet.
Rondo managing to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dos Santos landing some decent shots from guard.
Dos Santos throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rondo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dos Santos as he avoids it easily.
Rondo moves in looking to clinch but Dos Santos pushes him off.
Rondo has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Dos Santos is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Dos Santos shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rondo as he avoids it easily.
Rondo lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rondo tries to clinch but Dos Santos is having none of it.
Rondo is looking to clinch.
Rondo dives in for a single leg takedown but Dos Santos sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rondo clobbers Dos Santos with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dos Santos fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rondo wants to clinch.
Rondo throws a nice looking combination but Dos Santos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Dos Santos half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Rondo lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rondo.

It looks like Cicero Dos Santos has been cut.
Rondo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dos Santos takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Rondo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rondo wants it to stay on the feet.
Rondo leaves Dos Santos with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cicero Dos Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rondo is defended easily by Dos Santos.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rondo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rondo lands a body shot.

Dos Santos gets tackled into the cage by Rondo. Rondo maintains the clinch.

Rondo pulls guard effortlessly.
Rondo wants to get back to his feet but Dos Santos is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Dos Santos is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Dos Santos with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos is stalling in the full guard.
Dos Santos distracts Rondo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Dos Santos seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Dos Santos dives in and scores a takedown into Rondo's guard.

Rondo pushes Dos Santos off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dos Santos shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rondo 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.
Rondo scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Dos Santos manages to mount him!
Dos Santos controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dos Santos seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rondo for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dos Santos is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rondo can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rondo wants to get back to his feet.
Rondo tries to lock up and control but Dos Santos gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Dos Santos controlling his opponent.
Rondo tries to hold on but Dos Santos pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Rondo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Cicero Dos Santos's cut.
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!

Rondo shoots in but Dos Santos avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Dos Santos half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Rondo misses with a leg kick

so Dos Santos counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rondo 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.
Dos Santos is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rondo throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Dos Santos escapes and throws Rondo's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rondo tries to improve position but can't.
Dos Santos taking a breather here.
Ricky Rondo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

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.
Rondo is looking for a sweep.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rondo takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Cicero Dos Santos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos working away.
Dos Santos controls the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dos Santos has a takedown stuffed.
Rondo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dos Santos as he avoids it easily.
Dos Santos looks for a takedown but Rondo sprawls well.
Rondo misses with a leg kick

and Dos Santos decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rondo's guard.
Rondo is wriggling around but Dos Santos manages to pass to half guard.
Rondo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Dos Santos slips a nice elbow through Rondo's hands, connecting with Rondo's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rondo is looking to control Dos Santos's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rondo avoid being mounted?
Dos Santos lands strikes from half guard.
Dos Santos sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nice strikes from Dos Santos there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cicero Dos Santos showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rondo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Rondo!
Ricky Rondo seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.