PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Frankie DeCicco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Desman DeSantos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Frankie DeCicco has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

DeCicco
vs
DeSantos

185 cm
18
148 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

169 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Frankie DeCicco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Desman DeSantos!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Mauricio Rocha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
DeCicco slaps away a takedown attempt from DeSantos, before circling back to the center of the mat.
DeCicco shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has DeSantos pinned against the cage. DeSantos gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
DeCicco shoots in for a double leg but DeSantos sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
DeSantos swats away the attempt to clinch by DeCicco.
A nice side step and DeSantos releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
DeCicco is on the wrong end of a nice combination from DeSantos.
DeSantos closes the distance and lands a one-two.

DeCicco gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows DeSantos to score an easy takedown into full guard.
DeSantos looking to pass the guard.
DeCicco bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in DeSantos's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeCicco preventing the sweep.

DeCicco decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on DeSantos, up you get!
DeCicco slaps away a takedown attempt from DeSantos, before circling back to the center of the mat.
DeCicco goes for a double leg but DeSantos avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as DeSantos continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frankie DeCicco. That's going to take a lot out of him.

DeCicco clinches up against the cage.
DeCicco swings wildly with an uppercut but DeSantos uses good head movement to avoid it.
DeSantos softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
DeCicco stalling against the cage.
DeCicco tries a knee to the head but DeSantos blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

DeCicco's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
DeSantos shoots in for a takedown but DeCicco shows good takedown defense.
No luck with that takedown attempt from DeCicco.
DeCicco shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts DeSantos as he jumps to the side.

DeSantos closes the distance and clinches.
DeCicco is trying to pull guard but DeSantos has him pressed against the cage.
DeCicco goes for a takedown attempt but DeSantos pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
DeCicco tries a head kick but it misses.
DeCicco really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
DeSantos fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
DeCicco is breathing heavily.
DeCicco fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but DeSantos avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeSantos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but DeCicco circles away quickly and effectively.
DeSantos stalks DeCicco and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into DeCicco's face. DeCicco staggers backwards, shaken.
DeCicco keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A right-left combo lands from DeSantos.

DeSantos pushes DeCicco up against the cage in a clinch.

DeCicco pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
DeCicco misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
DeCicco fails in his attempt to clinch.
DeSantos shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as DeCicco sprawls well. DeCicco wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. DeSantos gets slowly back to his feet.
DeSantos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

DeSantos closes the distance and pushes DeCicco back into the cage.
DeCicco has DeSantos pressed against the cage, preventing DeSantos from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

DeCicco pulls DeSantos into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
DeCicco controls DeSantos momentarily but DeSantos frees himself.
DeCicco utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
DeSantos content to stall in guard here.
DeCicco trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

DeCicco working for a triangle but DeSantos defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Desman DeSantos dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

DeCicco shoots in but DeSantos avoids the takedown attempt easily.

DeCicco shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

DeSantos wriggles free and stands up.
DeSantos stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and DeSantos wants it to stay on the feet.
DeCicco displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from DeSantos.
DeCicco has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frankie DeCicco. That's going to take a lot out of him.

DeSantos forces DeCicco back against the cage and clinches.

DeSantos's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
DeSantos looks for a takedown but DeCicco sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

DeCicco has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. DeSantos has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

DeCicco breaks the clinch.
DeCicco doesn't manage to clinch there - DeSantos circles away.
DeSantos was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

DeSantos has closed the distance and engaged DeCicco in a clinch.
DeCicco jumps guard but DeSantos turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
DeCicco tries for a takedown. No joy.
DeCicco keeps the fight in the clinch, despite DeSantos's efforts to push away.
DeSantos is trying to pull guard but DeCicco turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
DeSantos fails to pull guard.
DeCicco tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. DeSantos smiles and moves away.
DeCicco takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
DeCicco misses with a jab, cross combination.
DeCicco fails in his attempt to clinch.
DeSantos wants to counter the offense by DeCicco and move into the clinch position.
DeSantos shoots in but no luck this time.
DeCicco shoots for a takedown but DeSantos saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A decent looking cross lands there for DeSantos.

DeSantos forces DeCicco back against the cage and clinches.
DeCicco tries to pull guard but DeSantos forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
DeSantos controlling the action here for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeCicco jumps guard but DeSantos turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

DeCicco pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
DeCicco moves out of range as DeSantos throws a body kick.
DeCicco throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Desman DeSantos seems to be getting the better of the standup.

DeSantos scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Desman DeSantos has got the better of the ground game so far.
DeCicco takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
DeSantos moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
DeCicco is looking to regain half guard here but DeSantos keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DeCicco struggling a bit here.
DeSantos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
DeSantos advances to mount.

DeSantos get's back to his feet.
DeCicco has a takedown stuffed.
DeCicco takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Desman DeSantos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Left hook, right uppercut from DeSantos.
DeCicco tries to close the distance and clinch but DeSantos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
DeCicco fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but DeSantos avoids it really well and circles away.
DeSantos shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says DeCicco as he avoids it easily.
DeCicco went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
DeCicco tries for a takedown but DeSantos circles away easily
and DeSantos counters with a one-two to the body.
DeSantos fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
DeCicco feinted with a counter takedown.

DeCicco clinches with his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

DeCicco manages to break the clinch.
DeCicco looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

DeSantos forces DeCicco back against the cage and clinches.

DeCicco breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeSantos throws a nice looking combination but DeCicco bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

DeSantos gets a clinch.
DeSantos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from DeCicco.
DeCicco wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frankie DeCicco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
DeSantos wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but DeCicco has him pressed against the cage.
DeCicco drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
DeCicco is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
DeCicco wants to take the fight to the mat but DeSantos manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
DeCicco prevents DeSantos from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
DeSantos can't break the clinch.
DeSantos is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
DeSantos tries to break free but DeCicco pushes him back against the cage.
DeCicco misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from DeSantos.
DeSantos lands a left hand.
DeCicco tries to break the clinch but DeSantos is controlling the position.
DeCicco is looking for a takedown up against the cage. DeSantos gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
DeSantos wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
DeCicco pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
DeSantos is pressed up against the cage. DeCicco has hold of a leg and is looking to drag DeSantos down to the mat. DeSantos avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
DeSantos throws a right and a left that both miss.
Frankie DeCicco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeSantos throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around DeCicco's waist but DeCicco gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing DeSantos off to one side.
DeSantos fails in his attempt to clinch.

DeCicco shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

DeSantos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
DeSantos keeping moving, preventing DeCicco from controlling successfully.
DeSantos trying to control the position here.

DeSantos had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. DeCicco defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DeSantos controls DeCicco momentarily but DeCicco frees himself.
DeCicco is fighting to break DeSantos's control of his arms but DeSantos is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
DeCicco wanted to stand there but DeSantos had control of the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Desman DeSantos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well DeSantos has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Desman DeSantos!