PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dex Arial (ranked 5176 p4p, 598 weight class) and Cicero Dos Santos (ranked 7931 p4p, 740 weight class). The key to victory for Dex Arial has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Arial
vs
Dos Santos

178 cm
20
176 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

180 cm
26
175 lbs
8 - 5 - 1

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dex Arial!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Cicero Dos Santos!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dos Santos darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Arial trying to control but Dos Santos postures up.
Arial punching from the bottom.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Arial is looking to improve his position.
Arial trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arial is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arial wants to get back to full guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Dos Santos not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Arial will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Arial fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Dos Santos drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Arial defends it well.
Arial leaves Dos Santos with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Arial tries to counter with a takedown but Dos Santos is quick to defend against it.
Arial seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Arial misses with a head kick.
Arial stuffs the takedown attempt from Dos Santos. Dos Santos gets slowly back to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Arial.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arial throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Arial tries to move to mount but Dos Santos blocks the move with his legs.

Arial tries for a kimura but Dos Santos is defending well.
Dos Santos manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Dos Santos controlling the action here.
Arial is trying to stand back up but Dos Santos is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arial wants to control but Dos Santos is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dos Santos missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Arial trying to hold on to Dos Santos's head to control him but Dos Santos postures up.
Dos Santos throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Dos Santos is thwarting Arial's attempts to control the position.
Dos Santos is keen to just control but Arial is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Arial tries to roll over but Dos Santos keeps him under control.
Dos Santos is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Arial is trying to get back to full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Arial closes the distance and clinches up with Dos Santos, looking for a takedown. Arial pushes Dos Santos against the cage but Dos Santos circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cicero Dos Santos will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Dos Santos keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Arial scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Arial goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Dos Santos has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Arial but great work by Dos Santos.
Cicero Dos Santos has got the better of the ground game so far.
Arial tries to bench press Dos Santos off him but Dos Santos keeps the position.
Dos Santos moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arial is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos avoids the strikes from the bottom by Arial.
Dos Santos working away.
Dos Santos is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Arial will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Dos Santos lands some shots froms side control.
Arial sneaks back into half guard.

That's two 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 is controlling the pace.
Arial holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Arial has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Dos Santos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Arial tries to get to full guard but Dos Santos has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos stops Arial from getting back to his feet.

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

Arial scores with a takedown into Dos Santos's guard.
Arial slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Arial with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dos Santos is pulling down on Arial's head to control his posture.

Dos Santos is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Arial defends well.
Arial postures up in Dos Santos's guard and throws a big left but Dos Santos blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arial throws a strike but Dos Santos rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Arial wants to stand but Dos Santos is controlling the position.

Arial has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Dos Santos is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Arial gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dos Santos is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Arial scores with a couple of nice shots.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dos Santos trying to control from the bottom.
Arial not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Dos Santos is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Arial pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dex Arial dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Dos Santos misses with a takedown attempt
and Arial counters with a right hand to the body.

Arial darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Dos Santos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Arial trying to control the action but Dos Santos is working from the bottom.
Arial is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Arial thows a huge punch but Dos Santos dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dos Santos trying to control but Arial postures up.
Arial lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Dos Santos trying to hold on to Arial's head to control him but Arial postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos is trying is best to control the position here.
Arial frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Arial has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Dos Santos's face.
Arial can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dos Santos is looking to escape.
Dos Santos wants to hold on but Arial pushes him away.
Arial throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Dos Santos because Arial loaded up on that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Dos Santos wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Arial.
Dos Santos is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Arial dominating with strikes here.
Arial trying to control but Dos Santos is having none of it.
Arial lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Arial thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Arial thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Arial throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arial thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Dos Santos blocking the ground and pound.
Dos Santos is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Dos Santos manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.
Dos Santos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dos Santos controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Arial lands with a punch from half guard.
Arial scoring with strikes to the body and head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Dos Santos can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arial tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Arial is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Arial sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dos Santos defending well though.
Dos Santos blocking the ground and pound attempt from Arial.
Dos Santos wants to control but Arial is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Arial wants to control but Dos Santos is keeping him busy.
Arial sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dos Santos defending well though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arial thows a huge punch but Dos Santos dodges it nicely.
Arial thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dos Santos's head.
Arial throwing shots but Dos Santos is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dex Arial showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Arial has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 William Peck scores the fight 29:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dex Arial!
A relieved looking Dex Arial thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.